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Research group

Desalination and Photosynthesis

Scientific production and transfer

Unit results during 2025 · Desalination and Photosynthesis

37Published articles
14With international collaboration
30Conferences attended
58Conference contributions40 orals · 18 posters
1Book chapters
2Conference organization

Distribution by quartile (JCR)

Number of articles in each quartile

Q1 28
Q2 6
Q3 0
Q4 0

2025 publications

Articles and book chapters with DOI published by the unit

  1. Effect of culture medium composition and reuse on the growth of Porphyridium cruentum. Ferroni, F. C., García, M. S., Villaró-Cos, S., Rivera, E., & Lafarga, T. New Biotechnology, 90, 65 -76, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.nbt.2025.09.001View publication →
  2. Effect of salinity on the composition of a seawater-adapted strain of Scenedesmus almeriensis. Rivera-Sánchez, E., Villaró-Cos, S., Salinas-García, M., Alarcón, F. J., García-Vaquero, M., Tintrop, L. K., … & Lafarga, T. New Biotechnology, 90, 114 -121, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.nbt.2025.09.008View publication →
  3. Development and reutilisation of a fertiliser-based culture medium for the commercial production of Chlorella sorokiniana. Salinas-García, M., Calatrava-Arrizabalaga, P., Ciardi, M., Villaró-Cos, S., & Lafarga, T. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 23891, 2025

    DOI10.1038/s41598-025-08320-8View publication →
  4. Extraction and assessment of the colouring capacity of Arthrospira platensis-derived pigments. Villaró-Cos, S., Gouveia, L., Vladić, J., Sánchez-Zurano, A., Martínez-García, I., & Lafarga, T. Future Foods, 12, 100853, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.fufo.2025.100853View publication →
  5. Optimizing Chlorella vulgaris production and exploring its impact on germination through microalga-N2-fixing bacteria consortia. Sanchez-Zurano, A., Vilaró-Cos, S., Figueiredo, D., Melkonyan, L., Ferreira, A., Acién, F. G.,... & Gouveia, L.. Journal of Biotechnology, 408, 244-253, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.jbiotec.2025.09.018View publication →
  6. Airborne transport and characterization of microalgal bioaerosols generated in raceway and tubular photobioreactors. Marina-Montes, C., Lafarga, T., Salinas-García, M., Anzano, J., & Acién, G.. Algal Research, 91, 104351, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.algal.2025.104351View publication →
  7. Strategies to control the growth of unwanted microalgae during the production of Arthrospira platensis BEA 005B. Villaró, S., Valero-Cardoso, S., Cerdá-Moreno, C., Ciardi, M., & Lafarga, T.. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 27, 101035, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.clet.2025.101035View publication →
  8. Simplified two-stage method for the recovery of B-phycoerythrin from Porphyridium cruentum and evaluation as a natural food grade colourant. Bermejo-Román, R., Murillo-Cruz, M. C., Hurtado, M. C., Villaró-Cos, S., Lafarga, T., & Acién, G. (2025). Food and Bioprocess Technology, 18(7), 6743 -6751, 2025

    DOI10.1007/s11947-025-03859-wView publication →
  9. Increasing the sustainability of photoautotrophic microalgae production by minimising freshwater requirements. Rivera-Sánchez, E., Villaró-Cos, S., Salinas-Garcia, M., & Lafarga, T.. New Biotechnology, 86, 14 -24, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.nbt.2025.01.004View publication →
  10. Microalgae wastewater treatment: Pharmaceutical removal and biomass valorization. Morillas-España, A., López-Serna, R., Chikri, L. Y. R., Jiménez, J. J., Lafarga, T., Uggetti, E.,... & González-López, C. V.. Journal of Environmental Management, 380, 124942, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124942View publication →
  11. Biostimulant effect of a novel seawater-adapted strain of Scenedesmus almeriensis on garden geranium. Rivera-Sanchez, E., Villaro-Cos, S., Jimenez-Becker, S., Rapalo-Cruz, A., & Lafarga, T.. Algal Research, 86, 103918, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.algal.2025.103918View publication →
  12. Application of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to rapidly measure macromolecular composition of Spirulina. Marina-Montes, C., Lafarga, T., Gómez, C., & Acién, G.. Journal of Applied Phycology, 1 -9, 2025

    DOI10.1007/s10811-025-03755-yView publication →
  13. Effects of Microalgae Biomass (Nannochloropsis gaditana and Thalassiosira sp.) on Wheat Seed Germination at High Temperature. Alfaro Sifuentes, L. G., Romero Villegas, G. I., Sánchez Estrada, A., Chávez, L. A. C., Puente Padilla, B. L., Acién Fernánde z, F. G., & Estrada Alvarado, M. I.. Agronomy, 15(12), 2917, 2025

    DOI10.3390/agronomy15122917View publication →
  14. Influence of including Arthrospira platensis as a functional ingredient in dairy cow feed.Barcelo-Villalobos, M., Arrebola, F., Vizcaino, A., Alarcón, F. J., & Acién, F. G.. Algal Research, 91, 104295, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.algal.2025.104295View publication →
  15. Sustainable biostimulant strategy through microalgae-based recycling of horticultural fertigation drainage management. Cunha – Chiamolera, T. P., Urrestarazu, M., Acién-Fernández, F. G., Gómez-Serrano, C., Guirao-García, A., Jimenéz-Becker, S.,... & Miralles, I.. Agricultural Water Management, 318, 109757, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109757View publication →
  16. Complex interplay between the microalgae and their microbiome in production raceways. Traver-Azuara, J., Giner, C. R., García-Comas, C., Sánchez-Zurano, A., Ciardi, M., Acién, G.,... & Cermeño, P.. Bioresource technology, 432, 132650, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132650View publication →
  17. A new method for the online determination of mass transfer and oxygen production rates in microalgae raceway reactors. Arraga, R., Dambruin, N. A., Barceló-Villalobos, M., Janssen, M., & Acién, F. G.. Algal Research, 90, 104235, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.algal.2025.104235View publication →
  18. Recent advances and challenges in mechanistic modelling of photosynthetic processes for wastewater treatment. Rossi, S., Capson-Tojo, G., Sànchez-Zurano, A., Carecci, D., Batstone, D. J., Acìén-Fernandez, G. F., & Ficara, E. Water Research, 278, 123216, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.watres.2025.123216View publication →
  19. Exploiting outcomes of life cycle costing to conduct coherent screening social life cycle assessments of emerging systems: a case study of microalgae biorefineries. Pérez-López, P., Rajaonison, A., Zebian, B., Bouallou, C., González-Fernández, C., Greses, S.,... & Acién Fernández, F. G.. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 30(4), 770 -791, 2025

    DOI10.1007/s11367-024-02427-View publication →
  20. In vitro evaluation of microalgae as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids for ruminants. Navarro Marcos, C., Heras-Molina, A., de Evan, T., Carro, M. D., Gómez-Serrano, C., Terré, M.,... & Astiz Blanco, S.. Journal of Applied Phycology, 37(4), 2517 -2523, 2025

    DOI10.1007/s10811-025-03579-wView publication →
  21. Rápalo-Cruz, A., Gómez-Serrano, C., González-López, C. V., Urrestarazu-Gavilán, M., & Jiménez-Becker, S.. Horticulturae, 11(5), 547, 2025

    DOI10.3390/horticulturae11050547View publication →
  22. Effects of Chlorella vulgaris at Different Growth Stages and Concentrations on the Growth of Pelargonium× hortorum. Rápalo-Cruz, A., Gomez-Serrano, C., Gonzalez-Lopez, C. V., Bagher Hassanpouraghdam, M., Ebrahimzadeh, A., & Jimenez-Becker, S.. Agriculture, 15(4), 419, 2025

    DOI10.3390/agriculture15040419View publication →
  23. Driving Sustainability: Reusing Microalgae Wastewater to Grow Pelargonium x hortorum. Rápalo-Cruz, A., Gómez-Serrano, C., González-López, C. V., Morillas-España, A., & Jiménez-Becker, S.. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 56(10), 1586 -1598, 2025

    DOI10.1080/00103624.2025.2463412View publication →
  24. Thermal seawater desalination for irrigation purposes in a water-stressed region: Emerging value tensions in full-scale implementation. Gamboa, G., Palenzuela, P., Ktori, R., Alarcón-Padilla, D.C., Zaragoza, G., Fayad, S., Xevgenos, D., Palmeros-Parada, M. Desalination, 593, 118213, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.desal.2024.118213View publication →
  25. Proposing a circular economy for mine tailings: using them as catalysts in the treatment of landfill leachate. Poblete, R., S alinas, V., Maldonado, M.I. Minerals Engineering 234, 109782, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.mineng.2025.109782View publication →
  26. Influence of the moisture and ash content in flue gases on the performance of adsorption processes using activated carbons to capture the CO2 for reuse in greenhouses. Pastor, R. L., Pinna-Hernández, M. G., Molina, J. S., & Fernández, F. A.. Heliyon, 11(1), 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40346View publication →
  27. Piggery wastewater treatment by solar photo-Fenton coupled with microalgae production. Ferreira, A., Belachqer-El Attar, S., Villaró-Cos, S., Ciardi, M., Soriano-Molina, P., López, J. L. C.,... & Gouveia, L.. Water Research, 271, 122869, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.watres.2024.122869View publication →
  28. Impacts of harvesting methods and medium recycling on rheology and composition of recycled medium and cell concentrates of Limnospira platensis semi-continuous cultures. Kurpan, D., Ciardi, M., Pessôa, L., Belachqer-El Attar, S., Schievano, A., Abreu, A. C.,... & Acién, G.. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 119570, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.jece.2025.119570View publication →
  29. Benchmarking of ALBA and ABACO -2 models for algae-bacteria wastewater treatment. Nordio, R., Casagli, F., Rodríguez-Miranda, E., Guzmán, J. L., Bernard, O., & Acién, G.. Algal Research, 89, 104049, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.algal.2025.104049View publication →
  30. Biomass derivatives photoreforming in pilot plant scale to obtain H2 under green conditions by using ball milling Cu2O-TiO2 P25 photocatalysts. M. Umair, A. Ruiz-Aguirre, I. Berruti, S. Malato-Rodríguez, L. Palmisano, V. Loddo, M. Bellardita. Chemical Engineering Journal, 504, 158585, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.cej.2024.158585View publication →
  31. A hybrid MRAC-PI approach to regulate pH in raceway reactors for microalgae production. Caparroz, M., Guzman, J. L., Gil, J. D., Berenguel, M., & Acien, F. G.. Control Engineering Practice, 156, 106191, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.conengprac.2024.106191View publication →
  32. A Web-Based Virtual Lab for Microalgae Raceway Photobioreactors: Enhancing Modeling and Control Education. Guzmán, J. L., Rodríguez-Miranda, E., Berenguel, M., Acién, F. G., & García-Gallardo, J.. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 59(7), 36 -41, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.ifacol.2025.08.019View publication →
  33. Development of a novel tool to simulate solar thermal cogeneration plants using small-capacity tower plants. Bonilla, J., Ortega-Delgado, B., Alarcón-Padilla, D.C., Fernández-Reche, J., Palenzuela, P. Energy Conversion and Management, 324, 119285, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.enconman.2024.119285View publication →
  34. Model reference adaptive control for pH regulation. Caparroz, M., Guzman, J. L., Berenguel, M., Gil, J. D., & Acien, F. G.. Revista Iberoamericana de Automática e Informática industrial, 22(2), 126 -134, 2025

    DOI10.4995/riai.2024.21919View publication →
  35. A low-cost methodology based on artificial intelligence for contamination detection in microalgae production systems. Gonzalez-Hernandez, J., Ciardi, M., Guzman, J. L., Moreno, J. C., & Acien, F. G.. Algal Research, 85, 103849, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.algal.2024.103849View publication →
  36. Operation, control and assessment of a full-scale membrane distillation unit for treating desalination brine in the context of greenhouse production. J.A. Andrés-Mañas, Juan D. Gil, J.A. Sánchez-Molina, M. Berenguel, G. Zaragoza. Journal of Cleaner Production, 503, 145186, 2025

    DOI10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145186View publication →
  37. Data-driven models of a solar field used to power membrane distillation systems: A comparison study. Bueso, A., J. D. Gil, and G. Zaragoza. Solar Energy 290 (2025): 113349

    DOI10.1016/j.solener.2025.113349View publication →

Defended doctoral theses

PhD theses defended during 2025 by unit members

Spirulina-based processes for sustainable functional food ingredients

Sílvia Villaró-Cos

Universidad de Almería · 21/11/2025 · Sobresaliente cum laude

Batch operating solar membrane distillation systems for concentration of brines

Isabel Requena Requena

Universidad de Almería · mayo de 2025 · Sobresaliente cum laude

Awards and distinctions

Recognitions received by the unit in 2025

  • Tomás Lafarga — San Alberto Research Award. University of Almería, Almería, 2025.
  • Patricia Palenzuela and Lidia Roca — Outstanding Contribution to the improvement of CST research infrastructures’ capabilities and services 2025 (EU-SOLARIS ERIC). Almería, Spain, 4 June 2025.