Position as Vice-Rector for the Bay of Algeciras Campus (2003–2011)
PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cádiz since 1996 [Doctoral thesis “Synthesis, isolation, purification, analysis and evaluation of surfactant properties of sulfoxylated methyl esters in the detergent range”, awarded Cum Laude, leading to the patent “Procedure for synthesising, separating, characterising and analysing sodium photosulfonates from methyl esters derived from fatty acids in the detergent range”, patented in the Official Industrial Property Gazette. Degree in Chemical Sciences from UNED; Technical Industrial Engineer specialising in Chemical Installations and Processes at the University of Cádiz.
A summary of the output developed to date would be: 2 six-year research periods, 26 journal publications, 15 contributions to congresses, 7 theses, and 9 academic and institutional positions.
Scientific output began with the presentation of the results obtained in the thesis at the 88th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, held in Seattle, Washington, and the 89th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Chicago, Illinois. A project entitled “Study of the hygroscopicity of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate”, within the (OTRI) programme and funded by Unilever Research Port Sunlight (URPL) in the United Kingdom, was also carried out.
Continuing the thesis research line, three articles were published with the aim of studying alternatives to sodium tripolyphosphate in detergent formulations, by replacing it with citric acid or its sodium salt, oxalic acid or its sodium salt, and malic, tartaric or nitrilotriacetic acid. Notable publications include those in the Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, Vol. 1 “Synthesis, Characterization, and Surface Properties of Sulfoxylated Methyl Esters”, Vol. 2 “Performance of Sulfoxylated Fatty Acid Methyl Esters”. This was followed by the co-supervision of doctoral theses: “Comparative evaluation of corrosion behaviour in ferritic stainless steels”, “Prediction models for atmospheric pollutants in the Bay of Algeciras”, “Engineering for the recovery of cobalt and manganese salts in the production processes of carboxylic acids by oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons”, “Automatic system for detecting the state of corrosion in austenitic stainless steels”.
Study of the effect of LAS and zein concentrations on protein solubilisation. Journal of Surfactants and Detergents. “The effect of counterions of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate on skin compatibility”, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents. “Characterization of pitting corrosion of stainless steel using artificial neural networks” (2015). Pitting potential modelling of EN 1.4404 LESS.
Throughout his professional career at the university, he has shown a strong commitment to the positions held: Deputy Director of the Technical Industrial Engineering School (1989–1992), Director (1992–2003), Academic Head of the Strait University Classroom (2000–2010), a project funded by the Provincial Council of Cádiz, Algeciras City Council and the University Abdelmalek Essadi in northern Morocco. The collaboration of Banco Santander provided a very significant boost for this project. The creation of this Strait University Classroom achieved leadership in Spain in the highest number of cooperation projects with Morocco. Finally, he served as Managing Director of the Algeciras Technology Campus Foundation (2007–2016), a newly created foundation to contribute to the development of the Bay of Algeciras Campus and to promote research and the transfer of knowledge to the industrial–port sector. He currently holds the position of Coordinator of the Master’s in Petrochemistry and Hydrogen Technologies.