Javier Herguido

@article{ARAGUESALDEA2025103038,

title = {Biogas upgrading through CO2 methanation in a multiple-inlet fixed bed reactor: Simulated parametric analysis},

author = {P. Aragüés-Aldea and V. D. Mercader and P. Durán and E. Francés and J. Á. Peña and J. Herguido},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212982025000228},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103038},

issn = {2212-9820},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Journal of CO2 Utilization},

volume = {93},

pages = {103038},

abstract = {A simulation of the catalytic CO2 methanation reaction was carried out, evaluating the effect of reactants distributed feeding throughout the bed. The main operational parameters were studied in a multiple-inlet reactor to test their effect on conversions and, most importantly, on selectivities towards both CO and CH4 as reaction products. The analyzed parameters were, firstly, the number of feeding points (N) and the dosage degree of reactants, followed by temperature (T), partial pressures of reactants (H2:CO2 ratios), and the composition of a sweetened biogas as feeding stream (CH4:CO2 ratios). It is confirmed that a distribution of biogas through several side inlets improves selectivities to the desired CH4 product, over other feeding configurations. The effect of distributing reactants becomes intensified when the number of lateral feedings increases. This observation supports the experimental trends already proven in previous works. Regarding main operation parameters such as temperature and H2:CO2 molar ratio, the analysis confirmed that their influence on selectivities acts just as predicted at low conversions. However, when these conversions become higher the space velocity (WHSV) is the most important factor for selectivities. Finally, no significant changes in reaction performance were obtained when modifying the biogas CH4:CO2 ratio in the broad range of methane concentrations from 55 v% to 70 v%.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{MERCADER2025115262,

title = {Optimizing Sorption Enhanced Methanation (SEM) of CO2 with Ni3Fe + LTA 5 A mixtures},

author = {V. D. Mercader and P. Aragüés-Aldea and P. Durán and E. Francés and J. Herguido and J. A. Peña},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092058612500080X},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2025.115262},

issn = {0920-5861},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Catalysis Today},

volume = {453},

pages = {115262},

abstract = {This study investigates the integration of catalytic CO2 methanation and water adsorption using a Ni-Fe-based catalyst and LTA 5 A zeolite to enhance methane production via the Sabatier reaction. By mitigating thermodynamic limitations through in situ water removal, the research explores key operational parameters, including temperature, space velocity, and H₂:CO₂ feed ratios, to optimize process performance. The findings highlight that a temperature of 300 °C, a WHSV of 1.50 × 104 (STP) mL·gcat−1·h−1 (4.86 gCO2·gcat⁻¹·h⁻¹), and a H₂:CO₂ molar ratio equal to 5:1, result in enhanced methane yields, shifting thermodynamic equilibrium due to water sorption during initial stages. The presence of methane in the feed, representative of a biogas, demonstrated negligible effects on methane yields under optimal conditions, underscoring the method’s feasibility for direct biogas upgrading. While the process achieved significant intensification, challenges such as loss of activity of the bed of solids (catalyst plus water adsorbent) were identified, necessitating further advancements in both catalyst and adsorbent stability, as well as a deeper study on their interaction. The study provides a pathway for scaling up adsorption-enhanced methanation technologies to achieve renewable methane production, addressing the dual goals of carbon management and energy storage.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{SANZMONREAL2025107871,

title = {Techno-economic assessment of a plant for the upgrading of MSW biogas to synthetic natural gas by thermocatalytic methanation},

author = {P. Sanz-Monreal and V. D. Mercader and P. Aragüés-Aldea and P. Durán and E. Francés and J. Herguido and J. A. Peña},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096195342500282X},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107871},

issn = {0961-9534},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Biomass and Bioenergy},

volume = {198},

pages = {107871},

abstract = {This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of a plant designed to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG) from biogas through direct catalytic methanation. The proposed facility is simulated with Aspen Plus® v14, using a comprehensive approach that covers the entire process, from biogas pretreatment to the production of the final product. The installation aims to contribute to the development of Power-to-Gas (Power-to-Methane) strategy for decarbonization. The plant, to be located in northeastern Spain, operates at an industrial scale with a production capacity of approximately 1100 Nm3/h of SNG, obtained from a 1425 Nm3/h biogas plant. The process includes five main stages to meet Spanish gas quality standards for grid injection: desulfurization, using amines for sulfur removal; electrolysis, for the generation of renewable hydrogen; thermocatalytic methanation, which combines CO2 from the biogas with hydrogen to enrich the methane content; dehydration, to meet SNG moisture specifications; and cogeneration, intended for the joint production of electricity and steam to meet the plant's energy demands. A detailed analysis of investment costs (CAPEX) and operational expenses (OPEX) is conducted, identifying the key factors influencing the project's profitability. The economic assessment indicates a total capital investment of 21.83 M€ and operational expenses nearly 8 M€ annually. The profitability threshold for the base scenario is estimated at 91.75 €/MWh, exceeding the 2023 natural gas market average in the Iberic peninsula (39.11 €/MWh), highlighting the current economic challenges of SNG production.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{RENDA2025107764,

title = {Effect of particles size and density on the segregation of catalyst-sorbent mixtures for direct sorption-enhanced DME synthesis: Experimental and mathematical study},

author = {Simona Renda and Jaime Soler and Javier Herguido and Miguel Menéndez},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0961953425001758},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107764},

issn = {0961-9534},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Biomass and Bioenergy},

volume = {197},

pages = {107764},

abstract = {Direct sorption-enhanced dimethyl ether synthesis (SEDMES) is a promising process for the production of fuels from CO2 sources. Using novel technologies, the process can be run exploiting the phenomena of particles segregation in a fluidized bed reactor. However, the knowledge on the solid movement and the segregation patterns is a mandatory preliminary step for the setup of the final application. In this study, we evaluated the impact of particles size and density on the segregation patterns, and we used the Gibilaro and Rowe (GR) model to analytically represent the experimental results. It was observed that the variation of both parameters influences segregation, even though a higher separation degree in a wider operating velocity range was observed when a higher density ratio was induced between the two solids. Through the experimental analysis, five possible bed configurations were identified, and a consideration was made on the aims of the GR model to adjust the mathematical representation to the present case. By considering the bottom portion of the bed as a jetsam-rich phase and not – as previously reported – as a segregated layer, a mass balance on the catalyst allowed to obtain a faithful analytical representation of the experimental segregation patterns.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{ZAPATER2024101176,

title = {Multifunctional fluidized bed reactors for process intensification},

author = {D. Zapater and S. R. Kulkarni and F. Wery and M. Cui and J. Herguido and M. Menendez and G. J. Heynderickx and K. M. Van Geem and J. Gascon and P. Castaño},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360128524000340},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2024.101176},

issn = {0360-1285},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-07-31},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Progress in Energy and Combustion Science},

volume = {105},

pages = {101176},

abstract = {Fluidized bed reactors (FBRs) are crucial in the chemical industry, serving essential roles in gasoline production, manufacturing materials, and waste treatment. However, traditional up-flow FBRs have limitations in applications where rapid kinetics, catalyst deactivation, sluggish mass/heat transfer processes, particle erosion or agglomeration (clustering) occur. This review investigates multifunctional FBRs that can function in multiple ways and intensify processes. These reactors can reduce reaction steps and costs, enhance heat and mass transfer, make processes more compact, couple different phenomena, improve energy efficiency, operate in extreme fluidized regimes, have augmented throughput, or solve problems inherited by traditional reactor configurations. They address constraints associated with conventional counterparts and contribute to favorable energy, fuels, and environmental footprints. These reactors can be classified as two-zone, vortex, and internal circulating FBRs, with each concept summarized, including their advantages, disadvantages, process applicability, intensification, visualization, and simulation work. This discussion also includes shared considerations for these reactor types, along with perspectives on future advancements and opportunities for enhancing their performance.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}