Sergio Morales Torres (SMT) graduated in Chemistry at the University of Jaén (Spain) in 2003, and then joined the Research Group in Carbon Materials of the University of Granada (Spain), where he completed his PhD degree (Cum Laude, EU Mention and Extraordinary Award) through a doctoral FPU Grant funded by Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC, Spain) in 2009. In November 2010, he moved at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), where later he earned a Post-Doctoral Grant from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) to develop carbon-based membranes for water desalination and purification. Since November 2016, he is associate researcher (IF-FCT) at Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM of FEUP to functionalize membranes with graphene derivatives for water treatment. SMT has participated as team member in research projects in Portugal and Spain, co-authored more than 40 publications, including 31 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and a granted patent. He is member of the COST Action ES1403 (NEREUS), Spanish Coal Group (GEC) and International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM).

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Synthesis and functionalization of graphene derivatives
Development of carbon-based membranes with different geometries such as flat-sheet, tubular and hollow fibres
Catalytic membrane reactors for removal of pollutants by AOPs
Membrane technologies for water desalination and purification

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

S. Morales-Torres, C.M.P. Esteves, J.L. Figueiredo, A.M.T. Silva. Thin-film composite forward osmosis membranes based on polysulfone supports blended with nanostructured carbon materials. Journal of Membrane Science, 520, 326-336, 2016 T.L.S. Silva, S. Morales-Torres, J.L. Figueiredo, A.M.T. Silva. Multi-walled carbon nanotube/PVDF blended membranes with sponge- and finger-like pores for direct contact membrane distillation. Desalination, 357, 233-245, 2015 L.M. Pastrana-Martínez, S. Morales-Torres, J.L. Figueiredo, J.L. Faria, A.M.T. Silva. Graphene oxide based ultrafiltration membranes for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in salty water. Water Research, 77, 179-190, 2015 S. Morales-Torres, T.L.S. Silva, L.M. Pastrana-Martínez, A.T.S.C. Brandão, J.L. Figueiredo, A.M.T. Silva. Modification of the surface chemistry of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes by HNO3 and H2SO4 hydrothermal oxidation for application in direct contact membrane distillation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 16, 12237-12250, 2014 C.P. Athanasekou, S. Morales-Torres, V. Likodimos, G.E. Romanos, L.M. Pastrana-Martinez, P. Falaras, J.L. Faria, J.L. Figueiredo, A.M.T. Silva. Prototype composite membranes of partially reduced graphene oxide/TiO2 for photocatalytic ultrafiltration water treatment under visible light. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 158-159, 361-372, 2014 L.M. Pastrana-Martinez, S. Morales-Torres, V. Likodimos, J.L. Figueiredo, J.L. Faria, P. Falaras, A.M.T. Silva. Advanced nanostructured photocatalysts based on reduced graphene oxide-TiO2 composites for degradation of diphenhydramine pharmaceutical and methyl orange dye. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 123, 241-256, 2012 S. Morales-Torres, L.M. Pastrana-Martinez, J.L. Figueiredo, J.L. Faria, A.M.T. Silva. Design of graphene-based TiO2 photocatalysts-a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 19, 3676-87, 2012

SELECTED PROJECTS

AIProcMat@N2020 - Advanced Industrial Processes and Materials for a Sustainable North Region of Portugal2020. Reference: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000006. Funded by: CCDR-N - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte, P2020|Norte2020 - Projetos Integrados ICDT. Starting Date: 2016/06/01. Duration: 36 months. Role: Researcher RL2_P4 - Catalysis and Materials. Reference: NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000015. Funded by: CCDR-N, Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2). Starting Date: 2013/01/01. Duration: 30 months. Role: Researcher Carbon nanotube membranes for water desalination and purification. Reference: PTDC/AAC-AMB/122312/2010. Funded by: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I&DT - Projectos de I&DT em Todos os Domínios Científicos. Starting Date: 2012/03/31. Duration: 30 months. Role: Researcher
Sérgio Morales Torres
semoto@fe.up.pt