Research Fields

MER’s research focuses on:

• Development and characterization of polymeric and hybrid membranes for advanced separation processes
• Transport phenomena and process modeling in membrane-based systems
• Integration of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and others) into desalination and wastewater treatment applications
• Optimization of energy efficiency in renewable energy systems and membrane technologies

Collaborations and Training Activities

MER collaborates with leading national and international research institutes and industries, including IMDEA Water, IMDEA Energy, ICTP-CSIC, Nanyang Technological University, Imperial College London, Harvard University, and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, among others. The group is also actively engaged in training PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students through research projects, thesis supervision, and participation in international programs.

Funding and Projects

The research group has received funding from national and international agencies, including the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC), European Union programs, and the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI). Over the years, MER has supervised numerous PhD theses (including European and International Mention), master's and undergraduate dissertations, and hosted foreign researchers

Projects

In progress:

• Sustainable membrane separation technologies for water reuse, blue energy harvesting and added-value products recovery approaching zero waste (MemTecWare)
• Membranas poliméricas sostenibles para el tratamiento de aguas por destilación en membrana (MemGREEN)
• Research Network on Membrane Science and Tecnology for Water Treatment (MEMBRANET)
• Proof of Concept for a Coordinated Wind Turbine Control Device on Hybrid Offshore Platforms (MatrixWT_PoC)
• “Photoactive Metal-Organic Framework for Solar-Driven Atmospheric Water Harvesting in Arid Climates” (Ref. 4231051). Financing Entity: European Commission. Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01 (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023). Topic: HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01-01. PI: Mohamed Khayet (UCM). 01/11/2024 – 31/10/2026.
• “Sustainable membrane separation technologies for water reuse, blue energy harvesting and added-value products recovery approaching zero waste” (Ref. PID2022-138389OB-C31). Financing Entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation (Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento). Call: 2022. Coordinated Project. Participants: Polytechnic University of Catalonia, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria & UCM. PIs: Mohamed Khayet and María del Carmen García Payo. 01/09/2023-31/08/2026.

 

Completed Projects:

• “Hybrid wastewater treatments based on recycled membranes with the object of zero liquid discharge (ZLD)” (Ref. RTI2018-096042-B-C22). Financing Entity: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad). Call: 2018. Coordinated Project. Participants: Fundación IMDEA-Agua & UCM. PIs: María del Carmen García Payo and Mohamed Khayet (UCM). 01/01/2019- 30/09/2022