Manuel Garcia-Pérez

Introduction

Dr. Garcia-Perez’s work is in the Bioenergy and Bioproducts Engineering research emphasis area and addresses the environmental burden associated with the world’s declining petroleum resources. He is currently working on new Thermochemical conversion concepts— a process that converts biomass waste, such as forest residues, sugar cane bagasse, triglycerides, sugars, and starch, into transportation fuels and chemicals.

Garcia-Perez and his research partners have worked for more than eight years in novel approaches to characterize bio-oils produced from diverse agricultural and forest feedstock’s.

“Major contributions have been made in the use of new analytical approaches to characterize these complex liquids. Instead of using analytical techniques targeting individual compounds, our research targets characterization approaches that emphasize chemical groups or fractions. This approach is very useful for creating a rational platform for new refineries.”

As the importance of biomass for fuels, chemicals, building materials, and clothing continues to increase, students must learn how to integrate thermal, biological, chemical and mechanical conversion approaches to utilize these resources.

“University professors must be motivators and use available opportunities to tell stories of success and to introduce great researchers and business people as models. We must also recognize the achievements of our students and encourage them to work for their dreams.”

See more at my Research Site.

Curriculum Vitae
Research Site
Google Scholar

My Research In the News

Academic Interests

Professional Experience

• Associate Professor, Dept. Biological Systems Engineering,Washington State University; Pullman, WA. Working in fundamental studies to understand cellulose and lignin pyrolysis mechanisms. The development of selective pyrolysis reactors and bio-refinery concepts to convert bio-oils into bio-fuels and bio-chemicals.
  2013 – present.
• Assistant Professor, Dept. Biological Systems Engineering,Washington State University; Pullman, WA. Developing a program in Biomass Thermochemical Conversion. 2007 – 2013.
• Post doctoral research fellow, Monash University; Melbourne, Australia. Responsible for the improvement of a fast pyrolysis reactor to produce bio-oils from Mallee trees. Characterization, up-grading and combustion of bio-oils and chars. Study of generation of oligomers during pyrolysis. 2006 – 2007
• University of Georgia and EPRIDA (Athens, Georgia, USA). In charge of improving and designing of Thermochemical reactors and analytical laboratories. The main responsibility was to improve and design Thermochemical reactors (Continuous Auger and Batch pyrolysis reactors) and to identify and install new analytical equipments (DSC/TG-MS, Karl-Fischer, Rota-evaporators, GC analyser, CHNS-O, Proximate analysers) for a Thermochemical laboratory. Development of new applications for pyrolysis products in the agriculture. Study of fuel properties of bio-oil/bio-diesel blends. 2005 – 2006
• LAVAL UNIVERSITY; Quebec City, Canada. CANMET (Advanced Combustion Technologies, NRCan); Ottawa, Canada and PYROVAC; Quebec City, Canada. In charge of a project to study the fuel properties of vacuum pyrolysis oils obtained from wood industry residues. Scholarship of Doctorate from the Laval University Foundation. 1 month of internship at the “CO2 solution” pilot plant. 2001 – 2005

Education

• Post-doc at the Chemical Engineering Department. Monash University; Melbourne, Australia. 2006-07
• Post-doc at the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept, Univ. of Georgia; Athens, Georgia, USA. 2005-06
• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Universite Laval; Quebec, Canada; 2005.
• M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, Universite Lava; Quebec, Canada; 2001
• M.Eng. in Process Engineering, University of Orient; Santiago de Cuba; 1998
• B.E. in Chemical Engineering, University of Orient; Santiago de Cuba; 1995