Carlos Morales Polo obtained an Industrial Engineer degree (major in Mechanics) from the Comillas Pontifical University-ICAI (2014) and a PhD in Industrial Engineering (major in Environmental Engineering), from the same University (2019). He currently serves as lecturer in the areas of Mechanics, Environment and Energy, coordinates the Master's Degree in Environment and Energy Transition and serves as associate researcher at the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT).

Areas of interest:

Waste management and treatment. Water technologies. Energy use. Environmental Impact Study through Life Cycle Assesment.

Highlighted Publications

C. Martín-Sanz-Garrido, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, C. Morales-Polo, A. Santos-Montes, "Digestate from Spanish wholesale food markets: valorization as biofertilizer and analysis of environmental impacts compared to synthetic fertilizers", Environmental Sciences Europe, Vol. 37, pp. 134, 2025. [Online: August 2025] doi: 10.1186/s12302-025-01183-w
JCR-JIF: 7,100 Q1 (2025); - SJR: 1,597 Q1 (2025);
M.M. Cledera-Castro, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, C. Sanchez-Mata, C. Morales-Polo, J. Calzada-Funes, N. Delgado-Mellado, R. Caro, "An exploratory study of fibre microplastics pollution in different process stages of salt production by solar evaporation in Spain", Heliyon, Vol. 10, nº. 11, pp. e31609, June 2024. [Online: May 2024] doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31609
JCR-JIF: 3,600 Q1 (2024); - SJR: 0,644 Q1 (2024);
L. Serrat, J.I. Linares, M.M. Cledera-Castro, C. Morales-Polo, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Ground source heat pump driven by reciprocating engine firing biomethane from wastewater treatment plant sludge in a cogeneration for district heating and cooling. A case study in Spain", Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 219, nº. Part B, pp. 119586, January 2023. [Online: November 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.119586
JCR-JIF: 6,100 Q1 (2023); 7,500 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,488 Q1 (2023); 1,556 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Anaerobic digestion of organic fraction combinations from food waste, for an optimal dynamic release of biogas, using H2 as an indicator", Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 857, nº. Part 3, pp. 159727, January 2023. [Online: October 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159727
JCR-JIF: 8,200 Q1 (2023); 8,000 Q1 (2024) - SJR: 1,998 Q1 (2023); 2,043 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Enhancing energy recovery in form of biogas, from vegetable and fruit wholesale markets by-products and wastes, with pretreatments", Plants, Vol. 10, nº. 7, pp. 1298, July 2021. [Online: June 2021] doi: 10.3390/plants10071298
JCR-JIF: 4,658 Q1 (2021); 4,700 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,765 Q1 (2021); 0,960 Q1 (2025)

show 5 highlighted publications

Journal Publications

J. Victoria Rodríguez, C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "A generalized kinetic model for anaerobic co-digestion of agro-industrial biomass mixtures improved through pretreatments or additives", Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 249, pp. 123654, July 2026. [Online: June 2026] doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.123654
JCR-JIF: 6,400 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,965 Q1 (2025)
C. Martín-Sanz-Garrido, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, C. Morales-Polo, A. Santos-Montes, "Digestate from Spanish wholesale food markets: valorization as biofertilizer and analysis of environmental impacts compared to synthetic fertilizers", Environmental Sciences Europe, Vol. 37, pp. 134, 2025. [Online: August 2025] doi: 10.1186/s12302-025-01183-w
JCR-JIF: 7,100 Q1 (2025); - SJR: 1,597 Q1 (2025);
P. Gómez-Sánchez de Rojas, J. Victoria Rodríguez, C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Environmental and techno-economic analysis of a biomethane energy community in southern Spain", Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Vol. 82, pp. 104496, October 2025. [Online: August 2025] doi: 10.1016/j.seta.2025.104496
JCR-JIF: 7,400 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 1,416 Q1 (2025);
C. Martín-Sanz-Garrido, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, A. Santos-Montes, C. Morales-Polo, "A Review on Anaerobic Digestate as a Biofertilizer: Characteristics, Production, and Environmental Impacts from a Life Cycle Assessment Perspective", Applied Sciences, Vol. 15, nº. 15, pp. 8635, August 2025. [Online: August 2025] doi: 10.3390/app15158635
JCR-JIF: 2,900 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 0,555 Q2 (2025);
A. López-Aguilera, C. Morales-Polo, J. Victoria Rodríguez, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Assessment of Biomethane Production Potential in Spain: A Regional Analysis of Agricultural Residues, Municipal Waste, and Wastewater Sludge for 2030 and 2050", Sustainability, Vol. 17, nº. 10, pp. 4742, May 2025. [Online: May 2025] doi: 10.3390/su17104742
JCR-JIF: 4,100 Q2 (2025); - SJR: 0,750 Q1 (2025);
M. Fernández-Cortés, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, C. Morales-Polo, "Integrating Renewable Fuels and Sustainable Practices in Equestrian Centers: A Model for Carbon Footprint Reduction and Environmental Impact Mitigation", Fuels, Vol. 6, nº. 1, pp. 10, March 2025. [Online: February 2025] doi: 10.3390/fuels6010010
JCR-JIF: 4,000 Q2 (2025);
D. Gil-García, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Optimizing Methane Recovery for Fuels: A Comparative Study of Fugitive Emissions in Biogas Plants, WWTPs, and Landfills", Fuels, Vol. 5, nº. 4, pp. 762 - 781, December 2024. [Online: November 2024] doi: 10.3390/fuels5040042
JCR-JIF: 2,800 Q3 (2024); 4,000 Q2 (2025)
M.M. Cledera-Castro, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, C. Sanchez-Mata, C. Morales-Polo, J. Calzada-Funes, N. Delgado-Mellado, R. Caro, "An exploratory study of fibre microplastics pollution in different process stages of salt production by solar evaporation in Spain", Heliyon, Vol. 10, nº. 11, pp. e31609, June 2024. [Online: May 2024] doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31609
JCR-JIF: 3,600 Q1 (2024); - SJR: 0,644 Q1 (2024);
L. Serrat, J.I. Linares, M.M. Cledera-Castro, C. Morales-Polo, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Ground source heat pump driven by reciprocating engine firing biomethane from wastewater treatment plant sludge in a cogeneration for district heating and cooling. A case study in Spain", Applied Thermal Engineering, Vol. 219, nº. Part B, pp. 119586, January 2023. [Online: November 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.119586
JCR-JIF: 6,100 Q1 (2023); 7,500 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,488 Q1 (2023); 1,556 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Anaerobic digestion of organic fraction combinations from food waste, for an optimal dynamic release of biogas, using H2 as an indicator", Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 857, nº. Part 3, pp. 159727, January 2023. [Online: October 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159727
JCR-JIF: 8,200 Q1 (2023); 8,000 Q1 (2024) - SJR: 1,998 Q1 (2023); 2,043 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Enhancing energy recovery in form of biogas, from vegetable and fruit wholesale markets by-products and wastes, with pretreatments", Plants, Vol. 10, nº. 7, pp. 1298, July 2021. [Online: June 2021] doi: 10.3390/plants10071298
JCR-JIF: 4,658 Q1 (2021); 4,700 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,765 Q1 (2021); 0,960 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, "Bioconversion process of barley crop residues into biogas: energetic-environmental potential in Spain", Agronomy, Vol. 11, nº. 4, pp. 640, April 2021. [Online: March 2021] doi: 10.3390/agronomy11040640
JCR-JIF: 3,949 Q1 (2021); 4,100 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,654 Q1 (2021); 0,802 Q1 (2025)
K. Hueso-Kortekaas, A.C. Fegies, C. Espinosa de los Monteros López, M. Balbás de la Fuente, C. Morales-Polo, R. Caro, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Microplastics in food-grade salt: how bad is the problem?", El Alfolí, Nº. 28, pp. 11 - 19, January 2021.
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, M. Revuelta-Aramburu, "Anaerobic digestion in wastewater reactors of separated organic fractions from wholesale markets waste. Compositional and batch characterization. Energy and environmental feasibility", Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 726, pp. 138567, July 2020. [Online: April 2020] doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138567
JCR-JIF: 7,963 Q1 (2020); 8,000 Q1 (2024) - SJR: 1,795 Q1 (2020); 2,043 Q1 (2025)
M. Revuelta-Aramburu, M. A. Verdú-Vázquez, T. Gil-López, C. Morales-Polo, "Environmental analysis of the use of plant fiber blocks in building construction", Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 725, pp. 138495, July 2020. [Online: April 2020] doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138495
JCR-JIF: 7,963 Q1 (2020); 8,000 Q1 (2024) - SJR: 1,795 Q1 (2020); 2,043 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, B.Y. Moratilla, "Biogas production from vegetable and fruit markets waste- Compositional and batch characterizations", Sustainability, Vol. 11, nº. 23, pp. 6790, December 2019. [Online: November 2019] doi: 10.3390/su11236790
JCR-JIF: 2,576 Q2 (2019); 4,100 Q2 (2025) - SJR: 0,581 Q2 (2019); 0,750 Q1 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, B.Y. Moratilla, "Reviewing the anaerobic digestion of food waste: From waste generation and anaerobic process to its perspectives", Applied Sciences, Vol. 8, nº. 10, pp. 1804, October 2018. [Online: October 2018] doi: 10.3390/app8101804
JCR-JIF: 2,217 Q2 (2018); 2,900 Q2 (2025) - SJR: Q1 (2018); 0,555 Q2 (2025)
C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "An optimized water reuse and waste valorization method for a sustainable development of poultry slaughtering plants", Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol. 57, nº. 6, pp. 2702 - 2711, February 2016. [Online: April 2015] doi: 10.1080/19443994.2015.1033652
JCR-JIF: 1,631 Q3 (2016); 3,400 Q2 (2025) - SJR: Q2 (2016); 0,520 Q2 (2025)
B.Y. Moratilla, R. Ruiz-Sánchez, M. Estadieu, B. Belda-Sánchez, C. Cordón Peralta, P. Martín-Cañas, L. Rodríguez-Penalonga, M.M. Cledera-Castro, M.A. Sáenz-Nuño, C. Morales-Polo, "Impact of the taxes on used nuclear fuel on the fuel cycle economics in Spain", Energies, Vol. 8, nº. 2, pp. 1426 - 1439, February 2015. [Online: February 2015] doi: 10.3390/en8021426
JCR-JIF: 2,077 Q3 (2015); 3,900 Q3 (2025) - SJR: 0,748 Q1 (2025)

show 19 journal publications

Ph.D. Thesis

Developed:

C. Morales-Polo, "Co-digestión anaerobia y pretratamientos de residuos agroalimentarios con fangos UASB de depuradora. Caracterización BMP y análisis", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain, 2019.

In progress:

J. Victoria Rodríguez, "Anaerobic co-digestion of different residues enhanced with Fe-C nanoparticles", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain.
C. Martín-Sanz Garrido, "DIGESTATE AS A SUSTAINABLE FERTILISER ALTERNATIVE: ASSESSING AND MODELLING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain.

show 3 Ph.D. Thesis

Conference Papers

show 10 conference papers

Books and Book Chapters

C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Sources and Effects of Water Contamination: Characteristics and Ecological Implications", in Smart Water Quality Monitoring: Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Analytical Chemistry, D. Gutiérrez, et al. Ed(s). Cham, Switzerland: Ed. Springer Nature, 2026, pp. 29-57, doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03049-8_2

show 1 books and book chapters

Invited Conferences and Seminars

Workshop "Bioenergy in action: how to obtain biomethane from waste" Semana de la Ciencia y la Innovación 2024. Fundación para el conocimiento madri+d. Comunidad de Madrid. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2024.
Workshop "Bioenergy in action: producing biomethane from waste " Semana de la Ciencia y la Innovación 2023. Fundación para el conocimiento madri+d. Comunidad de Madrid. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2023.
Round table "Carbon footprint reduction measures in the automotive industry" VIII Congreso Nacional de Igenieros del ICAI «Somos historia que construye futuro». Colegio de Ingenieros del ICAI. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2021.
Round table "Waste-to-energy valuation of sewage sludge waste" VIII Congreso Nacional de Igenieros del ICAI «Somos historia que construye futuro». Colegio de Ingenieros del ICAI. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2021.

show 4 invited conferences and seminars

Media and research dissemination

"2X11 - Emerging contaminants and resource recovery". Casting the Future. (Dec 2022)
"2X04 - Green I love you green". Casting the Future. (Oct 2022)

show 2 media and research dissemination

Dr. Carlos Morales Polo

Highlighted Publications

Journal Publications

K. Hueso-Kortekaas, A.C. Fegies, C. Espinosa de los Monteros López, M. Balbás de la Fuente, C. Morales-Polo, R. Caro, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Microplastics in food-grade salt: how bad is the problem?", El Alfolí, Nº. 28, pp. 11 - 19, January 2021.

Ph.D. Thesis

Developed:

C. Morales-Polo, "Co-digestión anaerobia y pretratamientos de residuos agroalimentarios con fangos UASB de depuradora. Caracterización BMP y análisis", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain, 2019.

In progress:

J. Victoria Rodríguez, "Anaerobic co-digestion of different residues enhanced with Fe-C nanoparticles", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain.

C. Martín-Sanz Garrido, "DIGESTATE AS A SUSTAINABLE FERTILISER ALTERNATIVE: ASSESSING AND MODELLING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain.

Conference Papers

M.M. Cledera-Castro, K. Hueso-Kortekaas, C. Morales-Polo, I. Redondo Gómez, "Simulating Climate Governance in the Classroom: A Mock COP Summit for Engineering Students", presented at 2025 EUPeace Conference, Pilsen, Czech Republic, 22-24 September 2025

D. Muñoz Gordo, C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Comparison between Cl2 and stabilized ClO2 as disinfectant", presented at 3rd International Congress on Water, Waste and Energy Management - EWWM-16, Rome, Italy, 18-20 July 2016

C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, B.Y. Moratilla, "Co-digestion of agri-food residues in WWTP digesters with sludge from wastewater treatment. Laboratory tests", presented at 3rd International Congress on Water, Waste and Energy Management - EWWM-16, Rome, Italy, 18-20 July 2016

C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, B.Y. Moratilla, "GC Configuration for analysing and monitoring biogas production from anaerobic digestion of WWTP sludges and agri-food waste", presented at 3rd International Congress on Water, Waste and Energy Management - EWWM-16, Rome, Italy, 18-20 July 2016

C. Morales-Polo, M.M. Cledera-Castro, "Sustainable development of poultry slaughtering plants", presented at 2nd International Congress on Water, Waste and Energy Management - EWWM-14, Porto, Portugal, 16-18 July 2014

Books and Book Chapters

Invited Conferences and Seminars

Workshop "Bioenergy in action: how to obtain biomethane from waste" Semana de la Ciencia y la Innovación 2024. Fundación para el conocimiento madri+d. Comunidad de Madrid. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2024.

Workshop "Bioenergy in action: producing biomethane from waste " Semana de la Ciencia y la Innovación 2023. Fundación para el conocimiento madri+d. Comunidad de Madrid. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2023.

Round table "Carbon footprint reduction measures in the automotive industry" VIII Congreso Nacional de Igenieros del ICAI «Somos historia que construye futuro». Colegio de Ingenieros del ICAI. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2021.

Round table "Waste-to-energy valuation of sewage sludge waste" VIII Congreso Nacional de Igenieros del ICAI «Somos historia que construye futuro». Colegio de Ingenieros del ICAI. Madrid (Spain). Nov 2021.

Media and research dissemination

"2X11 - Emerging contaminants and resource recovery". Casting the Future. (Dec 2022)

"2X04 - Green I love you green". Casting the Future. (Oct 2022)