Ivan Simeonov | Anaerobic Digestion | Most Reader’s Article Award

Dr. Ivan Simeonov | Anaerobic Digestion | Most Reader’s Article Award

Retired scientist at Institut of microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria.

Ivan Simeonov, PhD, Professor, is a highly experienced scientist specializing in bioautomatics and anaerobic digestion. He has made significant contributions in modeling, monitoring, and optimization of biotechnological processes, particularly in the anaerobic digestion of organic waste. With numerous international collaborations, he has worked across Europe, Asia, and Russia. He is a respected member of scientific societies, and his research has been widely published in leading journals. Simeonov continues to engage in cutting-edge research, with a focus on environmental biotechnology and renewable energy systems 🌍💡🌿. His work has earned him recognition both in Bulgaria and internationally 🏆🔬.

Professional Profile:

Scopus

ORCID

Suitability for Most Reader’s Article Award

Prof. Ivan Simeonov, PhD, is a highly accomplished researcher in bioautomatics and environmental biotechnology. His extensive contributions to anaerobic digestion, mathematical modeling, and process optimization have made a lasting impact on sustainable engineering and renewable energy. With 281 scientific papers and a global collaborative network spanning France, China, and Russia, his research has significantly advanced waste-to-energy technologies.

Education and Experience:

  • 1966: School 32 “Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria 🎓
  • 1971: Technical University of Sofia, Electrical Faculty, Specialty Automatics ⚙️
  • 1971–1973: University of Paris VI and Ecole Supérieure d’Electricité, France 🇫🇷
  • 1981: PhD in Engineering (Automatics), Technical University of Sofia 🎓🔧
  • 1986-2020: Head of Research Group at the Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology 🧪
  • 2012-2016: Deputy Director, Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology 🌍
  • International collaborations in Russia, Ukraine, China, France, and Finland 🌍

Professional Development 

Ivan Simeonov’s professional development spans decades of international collaboration and scientific advancement. Over the years, he has honed his expertise through numerous guest professorships and research positions, including in France, Russia, and China. Simeonov’s work has significantly contributed to the fields of anaerobic digestion and bioautomatics, with a focus on sustainable energy and waste management technologies 🌱. His involvement in projects funded by the European Space Agency and Bulgarian National Science Fund showcases his expertise and leadership in the research community 🌌. His role as an invited researcher and professor across global institutions highlights his ongoing commitment to scientific innovation ✨📚.

Research Focus 

Professor Simeonov’s research focuses on environmental biotechnology, renewable energy, and anaerobic digestion systems. His expertise lies in the mathematical modeling, monitoring, and optimization of biotechnological processes, especially in the degradation of organic waste for energy production 🔋🌿. He is dedicated to advancing the understanding of two-stage anaerobic digestion, producing methane and hydrogen from agricultural and lignocellulosic waste. Through his international collaborations, he works on the development of intelligent control systems and optimal technologies that enhance the efficiency of biogas production, contributing significantly to sustainable energy solutions 🌍. His work is crucial to achieving eco-friendly waste management practices 🌱.

Awards and Honors:

  • President, NGO “Ecological Engineering and Environment Protection” 🌍
  • Member of the governing body, “John Atanasoff” Society of Automatics and Informatics 📚
  • Member, Technical Committee of IFAC TC 8.4 Biosystems and Bioprocesses 🏆
  • 531 citations (Scopus), h-index: 13 📈
  • Scientific collaborator in projects funded by the Bulgarian National Science Fund and European Space Agency 🚀

Publication Top Notes

  1. Title: Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion for Green Energy Production: A Review

    • Authors: I.S. Simeonov, E.I. Chorukova, L.V. Kabaivanova
    • Year: 2025
  2. Title: A volatile fatty acids adaptive observer-based hierarchical optimal controller design to maximum gas production of two-stage anaerobic digestion process

    • Authors: H. Li, Y. Tian, H. Wang, I.S. Simeonov, N.D. Christov
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 1
  3. Title: Trajectory tracking of two-stage anaerobic digestion process: A predictive control with guaranteed performance and saturated input, based on ultra-local model

    • Authors: D. He, H. Wang, Y. Tian, N.D. Christov, I.S. Simeonov
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 6
  4. Title: Special Issue “Modelling and Optimal Design of Complex Biological Systems”

    • Authors: J. Harmand, A.E. Rapaport, N.S. Dimitrova, I.S. Simeonov
    • Year: 2023
  5. Title: Newton-Based Extremum Seeking for Dynamic Systems Using Kalman Filtering: Application to Anaerobic Digestion Process Control

    • Authors: Y. Tian, N. Pan, M. Hu, L.V. Kabaivanova, N.D. Christov
    • Year: 2023
    • Citations: 4

Despina Vamvuka | Solid Wastes | Best Research Article Award

Prof. Despina Vamvuka | Solid Wastes | Best Research Article Award

Despina Vamvuka, Technical University of Crete, Greece

👩‍🔬Despina Vamvuka is a Chemical Engineer and Professor at the School of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete. She specializes in Solid Fuels Beneficiation and Technology, focusing on clean energy production technologies. 🌱🔬

Profile

Scopus

Education

Despina Vamvuka holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and has built a robust academic foundation that underpins her extensive research and teaching career in the field of solid fuels and clean energy technologies. 🎓📘

Experience

Despina Vamvuka has significant experience in pyrolysis, combustion, gasification, and pollutant emission reduction from solid fuels. She is a seasoned educator and researcher with over 230 scientific publications and a profound involvement in both national and European research projects. 🌐👩‍🏫

Research Interests

Despina Vamvuka‘s research interests are diverse, encompassing solid fuels beneficiation, clean technologies for energy production, pyrolysis, combustion, gasification, and reduction of pollutant emissions from solid fuels. Her work aims at advancing sustainable energy solutions. 🌍⚡

Awards

Throughout her career, Despina Vamvuka has received numerous accolades and has been an integral part of several scientific committees and editorial boards. Her contributions to the fields of energy, environment, biofuels, and hydrogen are widely recognized. 🏆🌟

Publications

  1. “Valorization of a high-sulfur petroleum coke for energy and fuels through its co-processing with a forest waste, using concrete wastes for sulphur and carbon dioxide capture under mild conditions”
    • Journal: Thermochimica Acta
    • Year: 2024
    • Link
  2. “Adsorption of ammonium from wastewaters by an almond kernel derived biochar modified by potassium hydroxide or dolomite and activated by steam”
    • Journal: Environmental Advances
    • Year: 2024
    • Citations: 2
    • Link
  3. “Magnesium or bentonite modified almond kernel biochar for phosphate adsorption from contaminated water solutions”
    • Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
    • Year: 2024
    • Link
  4. “Gasification Performance of Barley Straw Waste Blended with Lignite for Syngas Production under Steam or Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere”
    • Journal: Applied Sciences (Switzerland)
    • Year: 2024
    • Link
  5. “Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste through Co-Gasification Using Steam or Carbon Dioxide with Olive By-Products”
    • Journal: Energies
    • Year: 2024
    • Link