Jelena Radjenović

Jelena Radjenović

Institut Català de Recerca de l'Aigua

Engineering Sciences

Graduated in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology from the University of Belgrade´s Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Serbia, in 2004. PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Barcelona in July 2009 with “cum laude” distinction. 2009-2014: Advanced Water Management Centre (AWMC), University of Queensland, Australia. November 2014-onwards: Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Girona, Spain. Awarded with several prestigious fellowships: Queesland Early Career Smart Future Fellowship, Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship, Ramon y Cajal fellowship. 2017-2023: ERC Starting Grant ELECTRON4WATER. Awarded with the Catalan National Research Award for Young Talent for 2021.

Research interests

I am an expert in chemical and electrochemical advanced (waste)water treatment, with a focus on the fate of chemical and microbial contaminants and resource recovery. My research aims to increase the efficiency and resilience of water treatment and reuse through the development of sustainable, energy-efficient and renewable energy-driven technologies. My core expertise is the development of low-cost, nanostructured electrode materials, their implementation in electrochemical systems for (waste)water treatment, as well as elucidation of the mechanism of contaminant degradation at the nano-scale level. My group has developed several patented, low-cost nanostructured electrodes that overcome major limitations of existing, commercial electrode materials and are capable of efficient contaminant degradation and recovery of valuable byproducts.  

Selected publications

- Norra GF, Baptista-Pires L, Cuervo Lumbaque E, Borrego CM & Radjenovic J 2022, 'Chlorine-free electrochemical disinfection using graphene sponge electrodes', Chemical Engineering Journal, 430, 1, 132772.

- Duinslaeger N & Radjenovic J 2022, 'Electrochemical degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using low-cost graphene sponge electrodes', Water Research, 213, 118148.

- Lumbaque EC, Baptista-Pires L & Radjenovic J 2022, 'Functionalization of graphene sponge electrodes with two-dimensional materials for tailored electrocatalytic activity towards specific contaminants of emerging concern', Chemical Engineering Journal, 446, 4, 137057.