Contact Dr Yadira Bajon Fernandez
Areas of expertise
- Water Science and Engineering
Background
Dr Yadira Bajón Fernández is a Chemical Engineer by background and holds a PhD in applied sciences by Cranfield University. Yadira's core research area is in bioresources treatment, including anaerobic digestion of waste materials and municipal sludge, AD pre-treatment technologies and biosolids to land. She has a track record in operation and optimisation of anaerobic digesters for treatment of different feedstocks and a particular interest in understanding ADs stable operating envelope. Yadira also does extensive work in wastewater treatment, looking at gas to liquid mass transfer in rheologically complex fluids and low energy technologies for wastewater treatment in rural works.
Current activities
Yadira's research interests are in bioresources and wastewater treatment. Current activities are linked to:
- Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, municipal solid waste and energy crops
- Thermal and biological pre-treatments to boost anaerobic digestion performance
- Sludge treatment as a manufacturing process
- Sludge and wastewater treatment in rural works
- Biosolids to land
- Trade waste treatment
Yadira also facilitates the UK Wastewater Network, which links 11 major water utilities and 3 universities, called the Wastewater Network.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Zhuang Z, Sethupathy S, Bajón-Fernández Y, Ali S, Niu L, .... (2025). Microbial chemotaxis in degradation of xenobiotics: Current trends and opportunities. Microbiological Research, 290
- Mendizabal J, Vernon D, Martin B, Bajón Fernández Y & Soares A. (2025). Short-term memory artificial neural network modelling to predict concrete corrosion in wastewater treatment plant inlet chambers using sulphide sensors. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 69
- Nasar N, Pizzagalli G, Coulon F & Bajón Fernández Y. (2025). Enzymes targeting distinct hydrolysis blind-spots of thermal and biological pre-treatments significantly uplift biogas production. Bioresource Technology, 426
- Rocamora I, Wagland ST, Hassard F, Villa R, Peces M, .... (2025). Supplementation strategies to control propionic acid accumulation resulting from ammonia inhibition in dry anaerobic digestion: osmoprotectants, activated carbon and trace elements. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13(2)
- Murujew O, Wilson A, Vale PCJ, Bajón Fernández Y, Jefferson B, .... (2025). Robustness and resilience of different solid-liquid separation technologies for tertiary phosphorus removal to low levels by coagulation. Science of The Total Environment, 974
- Ramachandran R, Rivas Casado M, Bajon Fernandez Y & Truckell I. (2025). Enhancing Urban Resilience to Surface Water Flooding: A Novel Approach Using UAS-Derived Topographic Indices.
- Murujew O, Le Corre K, Wilson A, Bajón Fernández Y, Vale PCJ, .... (2024). Reactive media constructed wetland for phosphorus removal: assessing the opportunity and challenges. H2Open Journal, 7(2)
- Folkes M, Castro-Gutierrez VM, Lundy L, Bajón Fernández Y, Soares A, .... (2024). Campus source to sink wastewater surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Current Research in Microbial Sciences, 6
- Dueholm MKD, Andersen KS, Korntved A-KC, Rudkjøbing V, Alves M, .... (2024). MiDAS 5: Global diversity of bacteria and archaea in anaerobic digesters. Nature Communications, 15(1)
- Abeywickrama HGK, Bajón fernández Y, Srinamasivayam B, Turner D & Rivas Casado M. (2024). Monitoring CH4 fluxes in sewage sludge treatment centres: challenging emission underreporting. Remote Sensing, 16(13)
- Lyu T, Wu F, Nasar N, Li X, Jarvis P, .... (2024). Exploring nanobubble technology for enhanced anaerobic digestion of thermal-hydrolysis pre-treated sewage sludge. Bioresource Technology Reports, 27
- Mercer EV, Davey CJ, Bajón Fernández Y, Septien S, Tyrrel S, .... (2024). Membrane technology for water reuse in decentralised non-sewered sanitation systems: comparison of pressure driven (reverse osmosis) and thermally driven processes (membrane distillation and pervaporation). Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 10(11)
- Berzal de Frutos O, Götze M, Pidou M & Bajón Fernández Y. (2023). Anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and trade wastes: beneficial and inhibitory effects of individual constituents. Processes, 11(2)
- Rocamora I, Wagland ST, Hassard F, Villa R, Peces M, .... (2023). Inhibitory mechanisms on dry anaerobic digestion: Ammonia, hydrogen and propionic acid relationship. Waste Management, 161(April)
- Ramachandran R, Bajón Fernández Y, Truckell I, Constantino C, Casselden R, .... (2023). Accuracy assessment of surveying strategies for the characterization of microtopographic features that influence surface water flooding. Remote Sensing, 15(7)
- Ouda A, Bajón Fernández Y & McAdam E. (2023). Modifying supersaturation rate with membrane area to volume ratio: scaling reduction and improved crystal growth control in membrane distillation crystallisation. Journal of Membrane Science, 683(October)
- Hiniduma Gamage K, Bajón Fernández Y, Srinamasivayam B, Turner D & Rivas Casado M. (2023). Development of a UAV based framework for CH4 monitoring in sludge treatment centres. Remote Sensing, 15(15)
- Hassard F, Bajón Fernández Y & Castro-Gutierrez V. (2023). Wastewater-based epidemiology for surveillance of infectious diseases in healthcare settings. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, 36(4)
- Ouda A, Bajón Fernández Y & McAdam E. (2023). Methods to modify supersaturation rate in membrane distillation crystallisation: control of nucleation and crystal growth kinetics (including scaling). Journal of Membrane Science, 691
- Villa R, Jantova-Patel J & Bajón Fernández Y. (2022). Novel insight on the impact of enzymatic addition on organic loading rate in anaerobic digestion. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 13(4)
- Blair LAG, Bajón Fernández Y & Villa R. (2022). An exploratory study of the impact and potential of menstrual hygiene management waste in the UK. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 7(April)
- Rocamora I, Wagland ST, Rivas Casado M, Hassard F, Villa R, .... (2022). Managing full-scale dry anaerobic digestion: semi-continuous and batch operation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10(4)
- Alibardi L, Vale PCJ & Bajón Fernández Y. (2021). Full-scale trials to achieve low total phosphorus in effluents from sewage treatment works. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 40(April)
- Muntau M, Lebuhn M, Polag D, Bajón Fernández Y & Koch K. (2021). Effects of CO2 enrichment on the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge in continuously operated fermenters. Bioresource Technology, 332(July)
- Rocamora I, Wagland ST, Villa R, Simpson EW, Fernández O, .... (2021). Use of inoculum, water and percolate as strategy to avoid inhibition on dry-batch anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 13(1)
- Paritosh K, Kumar V, Pareek N, Sahoo D, Fernandez YB, .... (2021). Solid state anaerobic digestion of water poor feedstock for methane yield: an overview of process characteristics and challenges. Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy, 3(3)
- Mercer EV, Usher SP, McAdam EJ, Stoner B & Bajón Fernández Y. (2021). On the compressional rheology of fresh faeces: evidence for improving community scale sanitation through localised dewatering. Water Research, 204(October)
- Mercer EV, Usher SP, McAdam EJ, Stoner B & Bajón Fernández Y. (2021). Rheological characterisation of synthetic and fresh faeces to inform on solids management strategies for non-sewered sanitation systems. Journal of Environmental Management, 300(December)
- Fane SE, Nocker A, Vale PCJ, Rivas Casado M, Cartmell E, .... (2020). Characterisation and control of the biosolids storage environment: Implications for E. coli dynamics. Science of The Total Environment, 752
- Martínez JS, Bajón Fernández Y, Leinster P & Rivas Casado M. (2020). Combining unmanned aircraft systems and image processing for wastewater treatment plant asset inspection. Remote Sensing, 12(9)
- Rocamora I, Wagland ST, Villa R, Simpson EW, Fernández O, .... (2019). Dry anaerobic digestion of organic waste: a review of operational parameters and their impact on process performance. Bioresource Technology, 299
- Fane SE, Madureira D, Nocker A, Vale PCJ, Rivas Casado M, .... (2019). Disruption of cells in biosolids affects E. coli dynamics in storage. H2Open Journal, 2(1)
- Khomenko O, Dotro G, Jefferson B, Coulon F & Bajón Fernández Y. (2019). Influence of sludge layer properties on the hydraulic behaviour of gravel-based vertical flow constructed wetlands for primary treatment of sewage. Science of The Total Environment, 691
- Bajón Fernández Y, Soares A, Vale PCJ, Koch K, Masse AL, .... (2019). Enhancing the anaerobic digestion process through carbon dioxide enrichment: Initial insights into mechanisms of utilisation. Environmental Technology, 40(13)
- Fane SE, Vale PCJ, Bajón Fernández Y, Cartmell E, Harris JA, .... (2019). Influence of innate sludge factors and ambient environmental parameters in biosolids storage on indicator bacteria survival: A review. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 11(11)
- Freeman D, Bajón Fernández Y, Wilson A, McKew BA, Whitby C, .... (2019). Nitrogen oxidation consortia dynamics influence the performance of full-scale rotating biological contactors. Environment International, 135
- Spence A, Blanco Madrigal E, Patil R & Bajón Fernández Y. (2018). Evaluation of anaerobic digestibility of energy crops and agricultural by-products. Bioresource Technology Reports, 5
- Alibardi L, Green K, Favaro L, Vale PCJ, Soares A, .... (2017). Performance and stability of sewage sludge digestion under CO2 enrichment: a pilot study. Bioresource Technology, 245(Pt A)
- Bajón Fernández Y, Soares A, Koch K, Vale PCJ & Cartmell E. (2017). Bioconversion of carbon dioxide in anaerobic digesters for on-site carbon capture and biogas enhancement - A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 47(17)
- Koch K, Huber B, Bajón Fernández Y & Drewes JE. (2016). Methane from CO 2 : Influence of different CO 2 concentrations in the flush gas on the methane production in BMP tests. Waste Management, 49
- Bajón Fernández Y, Green K, Schuler K, Soares A, Vale PCJ, .... (2015). Biological carbon dioxide utilisation in food waste anaerobic digesters. Water Research, 87
- Bajón Fernández Y, Cartmell E, Soares A, McAdam E, Vale P, .... (2015). Gas to liquid mass transfer in rheologically complex fluids. Chemical Engineering Journal, 273
- Koch K, Bajón Fernández Y & Drewes JE. (2015). Influence of headspace flushing on methane production in Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) tests. Bioresource Technology, 186
- Bajón Fernández Y, Soares A, Villa R, Vale P & Cartmell E. (2014). Carbon capture and biogas enhancement by carbon dioxide enrichment of anaerobic digesters treating sewage sludge or food waste. Bioresource Technology, 159
