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Cesar Torres

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School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy
Assoc Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6106
Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology
Faculty Member
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6106
Sustainability Scientists and Scholars
Assoc Professor
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6106
Biography: 

César I. Torres is an associate professor of chemical engineering in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy at Arizona State University. He is also graduate faculty in environmental engineering, biological design and sustainability. Torres is a leader in microbial electrochemical cell research, focusing on microbial kinetics of anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) and extracellular electron transport to and from solid electrodes. He has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals on this topic. He combines biofilm modeling, electrochemical, microscopic, and analytical techniques, to characterize ARB kinetics and thermodynamics.

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Education: 
  • Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Arizona State University 2009
  • M.S.E. Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University 2005
  • B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 2002
Research Website: 
http://torres.environmentalbiotechnology.org/
Google Scholar: 
Google Scholar Profile
Research Interests: 

The Torres Lab, part of the Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, focuses on microbiological technologies that provide energy or high value chemicals to society.  Our goal is to make use of microorganisms and their complex enzymatic machinery to carry out reactions that are difficult or impossible through any other known chemical route.  Our main research topics are microbial electrochemistry, fermentations, and photosynthetic production of biofuels.

Visit  http://torres.environmentalbiotechnology.org/

Publications: 

2017

  • B.G. Lusk, A. Colin, P. Parameswaran, B.E. Rittmann, C.I. Torres. Simultaneous fermentation of cellulose and current production with an enriched mixed culture of thermophilic bacteria in a microbial electrolysis cell. Microbial Biotechnology, 2017, in press.
  • D. Ki, S.C. Popat, B.E. Rittmann, C.I. Torres. H2O2 production in microbial electrochemical cells fed with primary sludge. Environmental Science & Technology, 2017, 51, 6139-6145. 
  • M.N. Young, N. Chowdhury, E. Garver, P.J. Evans, S.C. Popat, B.E. Rittmann, C.I. Torres. Understanding the impact of operational conditions on performance of microbial peroxide producing cells. Journal of Power Sources, 2017, 356, 448-458.
  • D. Zhou, S. Dong, J. She, X. Cui, D. Ki, C.I. Torres, B.E. Rittmann. Intimate coupling of N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst and anode respiring bacteria for enhancing 4-chlorophenol degradation and current generation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2017, 317, 882-889.
  • Y. Park, S. Park, V.K. Nugyen, J. Yu, C.I. Torres, B.E. Rittmann, T. Lee. Complete nitrogen removal by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in flat-panel air-cathode microbial fuel cells treating domestic wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2017, 316, 673-679. 
  • M. Mahmoud, P. Parameswaran, C.I. Torres, B.E. Rittmann. Electrochemical techniques reveal that total ammonium stress increases electron flow to anode respiration in mixed-species bacterial anode biofilms. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2017, 114, 1151-1159.
  • D. Ki, P. Parameswaran, S.C. Popat, B.E. Rittmann, C.I. Torres.  Maximizing Coulombic recovery and solids reduction from primary sludge by controlling retention time and pH in a flat-plate microbial electrolysis cell.  Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 2017, 3, 333-339.

2016

  • M.N. Young, M.J. Links, S.C. Popat, B.E. Rittmann, C.I. Torres. Tailoring Microbial Electrochemical Cells for Production of Hydrogen Peroxide at High Concentrations and Efficiencies. ChemSusChem, 2016, 9 (23), 3345-3352.
  • J.F. Miceli III, C.I. Torres, R. Krajmalnik-Brown. Shifting the balance of fermentation products between hydrogen and volatile fatty acids: microbial community structure and function. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2016, 92 (12), fiw195.
  • B.G. Lusk, P. Parameswaran, S.C. Popat, B.E. Rittmann, C.I. Torres. The effect of pH and buffer concentration on anode biofilms of Thermincola ferriacetica. Bioelectrochemistry, 2016, 112, 47-52.
  • O. Sosa-Hernández, P. Parameswaran, G.S. Alemán-Nava, C.I. Torres, R. Parra-Saldívar.  Evaluating biochemical methane production from brewer's spent yeast. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 2016, 6, 1-10.
  • S.C. Popat, C.I. Torres. Critical transport rates that limit the performance of microbial electrochemistry technologies. Bioresource Technology, 2016, 215, 265-273.45.      
  • M. Mahmoud, P. Parameswaran, C.I. Torres, B.E. Rittmann. Relieving the fermentation inhibition enables high electron recovery from landfill leachate in a microbial electrolysis cell. RSC Advances, 2016, 6, 6658 – 6664.
  • D. Ki, S. C. Popat, C. I. Torres.  Reduced overpotentials in microbial electrolysis cells through improved design, operation, and electrochemical characterization.  Chemical Engineering Journal, 2016, 287, 181-188.
  • O. Sosa-Hernández, S. C. Popat, P. Parameswaran, G. S. Aleman-Nava, C. I. Torres, G. Buitron, R. Parra-Saldívar.  Application of microbial electrolysis cells to treat spent yeast from an alcoholic fermentation.  Bioresource Technology, 2016, 200, 342-349.

2015

  • B. G. Lusk, Q. F. Khan, P. Parameswaran, A. Hameed, N. Ali, B. E. Rittmann, C. I. Torres.  Characterization of electrical current- generation capabilities from thermophilic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter pseudethanolicus using xylose, glucose, cellobiose, or acetate with fixed anode potentials.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2015, 49 (24), 14725-14731.
  • D. Ki, P. Parameswaran, S. C. Popat, B. E. Rittmann, C. I. Torres.  Effects of pre-fermentation and pulsed-electric-field treatment of primary sludge in microbial electrochemical cells.  Bioresource Technology, 2015, 195, 83-88.
  • B. G. Lusk, J. P. Badalamenti, P. Parameswaran, D. R. Bond, C. I. Torres.  Draft genome sequence of the gram-positive thermophilic iron reducer Thermincola ferriacetica strain Z-0001T.  Genome Announcements, 2015, 3, e01072-15.
  • R. A. Yoho, S. C. Popat, L. Rago, A. Guisasola, C. I. Torres.  Anode biofilms of Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus exhibit electrochemical signatures of multiple electron transport pathways.  Langmuir, 2015, 31, 12552-12559.
  • D. Ki, P. Parameswaran, B. E. Rittmann, C. I. Torres.  Effect of pulsed electric field pretreatment on primary sludge for enhanced bioavailability and energy capture.  Environmental Engineering Science, 2015, 32, 831-837.
  • J. P. Badalamenti, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, C. I. Torres, D. R. Bond.  Genomes of Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus Z-0531T and Geoalkalibacter subterraneus Red1T, Two Haloalkaliphilic Metal-Reducing Deltaproteobacteria.  Genome Announcements, 2015, 3, e00039-15.

2014

  • R. A. Yoho, S. C. Popat, C. I. Torres.  Dynamic potential-dependent electron transport pathway shifts in anode biofilms of Geobacter sulfurreducens.  ChemSusChem, 2014, 7, 3413-3419.
  • S. C. Popat, D. Ki, M. N. Young, B. E. Rittmann, C. I. Torres.  Buffer pKa and transport govern concentration overpotential in electrochemical oxygen reduction at neutral pH.  ChemElectroChem, 2014, 1, 1909-1915.
  • J. F. Miceli III, I. Garcia-Pena, P. Parameswaran, C. I. Torres, R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Combining microbial cultures for the efficient production of electricity from butyrate in a microbial electrochemical cell.  Bioresource Technology, 2014, 169, 169-174.
  • H. Ren, C. I. Torres, P. Parameswaran, B. E. Rittmann, J. Chae.  Improved current and power density with a micro-scale microbial fuel cell due to a small characteristic length.  Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2014, 61, 587-592.
  • C. I. Torres.  On the importance of identifying, characterizing, and predicting fundamental phenomena towards microbial electrochemistry applications.  Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 2014, 27, 107-114.
  • M. Mahmoud, P. Parameswaran, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Fermentation pre-treatment of landfill leachate for enhanced electron recovery in a microbial electrolysis cell.  Bioresource Technology, 2014, 151, 151-158.
  • A. G. Delgado, D. Fajardo-Williams, S. C. Popat, C. I. Torres, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Successful operation of continuous reactors at short retention times results in high-density, fast-rate Dehalococcoides dechlorinating cultures.  Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2014, 98, 2729-2737.
  • J. P. Badalamenti, C. I. Torres, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Coupling dark metabolism to electricity generation using photosynthetic cocultures.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2014, 111, 223-231.

2013

  • P. Parameswaran, T. Bry, S. C. Popat, B. G. Lusk, B. E. Rittmann, and C. I. Torres.  Kinetic, electrochemical, and microscopic characterization of the thermophilic, anode-respiring bacterium Thermincola ferriacetica.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2013, 47, 4934-4940.
  • J. P. Badalamenti, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, and C. I. Torres.  Generation of high current densities by pure cultures of anode-respiring Geoalkalibacter spp. under alkaline and saline conditions in microbial electrochemical cells.  mBio, 2013, 4, e00144-13.
  • J. P. Badalamenti, C. I. Torres, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Light-responsive current generation by phototrophically enriched anode biofilms dominated by green sulfur bacteria.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2013, 110, 1020-1027.

2012

  • S. Mahendra, P. Gedalanga, S. M. Kotay, C. I. Torres, C. S. Butler, and R. Goel.  Advancements in molecular techniques and applications in environmental engineering.  Water Environment Research, 2012, 84, 814-844.
  • J. F. Miceli, P. Parameswaran, D. W. Kang, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, and C. I. Torres.  Enrichment and analysis of anode-respiring bacteria from diverse anaerobic inocula.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2012, 46, 10394-10355.
  • S. C. Popat, D. Ki, B. E. Rittmann, and C. I. Torres.  Importance of OH- transport from cathodes in microbial fuel cells.  ChemSusChem, 2012, 5, 1071-1079.
  • D. R. Bond, S. M. Strycharz-Glaven, L. M. Tender, and C. I. Torres.  On electron transport through Geobacterbiofilms. ChemSusChem, 2012, 5, 1099-1105.
  • P. Parameswaran, C. I. Torres, D. W. Kang, B. E. Rittmann, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  The role of homoacetogenic bacteria as efficient hydrogen scavengers in microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs).  Water Science and Technology, 2012, 65, 1-6.

2011

  • R. Goel, S. M. Kotay, C. S. Butler, C. I. Torres, and S. Mahendra.  Molecular biological methods in environmental engineering. Water Environment Research, 2011, 83, 927-955.
  • C. I. Torres, S. Ramakrishna, C. A. Chiu, K. G. Nelson, P. Westerhoff, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Fate of sucralose during wastewater treatment.  Environmental Engineering Science, 2011, 28, 325-331.
  • A. K. Marcus, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Analysis of a microbial electrochemical cell using the proton condition in biofilm (PCBIOFILM) model.  Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102, 253-262.
  • P. Parameswaran, C. I. Torres, H. S. Lee, B. E. Rittmann, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Hydrogen consumption in microbial electrochemical systems (MXCs): The role of homo-acetogenic bacteria.  Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102, 263-271.
  • S. Choi, H. S. Lee, Y. Yang, P. Parameswaran, C. I. Torres, B. E. Rittmann, and J. Chae.  A microliter-scale micromachined microbial fuel cell having high power density.  Lab on a Chip, 2011, 11, 1110-1117.

2010

  • A. K. Marcus, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Evaluating the impacts of migration in the biofilm anode using the model PCBIOFILM.  Electrochimica Acta, 2010, 55, 6964-6972.
  • P. Parameswaran, H. S. Zhang, C. I. Torres, B. E. Rittmann, and R. Krajmalnik-Brown.  Microbial community structure in a biofilm anode fed with a fermentable substrate: The significance of hydrogen scavengers.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2010, 105, 69-78.
  • C. I. Torres, A. K. Marcus, H. S. Lee, P. Parameswaran, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, and B. E. Rittmann.  A kinetic perspective on extracellular electron transfer by anode-respiring bacteria.  FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 2010, 34, 3-17.

2009

  • C. I. Torres, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, P. Parameswaran, A. K. Marcus, G. Wanger, Y. A. Gorby, and B. E. Rittmann.  Selecting anode-respiring bacteria based on anode potential: Phylogenetic, electrochemical, and microscopic characterization.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2009, 43, 9519-9524.
  • H. S. Lee, C. I. Torres, P. Parameswaran, and B. E. Rittmann.  Fate of H2 in an upflow single-chamber microbial electrolysis cell using a metal-catalyst-free cathode.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2009, 43, 7971-7976.
  • H. S. Lee, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Effects of substrate diffusion and anode potential on kinetic parameters for anode-respiring bacteria.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2009, 43, 7571-7577.
  • P. Parameswaran, C. I. Torres, H. S. Lee, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, and B. E. Rittmann.  Syntrophic interactions among anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) and non-ARB in a biofilm anode: Electron balances.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2009, 103, 513-523.

2008

  • C. I. Torres, H. S. Lee, and B. E. Rittmann.  Carbonate species as OH- carriers for decreasing the pH gradient between cathode and anode in biological fuel cells.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42, 8773-8777.7.       
  • M. D. Marsolek, C. I. Torres, M. Hausner, and B. E. Rittmann.  Intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation in a photocatalytic circulating-bed biofilm reactor.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2008, 101, 83-92.
  • C. I. Torres, A. K. Marcus, P. Parameswaran, and B. E. Rittmann.  Kinetic experiments for evaluating the Nernst-Monod model for anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) in a biofilm anode.  Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42, 6593-6597.
  • C. I. Torres, A. K. Marcus, and B. E. Rittmann.  Proton transport inside the biofilm limits electrical current generation by anode-respiring bacteria.  Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2008, 100, 872-881.
  • H. S. Lee, P. Parameswaran, A. K. Marcus, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Evaluation of energy-conversion efficiencies in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) utilizing fermentable and non-fermentable substrates.  Water Research, 2008, 42, 1501-1510.

2007 and before

  • A. K. Marcus, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Conduction-based modeling of the biofilm anode of a microbial fuel cell. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2007, 98, 1171-1182.
  • C. I. Torres, A. K. Marcus, and B. E. Rittmann.  Kinetics of consumption of fermentation products by anode-respiring bacteria. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2007, 77, 689-697.
  •  J. Cowman, C. I. Torres, and B. E. Rittmann.  Total nitrogen removal in an aerobic/anoxic membrane biofilm reactor system. Water Science and Technology, 2005, 52, 115-120.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Research Activity: 
Summer 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 231IntroTransport Phenom I:Fluids
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CHE 592Research
CHE 594Conference and Workshop
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
CEE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
Spring 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 592Research
CHE 592Research
CEE 593Applied Project
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
CEE 599Thesis
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
Fall 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CHE 493Honors Thesis
CEE 493Honors Thesis
CHE 494Special Topics
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 499Individualized Instruction
CHE 592Research
CEE 592Research
CEE 593Applied Project
CHE 593Applied Project
CHE 594Conference and Workshop
CEE 595Continuing Registration
CHE 598Special Topics
CEE 598Special Topics
CEE 599Thesis
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
Summer 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 231IntroTransport Phenom I:Fluids
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 792Research
CHE 795Continuing Registration
CEE 795Continuing Registration
CEE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 231IntroTransport Phenom I:Fluids
CHE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CHE 592Research
CEE 592Research
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
CEE 599Thesis
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
CHE 493Honors Thesis
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 499Individualized Instruction
CHE 592Research
CEE 592Research
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
Summer 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CHE 795Continuing Registration
CHE 799Dissertation
Spring 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CHE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CHE 592Research
CEE 592Research
CEE 593Applied Project
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CHE 493Honors Thesis
CEE 493Honors Thesis
CHE 494Special Topics
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 499Individualized Instruction
CHE 592Research
CEE 592Research
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
CHE 598Special Topics
CEE 598Special Topics
CEE 599Thesis
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
Summer 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
BDE 792Research
CHE 795Continuing Registration
CHE 799Dissertation
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 231IntroTransport Phenom I:Fluids
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
BIO 496Undergraduate Thesis
CHE 499Individualized Instruction
CEE 592Research
CHE 592Research
CEE 593Applied Project
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
SOS 598Special Topics
CEE 599Thesis
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
ASU 101-CHEThe ASU Experience
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CHE 493Honors Thesis
CEE 493Honors Thesis
CHE 494Special Topics
MBB 495Undergraduate Research
BIO 495Undergraduate Research
CEE 499Individualized Instruction
CEE 592Research
CHE 592Research
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
SOS 598Special Topics
BCH 598Special Topics
CHE 598Special Topics
CEE 598Special Topics
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
BDE 792Research
CEE 792Research
CHE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
Summer 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
CEE 790Reading and Conference
BDE 792Research
CHE 792Research
CHE 795Continuing Registration
CHE 799Dissertation
Spring 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 231IntroTransport Phenom I:Fluids
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
CHE 494Special Topics
CHE 498Pro-Seminar
CHE 592Research
CEE 592Research
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 595Continuing Registration
SOS 598Special Topics
BCH 598Special Topics
CEE 599Thesis
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CEE 792Research
CHE 792Research
CEE 795Continuing Registration
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
CEE 799Dissertation
Fall 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
CHE 294Special Topics
CEE 492Honors Directed Study
CHE 492Honors Directed Study
CEE 493Honors Thesis
CHE 494Special Topics
CEE 499Individualized Instruction
CHE 592Research
CHE 593Applied Project
CEE 598Special Topics
SOS 598Special Topics
CHE 598Special Topics
CHE 599Thesis
CEE 790Reading and Conference
CHE 792Research
CEE 792Research
BDE 792Research
BDE 799Dissertation
CHE 799Dissertation
Expertise Areas: 
Biotechnology
Biofilms
Biofuels
Wastewater Treatment