Prof. C. Pulgarin is Chemist from Lausanne University, Master in environmental chemistry from Geneva University, Ph D in synthesis bio-inspired of natural substances from Neuchâtel University. During his education he carried out several industrial trainings.
Since March 1989, he has been working at the EPFL where he is leader of the Advanced Oxidation Processes Group active in the development of chemical, photochemical, electrochemical, ultrasonic… processes. The synergistic coupling of AOPs between them and with biological systems to degrade chemical and microbiological pollutants in water and air is one of his main contributions. As AOPs are often based on or enhanced by catalytic way Pulgarin group develops also new materials with (photo) catalytic properties against organic and microbiological pollutants. He has published 220 papers in indexed international journals and books and presented 150 communications at international meetings.He has an H index of 50 and he is the world most cited author in 1) TiO2 photo-assisted bacterial inactivation in water and 2) Coupling of photochemical and biological processes for pollutant degradation. He has been involved in fifteen African, South American and European international research projects.
- Pulgarin has supervised 25 Ph D and post Ph D works and 130 Master, diploma, seminar and training works.
He has been scientific advisor for two Start up launchings. Since 1994 he has been leading a scientific partnership program in the environmental field between the EPFL and several Colombian institutions.