Activities – Functions

Thematic Area : TO I-CoP

Researcher in Bioprocess Engineering

• 2025- : Deputy Director of LBE
• 2020-2025 : Coordinator of the Thematic Area TA ICoP (Engineering and Process Coupling) at LBE
• 2020-2026 : Scientific Coordinator for the TRANSFORM department on the theme "role of water in matter and processes"
• 2024- : Plenary council member at the IUT of the University of Perpignan Via Domitia
• 2023- : Member of the advisory committee of the National Technical Centre for Biogas and Methanization (CTBM)
• 2021- : Representative of LBE at the Technical Association Energy Environment (ATEE) and the Biogas Club
• 2021- : Member of the extended board of the Research and Innovation Pole on Hydrogen in Occitanie (Rhyo pole) within the framework of the region's "key challenges"

Research topics

Key words:

• Anaerobic digestion
• Biological methanation (biomethanation)
• Dark fermentation

Objective:

The concept of environmental biorefinery, at the heart of LBE's scientific project, focuses on the integrated valorization of biomasses from human activity residues into various products for the bioeconomy, through the application of bioprocesses. Optimizing these bioprocesses requires a deep understanding of biological (degradation kinetics, microbial activity, microbial diversity) and physical processes (convective and diffusive transports, interface transfers), which are closely interconnected. Simplifying study objects, combined with the use of controlled experimental systems, helps better identify key processes and interactions. However, this understanding, although essential, is not sufficient alone to predict and optimize the overall functioning of bioreactors. For this, in-depth research at the laboratory or pilot scale is essential. Concurrently, work is also dedicated to integrating different processes in a multi-criteria optimization approach.

Scientific Career

• 2017- : INRAE Research Director at LBE in Narbonne
• 2011 : HDR from the University of Montpellier 2, Doctoral School of Process Sciences - Food Sciences
• 2002-2016 : INRA Research Scientist at LBE in Narbonne
• 2004-2005 : Long-term mission at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)
• 2001 : PhD in Process Engineering at the Laboratory of Environmental Process Engineering, National Institute of Applied Sciences of Toulouse
• 1998 : Engineer in Industrial Process Engineering (INSA Toulouse) - Environmental Processes option

Recent publications

Scientific production (ORCID) : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0736-0327

• Laura Álvarez–Fraga, Gabriel Capson–Tojo, Malo Sanglier, Jérôme Hamelin, Renaud Escudié, et al.. A meta–analysis of pathogen reduction data in anaerobic digestion. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, 207, pp.114982. ⟨10.1016/j.rser.2024.114982⟩. ⟨hal–04839458⟩
• Margot Mahieux, Quentin Aemig, Charlotte Richard, Jean–Philippe Delgenès, Marine Juge, et al.. Improved organic matter biodegradation through pulsed H2 injections during in situ biomethanation. Bioresource Technology, 2024, 407, pp.131101. ⟨10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131101⟩. ⟨hal–04677859⟩
• Lucie Perat, Renaud Escudié, Nicolas Bernet, Charlotte Richard, Mathilde Jégoux, et al.. New insights on waste mixing for enhanced fermentative hydrogen production. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2024, 188, pp.1326–1337. ⟨10.1016/j.psep.2024.06.006⟩. ⟨hal–04677913⟩
• Margot Mahieux, Charlotte Richard, Quentin Aemig, Jean–Philippe Delgenès, Marine Juge, et al.. Archaeal community composition as key driver of H2 consumption rates at the start–up of the biomethanation process. Science of the Total Environment, 2024, 931, pp.172922. ⟨10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172922⟩. ⟨hal–04613957⟩
• Ali Dabestani Rahmatabad, Gabriel Capson–Tojo, Eric Trably, Jean–Philippe Delgenès, Renaud Escudié. Assessing the Impact of Organic Loading Rate on Hydrogen Consumption Rates during In Situ Biomethanation. Energies, 2024, 17, pp.2490. ⟨10.3390/en17112490⟩. ⟨hal–04622584⟩
• María del Rosario Rodero, Jose Antonio Magdalena, Jean–Philippe Steyer, Renaud Escudié, Gabriel Capson–Tojo. Potential of enriched phototrophic purple bacteria for H2 bioconversion into single cell protein. Science of the Total Environment, 2024, 908, pp.168471. ⟨10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168471⟩. ⟨hal–04284364⟩
• Anissa Dieudonné, Audrey Battimelli, Jean–Philippe Steyer, Hélène Carrère, Renaud Escudié, et al.. Mechanical Pretreatment of Various Types of Biomass from Animals: What Potential Applications to Anaerobic Digestion?. BioEnergy Research, 2023, 16, pp.761–777. ⟨10.1007/s12155–022–10518–x⟩. ⟨hal–03822476⟩
• Amal Zayen, Sami Sayadi, Philippe Sousbie, Nicolas Bernet, Michel Torrijos, et al.. Chicken manure and wheat straw co–digestion in batch leach bed reactors: optimization of the start–up conditions. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2023, 13, pp.10923–10933. ⟨10.1007/s13399–021–01912–0⟩. ⟨hal–03353151⟩
• Marie Céline Noguer, Jose Antonio Magdalena, Nicolas Bernet, Renaud Escudié, Eric Trably. Enhanced Fermentative Hydrogen Production from Food Waste in Continuous Reactor after Butyric Acid Treatment. Energies, 2022, 15 (11), pp.4048. ⟨10.3390/en15114048⟩. ⟨hal–03709121⟩
• Lucia Braga Nan, Eric Trably, Gaelle Santa–Catalina, Nicolas Bernet, Jean–Philippe Delgenes, et al.. Microbial community redundance in biomethanation systems lead to faster recovery of methane production rates after starvation. Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 804, pp.150073. ⟨10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150073⟩. ⟨hal–03406897⟩
• Clément van Vlierberghe, A. Chiboubi, Hélène Carrère, Nicolas Bernet, G. Santa Catalina, et al.. Improving the storage of cover crops by co–ensiling with different waste types: Effect on fermentation and effluent production. Waste Management, 2022, 154, pp.136–145. ⟨10.1016/j.wasman.2022.10.002⟩. ⟨hal–03822493⟩
• Clément van Vlierberghe, Renaud Escudie Escudié, Nicolas Bernet, G. Santa–Catalina, S. Frederic, et al.. Conditions for efficient alkaline storage of cover crops for biomethane production. Bioresource Technology, 2022, pp.1–28. ⟨10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126722⟩. ⟨hal–03709150⟩
• Marie Céline Noguer, Renaud Escudié, Nicolas Bernet, Trably Eric. Populational and metabolic shifts induced by acetate, butyrate and lactate in dark fermentation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2022, 47 (66), pp.28385–28398. ⟨10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.06.163⟩. ⟨hal–03838360⟩
• Vicente Pastor–Poquet, S. Papirio, Eric Trably, J. Rintala, Renaud Escudié, et al.. High–solids anaerobic digestion requires a trade–off between total solids, inoculum–to–substrate ratio and ammonia inhibition. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2019, 16 (11), pp.7011–7024. ⟨10.1007/s13762–019–02264–z⟩. ⟨hal–02961893⟩
• Gabriel Capson–Tojo, Chloé Girard, Maxime Rouez, Marion Crest, Jean–Philippe Steyer, et al.. Addition of biochar and trace elements in the form of industrial FeCl3 to stabilize anaerobic digestion of food waste: dosage optimization and long–term study. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 2019, 94 (12), pp.505–515. ⟨10.1002/jctb.5797⟩. ⟨hal–03685985⟩