BELMONTE, Beatriz A.

BELMONTE, Beatriz A.

Dr. Beatriz A. Belmonte graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering degree at De La Salle University last February 2019 as a scholar under the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Her work focuses on developing computer models to provide decision support for using carbonized biomass as a soil enhancer and as a form of carbon sequestration. This strategy is regarded in the literature as a potentially effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The research she has been doing has led to Scopus-indexed publications in major journals and conference proceedings. In addition, her paper Optimization-based decision support methodology for the synthesis of negative emissions biochar systems has been globally recognized and listed among the 31 publications featured in the UK IChemE climate change collection last June 2020. She was among the 25 accepted scholars from 310 applicants from 9 countries that attended the 2020 Southeast Asia International Joint-Research and Training Program on Low Carbon and Green Energy held at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Hsinchu, Taiwan. She was awarded the Best Scientific Poster (Engineering Science and Technology) during the NAST 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting last July 2020. She is an Editorial Board of Carbon Research (Springer) member. She is also a Reviewer of Sustainable Chemical Process Design (Frontiers in Sustainability), Journal of Cleaner Production (Elsevier), BIOCHAR (Springer Nature), Education for Chemical Engineers (Elsevier), and Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer). She is elected a full Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE) member. She is also a regular member and presently serves as the NRCP Division of Engineering and Industrial Research Secretary. She teaches at the Faculty of Engineering and is also a researcher at the Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences of the University of Santo Tomas.

Updates

Academic Qualifications

Research Highlights

Research Interests

Academic Qualifications

Degrees

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical EngineeringDe La Salle University – Manila, Philippines, 2019
  • Master of Science in Chemical EngineeringDe La Salle University – Manila, Philippines, 2012
  • Bachelor of Science in Chemical EngineeringUniversity of Santo Tomas – Manila, Philippines, 2000

Research Highlights

  • Development of a novel framework for the high-level planning of large-scale biochar-based carbon management networks (BCMNs) using mathematical programming – This work focuses on developing computer models to provide decision support for the use of carbonized biomass as a soil enhancer and as a form of carbon sequestration. This strategy is regarded in the literature as a potentially effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The framework is comprised of component mathematical models that capture the salient features of biochar research as currently envisioned in the literature. It also consists of novel methodologies that can support decision-making during the implementation of BCMNs.

  • Development of mathematical models for the synthesis of  large-scale BCMNs which account for the following aspects:
    • Economic performance of the BCMNs
    • Effect of biochar-soil interactions on carbon sequestration
    • Control of biochar characteristics
  • Development of a methodology for assessing the robustness of BCMNs amidst variations in biochar supply due to changes in agricultural productivity 
  • Optimization of integrated BCMNs for the production of multi-grade biochars (i.e., “designer biochars”) with the aid of mathematical programming

Research Interests

  • Process Systems Engineering, with focus on:
    • Mathematical programming and optimization

Courses Handled

Major Recognitions

Professional Activities

Courses Handled

  • Chemical Engineering Design 2
  • Particle Technology
  • Computer Applications in Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Process Industries
  • Safety in the Process Industries
  • Process Control and Instrumentation
  • Environmental Science
  • Chemical Engineering Laboratory

Major Recognitions

  • Best Presentation 
    • 9th International Conference on Low Carbon Asia, October 2023 
    • 6th International Conference on Low Carbon Asia, September 2020 
    • 4th International Conference on Low Carbon Asia, October 2018
  • Best Scientific Poster
    • NAST 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting (Engineering Science and Technology), July 10, 2020
    • 1st Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) Congress, PICC, Manila, February 2012
  • 1 article (Optimization-based decision support methodology for the synthesis of negative emissions biochar systems) listed among the 31 publications featured in the UK IChemE climate change collection (June 2020) 
  • Outstanding Scholar-Graduate (PhD), “In Touch with Excellence” of Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute, July 2019
  • VCRI Student’s Research Recognition Award (PhD Level), De La Salle University, September   2018 

Professional Activities

  • Resource Speaker
    • A Systematic Framework for the High-level Planning of Large-scale Biochar-based Carbon Management Networks. NRCP Division of Engineering and Industrial Research Technical Session. Hosted and organized by DOST-NRCP. November 21, 2023.
    • Focus Group Discussion on Carbon Dioxide Removal with Negative Emission Technologies, hosted and organized by DOST-NAST. November 3, 2022.
    • Paradigm Shift for a Future-Proofed Chemical Engineering Education. Organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Banos in celebration of DChE@37. March 14, 2022. 
  • Member/Officer 
    • National Research Council of the Philippines, Regular Member (Division VII) – March 11, 2019 – present
    • National Research Council of the Philippines, Secretary (Division VII) for Year 2022-2024 
    • Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE), Full Member, Oct. 14, 2022-present
    • Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers – Metro Manila Academe Chapter (PIChE – MMAC), Member, 2012 – present
    • Women Engineers Network (WEN) of the Philippine Technological Council, Member, June 2019-present 
  • Technical Panel Proposal Evaluator/Reviewer
    • Ministry of Science and Technology – BARMM (MOST-BARMM), November 
    • National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), July 5, 2021 
  • Reviewer 
    • Journal of Cleaner Production (Elsevier)
    • International Journal of Energy Research (Wiley)
    • BIOCHAR (Springer Nature)
    • Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy (Springer)
    • Sustainable Agriculture (Springer)
    • Education for Chemical Engineers (Elsevier)
  • Editorial Board Member 
    • Frontiers in Sustainability (Sustainable Chemical Process Design) 
    • Carbon Research (Springer) 
  • Session Chair and International Technical Committee
    • International Conference on Low Carbon Asia (ICLCA)
  • Emcee/Moderator, NRCP’s 23rd KTOP-COVID (Kapakanan ng Tao sa Oras ng Pandemya) Webinar, Nov. 22, 2022

Selected Publications

Selected Publications

  • Belmonte, B.A, Aquino, T.M.B., Atis, R.C.R., Marron, A.L.L., Gue, I.H.V., Aviso, K.B., Tan, R.R. (2023). A Rough Set-based Model for Evaluating the Stability of Biochar Based on Accelerated Aging Data. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 106, 85-90.
  • Belmonte, B.A., Aviso, K.B., Benjamin, M.F.D., Tan, R.R. (2022). Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Model for the Synthesis of Negative-Emission Biochar Systems. In: Andiappan, V., Ng, D.K.S., Bandyopadhyay, S. (Eds.), Optimization for Energy Systems and Supply Chains. Taylor & Francis.
  • Tan, R.R., Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M.F.D., Andiappan, V., Aviso, K.B. (2022). Optimization of enhanced weathering networks with alternative transportation modes. Carbon Resources Conversion, 5(2), 167-176.
  • Belmonte, B.A. (2021). An Optimization Framework for Biochar-based Carbon Management Networks. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 83, 163-167.
  • Belmonte, B.A., Aviso, K.B., Benjamin, M.F.D., Tan, R.R. (2021). Fuzzy Optimization Model for Biochar-based Carbon Management Networks. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 89, 325-330. 
  • Belmonte, B.A., Aviso, K.B., Benjamin, M.F.D., Tan, R.R. (2021). A fuzzy optimization model for planning integrated terrestrial carbon management networks. Clean Techn Environ Policy, 24, 289–301. 
  • Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M. F. D., Tan, R. R. (2020). Model-based synthesis and Monte Carlo simulation of biochar-based carbon management networks. In: Ren, J., Wang, Y., He, C. (Eds.), Towards Sustainable Chemical Processes. Elsevier.
  • Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M.F.D., and Tan, R.R. (2019). Optimization-based decision support methodology for the synthesis of negative-emissions biochar systems. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 19, 105-116.
  • Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M.F.D., and Tan, R.R. (2019). Bi-objective mixed-integer linear programming model for high-level planning of biochar-based Carbon Management Networks. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 72, 289−294.  
  • Aviso, K.B., Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M.F.D., Arogo, J.I.A., Coronel, A.L.O., Janairo, C.M.J., Foo, D.C.Y., and Tan, R.R. (2019). Synthesis of optimal and near-optimal biochar-based carbon management networks with P-graph. Journal of Cleaner Production, 214, 893-901.
  • Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M.F.D., and Tan, R.R. (2018). Bi-objective optimization of biochar-based carbon management networks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 188, 911-920.
  • Belmonte, B.A., Benjamin, M.F.D., and Tan, R.R. (2017). Biochar systems in the water-energy-food nexus: the emerging role of process systems engineering. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 18, 32-37.