Cristian Barca

Cristian Barca serves as Maître de Conférences (Associate Professor) with HDR qualification at Aix-Marseille University, where he directs second-year studies for the Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering DUT program at the University Institute of Technology. He is an active member of the Water and Waste Treatment research team within the M2P2 laboratory (UMR 7340), a joint research unit of AMU, CNRS, and Centrale Marseille.

His research centers on advanced water treatment technologies, specializing in phosphorus recovery from wastewater through innovative physico-chemical processes. Key focus areas include hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge, reactive media filtration using materials like carbonated bauxite residue, and constructed wetland systems. His work addresses critical sustainability challenges in nutrient management and resource recovery from waste streams.

Analysis of his 2015-2025 publications reveals consistent leadership in phosphorus recovery research, with significant contributions in hydrothermal treatment optimization, sorption mechanisms, and process modeling. His recent work demonstrates increasing sophistication in multi-parameter analysis (e.g., nutrient-metal interactions) and practical applications for small-scale treatment systems. The research portfolio shows strong continuity in environmental engineering fundamentals while expanding into energy recovery from organic wastes.

Dr. Barca maintains active collaboration with researchers across Europe and South America, particularly evident in wastewater valorization projects. His laboratory work at M2P2 integrates experimental studies with process modeling, focusing on translating fundamental research into implementable solutions for wastewater treatment facilities. Current projects emphasize circular economy approaches for phosphorus reuse and sustainable sludge management.