Dr Yolanda Sanchez Vicente joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at Northumbria University in 2019. Previously to her current position, she spent four years as a Research Fellow in the Chemical Engineering Department at Imperial College London (UK). Her work was carried out as part of the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC). In 2012, she was awarded a two-year fellowship in Spain as part of the Campus of International Excellency at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). Earlier, in 2009, she worked as a postdoc at the University of Nottingham, where she participated in three UK projects: COZOC, MATTRAN and COOLTRANS projects. She earned a PhD in Green Chemistry from the UCM in 2008, and she graduated in Chemical Engineering from the University of Castilla la Mancha (Spain) in 2002.

Her research interest involved measuring and modelling thermodynamic properties, developing sustainable processes using supercritical fluids, and synthesis of new materials. They have included four main fields of physical chemistry, engineering, green chemistry, and materials.

Measurement and modelling of thermodynamic properties. Knowledge of thermophysical properties of fluid mixtures across extended temperature and pressure ranges is critical for designing and optimising many industrial processes such as carbon capture and storage. In particular, she has performed experimental studies about densities, viscosities, speed of sound and phase behaviour of CO₂ mixtures using in-house apparatus.  The data measured have been used to model or optimise empirical correlations and theoretical models such as SAFT. 

Sustainable process using supercritical fluids. Supercritical carbon dioxide is considered a green solvent for both separation and reaction processes due to its accessible critical parameters (Tc = 304.1 K, Pc = 7.38 MPa), non-toxicity, low cost and non-flammability. In this area, she has worked on the supercritical extraction of natural products such as microalgae biomass.

Synthesis of new materials. In the field of material, she has investigated the modification of the silica surface with amino groups using supercritical carbon dioxide to develop material for adsorption or catalysis applications. Currently, she supervises a PhD project in "multifunctional antimicrobial sensor fabrics for patient's healthcare".