Dr Denys Villa Gomez
Senior Lecturer
School of Civil Engineering
+61 7 336 53857
Room: 442:1
Advanced Engineering Building (49)
Advanced Engineering Building (49)
Researcher biography
Denys Villa Gomez holds a joint appointment at the University of Queensland as Senior Lecturer at the School of Civil Engineering and as a Research Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. She obtained her PhD at the world-leading institute's IHE-Delft/Wageningen University, The Netherlands in 2013. She applies advanced methodologies such as omics approaches and micro spectral tools to develop biotechnology processes that reduce carbon emissions and recover resources from mine waste and wastewater. She is the leader of the key area "Synbio Mining" within the recently created UQ Biosustainability Hub and chief investigator at the ARC Training Centre in Critical Resources for the Future. She has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers cited more than 500 times, and has served as editor and reviewer for leading journals and advisory roles in industry and scientific committees (e.g. International Mine Water Association).
Teaching and Learning:
- Course coordinator and lecturer for Introduction to Environmental Engineering (CIVL2135)
- Course coordinator and lecturer for Environmental Phenomena (ENVE3160)
- Lecturer in Integrated Design for Environmental Management (CIVL4516)
- Lecturer in Sustainable Built Environment (CIVL4180)
Publications
Book
Gómez, Denys Kristalia Villa (2022). Simultaneous sulfate reduction and metal precipitation in an inverse fluidized bed reactor. London, United Kingdom: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003059318
Book Chapters
Walling, Eric, Moerman, Wim, Verstraete, Willy, Villa Gomez, Denys K. and Vaneeckhaute, Céline (2022). Resource recovery from industrial wastewater: what and how much is there?. Resource recovery from water: principles and application. (pp. 21-48) edited by Ilje Pikaar, Jeremy Guest, Ramon Ganigué, Paul Jensen, Korneel Rabaey, Thomas Seviour, John Trimmer, Olaf van der Kolk, Céline Vaneeckhaute and Willy Verstraete. London, United Kingdom: IWA Publishing. doi: 10.2166/9781780409566_0021
Weijma, Jan, Klok, Johannes B.M., Dijkman, Henk, Jansen, Gijs, Sànchez-Andrea, Irene, Buisman, Cees J.N., van Hullebusch, Eric D., Hennebel, Tom, du Laing, Gijs, Cruz, Heidy, Pikaar, Ilje and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2022). Established technologies for metal recovery from industrial wastewater streams. Resource recovery from water: principles and application. (pp. 295-317) edited by Ilje Pikaar, Jeremy Guest, Ramon Ganigué, Paul Jensen, Korneel Rabaey, Thomas Seviour, John Trimmer, Olaf van der Kolk, Céline Vaneeckhaute and Willy Verstraete. London, United Kingdom: IWA Publishing. doi: 10.2166/9781780409566_0295
Liu, Yun, Serrano, Antonio and Villa-Gomez, Denys (2021). Biological treatment of mine-impacted waters on the context of metal recovery. The future of effluent treatment plants: biological treatment systems. (pp. 499-522) edited by Maulin Shah, Susana Rodriguez-Couto and Kavit Mehta. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822956-9.00026-x
Cubero-Cardoso, Juan, Serrano, Antonio, Trujillo-Reyes, Ángeles, K. Villa-Gómez, Denys, Borja, Rafael and Fermoso, Fernando G. (2020). Valorization options of strawberry extrudate agro-waste. A review. Innovation in the food sector through the valorization of food and agro-food by-products [Working Title]. (pp. 1-20) London, United Kingdom: IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.93997
Villa-Gomez, Denys Kristalia and Lens, Piet N. L. (2017). Metal recovery from industrial and mining wastewaters using sulphate-reducing bioreactors. Sustainable Heavy Metal Remediation: Volume 2: Case studies. (pp. 81-114) edited by Eldon R. Rene, Erkan Sahinkaya, Alison Lewis and Piet Lens. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-61146-4_3
Journal Articles
Zhang, Mengyun, Tian, Lei, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Zhang, Ling, Yang, Wenshuai, Liu, Yun and Cao, Yijun (2025). Bio-inspired metal extraction: Tailoring peptides for highly selective scandium recovery. Separation and Purification Technology, 354 128640, 128640. doi: 10.1016/j.seppur.2024.128640
Webster, Luke J., Villa-Gomez, Denys, Brown, Reuben, Clarke, William and Schenk, Peer M. (2024). A synthetic biology approach for the treatment of pollutants with microalgae. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12 ARTN 1379301, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1379301
Liu, Yun, Xin, Zhiwei, Tian, Lei, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Wang, Wei and Cao, Yijun (2024). Fabrication of peptide-encapsulated sodium alginate hydrogel for selective gallium adsorption. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 263 (2) 130436, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130436
Zapata-Martínez, Olivia, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Tapia-Tussell, Raul, Dominguez-Maldonado, Jorge, Hernández-Zárate, Galdy, España-Gamboa, Elda, Valdez-Ojeda, Rubí and Alzate-Gaviria, Liliana (2024). Craft Brewery Wastewater Treatment in a Scalable Microbial Fuel Cell Stack. Beverages, 10 (1) 20, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/beverages10010020
Ezieke, Arinze Hycienth, Serrano, Antonio, Peces, Miriam, Clarke, William and Villa-Gomez, Denys (2024). Effect of feeding frequency on the anaerobic digestion of berry fruit waste. Waste Management, 178, 66-75. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.02.011
Gomez, Denys Villa, Hong, Paul, Berry, Luke, Liu, Di and Edraki, Mansour (2023). Element distribution in electrochemically treated mine wastewater for efficient resource recovery and water treatment: a pilot study. Chemosphere, 339 139536, 139536. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139536
Hernández, Pedro, Recio, Gonzalo, Schwarz, Alex, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Southam, Gordon, Saavedra-Mella, Felipe, Canales, Christian and Nancucheo, Ivan (2023). Arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) removal from acidic mine waters using an acidophilic sulfate-reducing bioreactor. Hydrometallurgy, 221 106137, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2023.106137
Cubero-Cardoso, Juan, Russo, Egidio, Serrano, Antonio, Trujillo-Reyes, Ángeles, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Esposito, Giovanni and Fermoso, Fernando G. (2022). Enhancing the recovery of volatile fatty acids from strawberry extrudate through anaerobic fermentation at different pH values. Environmental Technology and Innovation, 28 102587, 102587. doi: 10.1016/j.eti.2022.102587
Liu, Yun, Vaughan, James, Southam, Gordon, Serrano, Antonio, Gao, Han, Palfreyman, Robin, Marcellin, Esteban and Villa-Gomez, Denys K. (2022). Role of the substrate on Ni inhibition in biological sulfate reduction. Journal of Environmental Management, 316 115216, 115216. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115216
Schwarz, Alex, Gaete, María, Nancucheo, Iván, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Aybar, Marcelo and Sbárbaro, Daniel (2022). High-rate sulfate removal coupled to elemental sulfur production in mining process waters based on membrane-biofilm technology. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10 805712, 805712. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.805712
Ezieke, Arinze Hycienth, Serrano, Antonio, Clarke, William and Villa-Gomez, Denys Kristalia (2022). Bottom ash from smouldered digestate and coconut coir as an alkalinity supplement for the anaerobic digestion of fruit waste. Chemosphere, 296 134049, 134049. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134049
Villa Gomez, Denys, Sáez Salgado, Enrique, Mejías, Olivia, Pat-Espadas, Aurora Margarita, Pinedo Torres, Laura Alejandra , Jackson, Laura and Parbhakar-Fox, Anita (2022). Data Integration of Critical Elements from Mine Waste in Mexico, Chile and Australia. Minerals, 12 (2) 122, 122. doi: 10.3390/min12020122
Hernández, Pedro, Recio, Gonzalo, Canales, Christian, Schwarz, Alex, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Southam, Gordon and Nancucheo, Ivan (2022). Evaluation of operating conditions on sulfate reduction from acidic wastewater in a fixed-bed bioreactor. Minerals Engineering, 177 107370, 107370. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107370
Villa Gomez, D.K., Serrano, A., Peces, M., Ryan, B., Hofmann, H. and Southam, G. (2021). A sequential bioreactor adaption strategy enhanced the precipitation of metals from tailings’ leachates. Minerals Engineering, 170 107051, 107051. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107051
Liu, Yun, Vaughan, James, Southam, Gordon, Serrano, Antonio, Marcellin, Esteban, Nancucheo, Ivan and Villa-Gomez, Denys K. (2020). Enhanced metal recovery by efficient agglomeration of precipitates in an up-flow fixed-bed bioreactor. Chemical Engineering Journal, 416 127662, 127662. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2020.127662
Montoya-Rosales, J. J., Peces, M., González-Rodríguez, L. M., Alatriste-Mondragón, F. and Villa-Gómez, D. K. (2020). A broad overview comparing a fungal, thermal and acid pre-treatment of bean straw in terms of substrate and anaerobic digestion effect. Biomass and Bioenergy, 142 105775, 105775. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105775
Serrano, Antonio, Newton, Georgia, Alonso-Fariñas, Bernabe, Fermoso, Fernando G. and Villa-Gomez, Denys K. (2020). pH-Controlled fermentation of strawberry waste as phenol solubilisation method. Journal of Cleaner Production, 266 121924, 121924. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121924
Cubero-Cardoso, Juan, Trujillo-Reyes, Ángeles, Marín-Ayllón, Patricia, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, Guillermo, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Serrano, Antonio, Borja, Rafael and Fermoso, Fernando G. (2020). Solubilization of phenols and sugars from raspberry extrudate by hydrothermal treatments. Processes, 8 (7) 842, 842. doi: 10.3390/pr8070842
Liu, Yun, Serrano, Antonio, Wyman, Valentina, Marcellin, Esteban, Southam, Gordon, Vaughan, James and Villa-Gomez, Denys (2020). Nickel complexation as an innovative approach for nickel-cobalt selective recovery using sulfate-reducing bacteria. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 402 123506, 123506. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123506
Patel, Miheka, Villa Gómez, Denys K., Pikaar, Ilje and Clarke, William P. (2020). Influence of inoculum selection on the utilisation of volatile fatty acid and glucose in sulfate reducing reactors. Environmental Technology, 43 (2), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/09593330.2020.1783371
Serrano, A., Wyn, H., Dupont, L., Villa-Gomez, D. K. and Yermán, L. (2020). Self-sustaining treatment as a novel alternative for the stabilization of anaerobic digestate. Journal of Environmental Management, 264 110544, 110544. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110544
Serrano, Antonio, Villa-Gomez, Denys, Fermoso, Fernando G. and Alonso-Fariñas, Bernabé (2020). Is anaerobic digestion a feasible alternative to the combustion of olive mill solid waste in terms of energy production? A critical review. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 15 (1) bbb.2159, 150-162. doi: 10.1002/bbb.2159
Liu, Yun, Serrano, Antonio, Vaughan, James, Southam, Gordon, Zhao, Ling and Villa-Gomez, Denys (2019). The influence of biologically produced sulfide-containing solutions on nickel and cobalt precipitation reactions and particle settling properties. Hydrometallurgy, 189 105142, 105142. doi: 10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.105142
Serrano, Antonio, Peces, Miriam, Astals, Sergi and Villa-Gómez, Denys K. (2019). Batch assays for biological sulfate-reduction: a review towards a standardized protocol. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (12), 1-29. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2019.1644103
Villa Gomez, Denys Kristalia, Becerra Castañeda, Patricia, Montoya Rosales, Jose de Jesus and González Rodríguez, Luis Mario (2019). Anaerobic digestion of bean straw applying a fungal pre-treatment and using cow manure as co-substrate. Environmental Technology, 41 (22), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/09593330.2019.1587004
Zapata Martínez, O., Serrano, A., Aguilera Flores, M. M. and Villa-Gómez, D. K. (2019). Rabbit manure as a potential inoculum for anaerobic digestion. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 54 (9), 934-950. doi: 10.1080/10934529.2019.1610293
Wyman, Valentina, Serrano, Antonio, Fermoso, Fernando G. and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2019). Trace elements effect on hydrolytic stage towards biogas production of model lignocellulosic substrates. Journal of Environmental Management, 234, 320-325. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.015
González, Daniella, Liu, Yun, Villa Gomez, Denys, Southam, Gordon, Hedrich, Sabrina, Galleguillos, Pedro, Colipai, Camila and Nancucheo, Ivan (2019). Performance of a sulfidogenic bioreactor inoculated with indigenous acidic communities for treating an extremely acidic mine water. Minerals Engineering, 131, 370-375. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2018.11.011
Cassidy, J., Frunzo, L., Lubberding, H. J., Villa-Gomez, D. K., Esposito, G., Keesman, Kj. and Lens, P. N. L. (2017). Role of microbial accumulation in biological sulphate reduction using lactate as electron donor in an inversed fluidized bed bioreactor: operation and dynamic mathematical modelling. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 121, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ibiod.2017.03.006
Villa-Gomez, D. K., Pakshirajan, K., Maestro, R., Mushi, S. and Lens, P. N. L. (2015). Effect of process variables on the sulfate reduction process in bioreactors treating metal-containing wastewaters: factorial design and response surface analyses. Biodegradation, 26 (4), 299-311. doi: 10.1007/s10532-015-9735-4
Villa Gomez, Denys Kristalia, Enright, Anne Marie, Rini, Eki Listya, Buttice, Audrey, Kramer, Herman and Lens, Piet (2015). Effect of hydraulic retention time on metal precipitation in sulfate reducing inverse fluidized bed reactors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 90 (1), 120-129. doi: 10.1002/jctb.4296
Villa-Gomez, D. K., Cassidy, J., Keesman, K. J., Sampaio, R. and Lens, P. N. L. (2014). Sulfide response analysis for sulfide control using apS electrode in sulfate reducing bioreactors. Water Research, 50, 48-58. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.10.006
Villa-Gomez, D. K., van Hullebusch, E. D., Maestro, R., Farges, F., Nikitenko, S., Kramer, H., Gonzalez-Gil, G. and Lens, P. N. L. (2014). Morphology, mineralogy, and solid-liquid phase separation characteristics of Cu and Zn precipitates produced with biogenic sulfide. Environmental Science and Technology, 48 (1), 664-673. doi: 10.1021/es402795x
Papirio, S., Villa-Gomez, D. K., Esposito, G., Pirozzi, F. and Lens, P. N. L. (2013). Acid mine drainage treatment in fluidized-bed bioreactors by sulfate-reducing bacteria: a critical review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 43 (23), 2545-2580. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2012.694328
Villa-Gomez, D. K., Papirio, S., van Hullebusch, E. D., Farges, F., Nikitenko, S., Kramer, H. and Lens, P. N. L. (2012). Influence of sulfide concentration and macronutrients on the characteristics of metal precipitates relevant to metal recovery in bioreactors. Bioresource Technology, 110, 26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.01.041
Villa-Gomez, D., Ababneh, H., Papirio, S., Rousseau, D. P. L. and Lens, P. N. L. (2011). Effect of sulfide concentration on the location of the metal precipitates in inversed fluidized bed reactors. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 192 (1), 200-207. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.05.002
Lens, Piet N. L., Gomez, Denys Villa and Van Cappellen, Philippe (2011). Preface: Chalcogen cycle science and technology. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 189 (3), 623-623. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.02.080
Celis, Lourdes B., Villa-Gómez, Denys, Alpuche-Solís, Angel G., Ortega-Morales, B. Otto and Razo-Flores, Elias (2009). Characterization of sulfate-reducing bacteria dominated surface communities during start-up of a down-flow fluidized bed reactor. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 36 (1), 111-121. doi: 10.1007/s10295-008-0478-7
Conference Papers
Webster, Luke, Marcellin, Esteban and Villa-Gomez, Denys (2024). Protein identification for binding of critical elements in bauxite residue. Australian Mine Waste Symposium Abstracts, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 6-7 February 2024. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Villa Gomez, Denys (2023). Using synthetic biology to accelerate critical metals recovery from mine waste. Critical Minerals Conference 2023, Perth, WA Australia, 21-23 November 2023. Carlton, VIC Australia: The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Saez Salgado, Enrique, Villa Gomez, Denys, Mejías, Olivia, Parbhakar-Fox, Anita, Pinedo-Torres, Laura A., Jackson, Laura and Pat-Espadas, Aurora M. (2022). Critical metals concentration from mine wastes in Mexico, Chile and Australia: A data integration approach. 16th SGA Biennial Meeting 2022, Rotorua, New Zealand, 28-31 March 2022.
Ezieke, Arinze, Serrano, Antonio, Clarke, William and Villa Gomez, Denys (2021). Effect of feeding mode on anaerobic digestion of fruit waste. 18th International Symposium on Waste Management and Sustainable Landfilling, Sardinia, Italy, 11 - 15 October 2021. Rosslyn, United States: CISA Publisher.
Ezieke, Arinze, Serrano, Antonio, Clarke, William and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2021). Closing the loop in agricultural waste management: co-smouldered digestate ash as alkalinity and trace element supplement for anaerobic digestion. International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Thessaloniki, Greece, 23 - 26 June 2021.
Liu, Yun, Serrano, Antonio, Vaughan, James, Southam, Gordon, Nancucheo, Ivan and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2019). The single-stage up-flow fixed bed reactor (UFBR) treating nickel and cobalt-containing wastewater. 23rd International Bio-hydrometalurgy Symposium, Fukuoka, Japan, 20–23 October 201.
Wyn, Hons, Dupont, L., Ezieke, Arinze, Villa Gomez, Denys and Yerman, Luis (2019). Self-sustaining treatment of digestate waste from semi-dry AD. 2019 International Conference on Water Waste and Energy Management, Paris, France, 22-24 July 2019. Badajoz, Spain: Sciknowledge Education Conferences.
Ezieke, Arinze, Serrano, Antonio, Yermán, Luis, Wyn, Hons and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2019). Integration of self-sustaining smouldering after semi-dry anaerobic digestion for a sustainable digestate management. 16th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion, Delft, The Netherlands, 23-27 June 2019.
Liu, Yun, Wyman, Valentina, Serrano, Antonio, Southam, Gordon, Vaughan, James and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2019). Ni stress to sulphate reducing bacteria enhances Ni complexation: Opportunity for Ni-Co separation from wastewater. IWA 16th World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion Conference AD16, Delft, The Netherlands, 23-27 June 2019.
Villa Gomez, Denys , Liu, Yun, Vaughan, James, Marcellin, Esteban, Wyman, Valentina, Serrano, Antonio and Southam, Gordon (2018). Microbial-mediated Ni and Co recovery from mine tailings. 11th ICARD | IMWA | WISA MWD 2018 Conference – Risk to Opportunity, Pretoria, South Africa, 10-14 September 2018. Pretoria, South Africa: International Mine Water Association/WISA Mine Water Division.
Villa Gomez, Denys, Botsch Cellette Gomes, Patrick, Hofmann, Harald, Zhang, Chenming and Williams, David (2018). Assessing biotic and abiotic conditions for understanding bioleaching processes in Zn-Pb-Ag tailings. 11th ICARD | IMWA | WISA MWD 2018 Conference – Risk to Opportunity, Pretoria, South Africa , 10 – 14 September 2018. Pretoria, South Africa: International Mine Water Association/WISA Mine Water Division.
Gomez, Denys Villa, Hofmann, Harald, Kerr, Adam, Benjamin Ryan, Peces, M. and Southam, Gordon (2017). Integrated leaching/bioleaching and sulphate reducing processes for metal recovery and treatment of mine tailings. The 9th Acid and Metalliferous Draining Workshop, Burnie, Tasmania, 1 December 2017.
Liu, Yun, Yao, Ming, Yoong, I., Peces, Miriam, Vaughan, James, Southam, Gordon and Villa Gomez, Denys K. (2017). Strategies in Ni and Co recovery with biogenic sulphide. 1st International congress on Metals in Anaerobic Biotechnologies (IMAB17), Seville, Spain, 4-6 October 2017. Seville, Spain:
Montoya-Rosales, J. J., González-Rodríguez, L. M., Alatriste-Mondragón, F. and Villa-Gómez, D. K. (2016). Evaluation of pretreatment methods for the anaerobic digestion of bean straw. 4th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Limassol, Cyprus, 3-25 June 2016.
Villa-Gomez, D. K. , Papirio, S. , Van Hullebusch, E. , Farges, F. , Nikitenko, S. and Lens, P. N. L. (2010). A study of the metal removal mechanisms in sulfate reducing bioreactors: kinetics, speciation and solid phase characterization. Anaerobic Digestion IX - Selected Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 31 October 2010.
Research Report
e Abreu, Susana Brito, Southam, Gordon, Villa Gomez, Denys, Ma, Xiaodong, Vaughan, James, Micklethwaite, Steven, Forbes, Liza and Parbhakar-Fox, Anita (2022). Review of mineral processing technologies suitable for arsenic recovery from sulphidic ores and wastes. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.