Tomáš Zelenka and Gabriela Hotová visited (from 22 to 24 May 2018) INCAR-CSIC (Instituto National del Carbón) located in Oviedo.

 
The INCAR Institute consists of 15 research groups distributed in three departments: Coal, Energy and Environment; Chemistry of Materials and Chemical Processes in Energy and Environment. The main activities of INCAR Institute include (i) coal conversion and clean technologies and (ii) development of carbon and inorganic materials for structural, energetic and environmental applications.
 

 
During our stay at INCAR institute, we visited the MCAT (Microwaves and Carbons Applied to Technology) research group: dr. Ana Arenillas, dr. J. Ángel Menéndez Díaz, dr. Miguel A. Montes-Morán and prof. José B. Parra. The main objective of this group is the preparation of resorcinol-formaldehyde xerogels with defined porosity using microwave irradiation. Microwave irradiation is further used, for example, to disrupt the coal structure. During our visit, we presented the research performed at KCH OU and discussed the possibility of our future cooperation.
 

 
During our free time, we explored the center of Oviedo, Gijón and also tasted specialties (mainly cheeses, ham, chocolate, casadielles, snails, fish, etc. and Sidra (Cider) – an alcohol a bit different as we know it) typical for this area of Asturias, which is mountainous and unusually green. The visit was funded by the Erasmus+ program.
¡Adíos!