The MATERIALS unit focuses on the research and development of advanced materials with innovative applications across various industrial sectors, always with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility. By integrating knowledge from physics, chemistry, and chemical engineering, the team works on the creation of membrane materials and porous materials for separation, capture, and purification processes, with particular attention to energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. The unit tackles technological challenges in water treatment, CO₂ capture, the recovery of valuable products, and the production of renewable energy.
Synthesis and design of advanced membranes and optimization of their structural properties (permeability, selectivity, stability, etc.).
Development of sustainable methodologies for material production.
Material characterization techniques: properties and performance (spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, permeability analysis, etc.).
Optimization of material stability under operational conditions.
Optimization of separation and capture processes (CO₂, H₂, water contaminants, etc.).
Renfrew, D., Vasilaki, V., Tsalidis, G.A., Pérez, V., Danishvar, S., Pérez, F., González, B.C., Muñoz, R., Katsou, E. (2025) Transitioning towards standardised circular economy assessments; application to high-value production from OFMSW biogas. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108427
Regueira-Marcos, L., Muñoz, R., García-Depraect, O. (2025) Biogenic hydrogen production from household food waste via lactate-driven dark fermentation: A comparative study of single-stage and two-stage configurations. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.117672
Sáez-Orviz, S., Lebrero, R., Terrén, L., Doñate, S., Esclapez, M.D., Saúco, L., Muñoz, R. (2025) Evaluation of the performance of iron-supplemented pelletised compost as packing material in biofilters for odour abatement in domestic wastewater treatment plants. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179927
Rivera, F., Villarreal, L., Prádanos, P., Hernández, A., Palacio, L., Muñoz, R. (2025) Innovative ammonia recovery and biogas enhancement via direct contact membrane distillation in thermophilic anaerobic digestion of mixed sludge. Journal of Water Process Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.108193
Shafana Farveen, M., Muñoz, R., Narayanan, R., García-Depraect, O. (2025) Enhancing Bioplastic Degradation in Anaerobic Digestion: A Review of Pretreatment and Co-Digestion Strategies. Polymers. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131756
