The CHEMBIO unit specializes in the development of advanced analytical methods and innovative technologies for the detection, control, and mitigation of chemical and biological contamination in industrial and natural environments. Composed of a team of chemists and chemical engineers, it addresses both emerging chemical contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, and personal care products, as well as biological contaminants including viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes. Through cutting-edge technological approaches, it seeks to understand the impact and spread of these contaminants on the environment and human health, proposing sustainable solutions that contribute to environmental protection and the improvement of quality of life.
Advanced analytical capabilities for the detection of chemical and biological contaminants (mass spectrometry, sensors, liquid chromatography…).
Innovation and optimization of physicochemical and biological treatment technologies for the decontamination of water and soil.
Modeling and simulation of the dispersion and environmental impact of contaminants (computational fluid dynamics (CFD), atmospheric dispersion models…).
Statistical analysis of the dispersion and environmental impact of contaminants.
Application of methods for the control of pathogens and antibiotic resistance (sampling methods, RT-PCR, microbiological culture…).
The overall objective of PROPHACTION is to develop sustainable resource recovery processes from various biomasses cultivated in wastewater treatment plants through protein recovery and PHA production from the nitrogen-depleted hydrolysate after protein extraction, ensuring the safety and quality of the resulting bioproducts.
The ARCPOL project focuses on the interplay between two global environmental issues: climate change and pollution in the Arctic, caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their metabolites (OH-PAHs), as well as emerging contaminants such as microplastics. The project aims to understand the fate and cycling of these pollutants under a global warming scenario.
The project addresses the threat posed by persistent and emerging contaminants (industrial plastic additives, novel flame retardants, and microplastics) in freshwater aquatic environments and their food webs, under the influence of anthropogenic disturbances such as global warming. It aims to understand their distribution, transport, and bioaccumulation processes, as well as their interactions with the carbon cycle.
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
