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 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.
Hoyos, E.G., Rasekhi, S., Mazaeda, R., Muñoz, R. (2026) Pilot-scale optimization of a physical–chemical biogas upgrading system based on a high alkalinity absorbent at ambient pressure and temperature. Fuel. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.138010
del Amo-Mateos, E., Gosalvitr, P., Cuéllar-Franca, R.M., Dragone, G., Mussatto, S.I., García-Cubero, M.T., Coca, M., Lucas, S. (2026) An environmental and economic sustainability assessment of novel rhamnogalacturonan-I pectin production from agricultural residues. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.120786
Collao, J., Alonso, C., López-Serna, R., Bolado-Rodríguez, S., Fernández-González, N. (2026) Compromised performance and microbial communities of photobioreactors exposed to veterinary antibiotics during swine wastewater treatment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.120825
Ismail, M., Dahech, K., Tadeo, F., Damak, T., Chaabane, M. (2026) Adaptive Fault Diagnosis of DC-DC Boost Converters in Photovoltaic Systems Based on Sliding Mode Observers with Dynamic Thresholds. Electronics (Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15010040
Romano, F., Zarra, T., Palacio, L., García-Depraect, O., Muñoz, R. (2026) Simultaneous recovery of ammonia and volatile fatty acids from dark fermentation effluents via gas-liquid membrane contactor. Journal of Water Process Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.109388
