Research Units

PROCESSES – Systems engineering and industrial process evaluation

The PROCESSES unit brings together a multidisciplinary team of physicists, mathematicians, electronic engineers, chemical engineers, and environmental science experts. It focuses on the design, optimization, and evaluation of biological and technological processes and systems. With an emphasis on automation and control of complex systems in the process industry, and through advanced modeling and simulation tools, it enhances industrial system performance, improves operational efficiency, and promotes sustainability. In bioprocesses, the unit applies modeling techniques to design new or improved metabolic capabilities of microorganisms, aiming at environmental protection and sustainability. It also evaluates techno-economic feasibility, eco-efficiency, risk management, and the resilience of industrial processes, particularly in the urban water cycle.

Scientific-technical capabilities

1

Design, optimization, and control of biological and technological systems.

2

Modeling and simulation techniques for industrial processes.

3

Automation of complex systems in the process industry.

4

Genomic-scale metabolic modeling for innovation and sustainability in bioprocesses.

5

Industrial computing and bioinformatics.

6

Techno-economic evaluation techniques for industrial processes.

7

Eco-efficiency analysis and risk management in industrial processes.

Researchers

RECOGNIZED RESEARCHERS

ESTABLISHED RESEARCHERS

PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Current projects

Distributed optimization for parameter estimation, state estimation, and dynamic reconciliation in digital twins

EThis subproject is part of the coordinated project \'Advanced Components for Industrial Digital Twins.\' It focuses on the development of distributed optimization methods and algorithms to address parameter estimation problems, modifier adaptation techniques, and real-time data reconciliation. Additionally, the architecture and integration of its components within a Digital Twin (DT) will be analyzed. Two case studies—the manufacturing of fiber panels and a laboratory pilot plant—will be used to evaluate the project outcomes.

Reference
PID2021-123654OB-C31
Principal Investigator
Gloria Gutiérrez Rodríguez & Jesús María Zamarreño Cosme
Date
2022-2025
Financing Entity
MICINN / UE - Proyectos de «Generación de Conocimiento» 2021
Budget
€ 194,931.00

Online industrial digital twin with anomaly detection, performance optimization, quality and energy efficiency improvement, and prescriptive analytics

This project focuses on the development of a digital twin for wood product production lines, based on AI technologies, digital modeling, and simulation. The integration of AI with the digital twin will result in significantly improved productivity, safety, reliability, quality, and protection.

Reference
CPP2021-008639
Principal Investigator
Fernando Juan Tadeo Rico
Date
2022-2025
Financing Entity
MICINN / UE - Proyectos en colaboración público-privada 2021
Budget
€ 271,894.74

Optimization of Efficiency in Osmotic Renewable Energy Generation Plants (WATER2WATTS)

WATER2WATTS develops practical designs to achieve maximum efficiency in osmotic renewable energy generation processes. The project focuses on the development of practical control and optimization algorithms that robustly maximize plant efficiency by adapting to variations in input sources, as well as to temperature and concentration changes caused by climatic or environmental fluctuations. The developed algorithms are validated using field measurements in a specific case study.

Reference
TED2021-129716B-I00
Principal Investigator
Fernando Juan Tadeo Rico
Date
2022-2025
Financing Entity
MICINN / UE - Proyectos Estratégicos Orientados a la Transición Ecológica y a la Transición Digital 2021
Budget
€ 52,670.00

Bioproduction of formaldehyde from aquaculture waste: an example of circular economy (FormalCircular)

FormalCircular aims to explore the technical feasibility of using biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of waste as a feedstock for formaldehyde production. This is achieved through the use of methanotrophic microorganisms of the species Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum, from which a specific gene has been deleted to enable this transformation.

Reference
TED2021-131813B-I00
Principal Investigator
Fernando Santos Beneit & Sergio Bordel Velasco
Date
2022-2025
Financing Entity
MICINN / UE - Proyectos Estratégicos Orientados a la Transición Ecológica y a la Transición Digital 2021
Budget
€ 161,000.00

Latest publications

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

Latest Publications

Maziotis, A., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Evaluating the Sustainability of Water and Sanitation Services: A Comparative Analysis of Methodological Approaches. Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3511


Porto, P.M., Leroy-Freitas, D., Cohim, E., Vasconcelos, R., Franca-Rocha, W., Muñoz, R., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Biogas energy recovery in brazilian wastewater treatment plants: A multi-level perspective on technological transition. Energy Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2025.04.015


Maziotis, A., Sala-Garrido, R., Mocholi-Arce, M., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Measuring eco-productivity in the management of municipal solid waste: a parametric approach. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-025-02193-9


Cepeda, F., Melo, O., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Economic viability and resident preferences for greywater reuse in Chile. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-36058-3


Iurev, R., García-Lapresta, J.L., García-Encina, P.A., Bolado, S., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Perceptions of waste valorization and hazardousness: A methodological approach based on ordinal proximity measures.City and Environment Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cacint.2025.100193


Ávila, A., Vicuña, S., Gironás, J., Melo, O., Rivera, D., Molinos, M. (2025) Flexible Instruments to Address Water Security in the Context of Climate Uncertainty: A Case Study of Option Contracts in a Chilean River Basin. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. https://doi.org/10.1061/JWRMD5.WRENG-6654


Sala-Garrido, R., Maziotis, A., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Assessing eco-efficiency of drinking water treatment plants: A synthetic index approach within water-energy-carbon nexus. Journal of Cleaner Production. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145067


Mocholi-Arce, M., Sala-Garrido, R., Maziotis, A., Molinos-Senante, M. (2025) Techno-economic Efficiency of Water Utilities: a Peer-Evaluation Estimation.Water Resources Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-025-04126-5


Carosi, L., D’Inverno, G., Senante, M.M. (2025) Malmquist Productivity Index from a regulator’s perspective. Annals of Operations Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-025-06507-w


Molinos-Senante, M., Maziotis, A. (2025) The Influence of Environmental Variables on the Carbon Performance of Water Companies Across Time. Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3375