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.
Design, optimization, and control of biological and technological systems.
Modeling and simulation techniques for industrial processes.
Automation of complex systems in the process industry.
Genomic-scale metabolic modeling for innovation and sustainability in bioprocesses.
Industrial computing and bioinformatics.
Techno-economic evaluation techniques for industrial processes.
Eco-efficiency analysis and risk management in industrial processes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
