Research Units

Research Units

ENVIROENG - Engineering for environmental sustainability

The ENVIROENG unit applies sustainable engineering to environmental protection and the efficient use of resources. With a multidisciplinary team of chemical engineers, biologists, biotechnologists, and environmental science experts, it develops innovative solutions in biological and physicochemical processes for the valorization of waste, by-products, and pollutants into high-value products and energy. The unit excels in wastewater treatment, solid waste management, gaseous emission decontamination, and indoor air purification. Additionally, it employs advanced genomics and microbiology techniques to optimize bioprocesses and enhance the resilience of the productive sector without compromising its competitiveness.

Scientific-technical capabilities

1

Characterization of waste and by-products and biodegradability testing.

2

Design and optimization of sustainable processes for waste and by-product treatment and valorization.

3

Reactor engineering.

4

Scaling and validation of processes in industrial environments.

5

Techno-economic feasibility analysis of treatment and valorization processes.

6

Advanced microbiological and genomic characterization techniques for bioprocess optimization and innovation.

7

Techniques for inoculum selection and optimization in bioprocesses.

Researchers

RECOGNIZED RESEARCHERS

ESTABLISHED RESEARCHERS

PREDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

VISITING RESEARCHERS

Current projects

High-performance syngas upgrading into medium-chain carboxylates in high mass transfer gas-phase bioreactors with in situ product extraction (Syn2Value)

Reference
CORDIS ID: 101109547
Principal Investigator
Rodolfo Palomo Briones & Raúl Muñoz Torre
Financing Agent
Budget
181.152,96 €

Latest publications

Mocholi-Arce, M., Sala-Garrido, R., Molinos-Senante, M., Maziotis, A. (2025) A comprehensive evaluation of eco-productivity of the municipal solid waste service in Chile. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-025-1931-9

Marcos-Rodrigo, E., Lebrero, R., Muñoz, R., Sousa, D.Z., Cantera, S. (2025) Syngas biological transformation into hydroxyectoine. Bioresource Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131842

Herrero-Lobo, R., Torres Franco, A.F., Lebrero, R., Rodero, M.D.R., Muñoz, R. (2025) Evaluation of the influence of the gas residence time and biomass concentration on methane bioconversion to ectoines in a novel Taylor flow bioreactor. Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123592

Severi, C.A., Pascual, C., Perez, V., Muñoz, R., Lebrero, R. (2025) Pilot-Scale Biogas Desulfurization through Anoxic Biofiltration. Journal of Hazardous Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136830

Hoyos, E.G., Lomanar, M.L., Blanco, S., Lebrero, R., Muñoz, R. (2025) Improving photosynthetic biogas purification via process aeration and nanoparticle supplementation. Bioresource Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131987