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.
Characterization of waste and by-products and biodegradability testing.
Design and optimization of sustainable processes for waste and by-product treatment and valorization.
Reactor engineering.
Scaling and validation of processes in industrial environments.
Techno-economic feasibility analysis of treatment and valorization processes.
Advanced microbiological and genomic characterization techniques for bioprocess optimization and innovation.
Techniques for inoculum selection and optimization in bioprocesses.
This subproject aims to produce renewable gases (bioCH₄) by applying microaerobic conditions to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and enhance the hydrolysis stage, thereby reducing residence times in waste digestion. Subsequently, a hydrogenotrophic stage will be implemented, in which the digestate and biogas from the microaerobic stage are fed. The technical feasibility of bioCH₄ production is complemented by a subproject studying its economic viability.
SYNBIOCONV focuses on developing a new concept of a flexible, efficient, and sustainable multiplatform biorefinery capable of valorizing any organic waste—including toxic or recalcitrant types—through the production of synthesis gas and its subsequent bioconversion into marketable chemicals and renewable fuels.
CIRCULAR-BIOMED aims for the circular and sustainable production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products using unexplored extremophilic organisms and advanced biotechnology. It integrates a novel two-step biorefinery concept where low-quality, non-hazardous waste is first converted into a clean gaseous feedstock through dark fermentation. This gas stream is subsequently valorized in a second step into fine chemicals using extremophilic gas fermentation.
This project introduces an innovative flagship biorefinery designed to valorize the organic fraction of solid waste and municipal wastewater sludge to produce high-value end products for industry and end consumers.
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
