yearbook 2018 - genocov · 2019. 5. 15. · natalia rey martínez edgar ribot llobet borja solís...

YEARBOOK 2018

GEOCOV

www.genocov.com

excellence in environmental engineering research

http://www.genocov.com/

CONTENTS

Presentation 4

Personnel of the research group 5

Main Research AreasTreatment of highly-loaded off-gases 6Characterization and biofiltration of odorous effluents 10Industrial watewater treatment 13Recovery of biopolymers 15Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms and (bio)sensors

for process monitoring 17Urban wastewater treatment 19Fundamentals of bioelectrochemical systems 27Scaling-up bioelectrochemical systems 30

Main Research Cross-topics 32Development of process monitoring tools 33Process Modelling 34Molecular Biology Tools 35Process Automation and Control 36Electrochemical Analyses 37

On-going funded projects in 2018 38

SCI research papers published in 2018 46

On-going PhD thesis in 2018 48

Departament

d'Enginyeria Química,

Biològica i Ambiental

GENOCOV stands for Research Group on Biological Treatment and Valorisation ofLiquid and Gas Effluents. The group is composed by researchers of the Departmentof Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering of the School of Engineeringat the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. GENOCOV has been recognized by theCatalan University Quality System (AQU) as a reference research group (2009, 2013and 2017 SGR).

GENOCOV, whose principal investigator is Prof. Javier Lafuente, has been activeover the last 25 years in the study of biological processes for the treatment of urbanand industrial water and gaseous effluents, with special emphasis on monitoring,modelling and control of complex biological systems, both continuous anddiscontinuous in the field of Chemical and Environmental Engineering.

The group is highly active in research, including : i) Participation in several EUprojects and other projects funded by the Spanish Government, ii) Publication ofmore than 90 peer-reviewed international journals publications during the last 5years and iii) Important participation in international conferences.

The research group activities are focused on Urban and Industrial WastewaterTreatment, Valorisation of Effluents, and Characterization and Treatment of GaseousEffluents. Research activities are developed in the following main research areas:

Conversion of chemical scrubbers into biotrickling filtersTreatment and resource recovery of highly-loaded off-gasesCharacterization and biofiltration of odorous effluents Industrial wastewater treatment Recovery of biopolymers Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms and (bio) sensors for process monitoring Urban wastewater treatment Fundamentals of bioelectrochemical systems Scaling-up of bioelectrochemical systems

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4

Departament




Personnel of the research group

Senior ResearchersDr. Francisco Javier Lafuente Sancho, ProfessorDr. Juan Antonio Baeza Labat, Associate ProfessorDr. Mireia Baeza Labat, Associate ProfessorDr. Julián Carrera Muyo, Associate ProfessorDr. David Gabriel Buguña, Associate ProfessorDr. Albert Guisasola Canudas, Associate ProfessorDr. Julio Pérez Cañestro, Associate ProfessorDr. María Eugenia Suárez-Ojeda, Associate Professor

Postdoctoral ResearchersDr. Clara ReinoDr. Živko Južnič-ZontaDr. Antonella MaroneDr. Mira Sulonen

PhD StudentsEnric Blázquez Sergi Carbonell ChacónCarlos Chan Pacheco David Camilo CuetoEva Fernández Palacios Daniel Gonzalez AléDiógenes Hernández Espinoza Xènia Juan DíazOriol Larriba Gabriela Montiel JarilloRoberto Pol Cecillia PolizziNatalia Rey Martínez Edgar Ribot LlobetBorja Solís Francesco SpennatiXudong Zhou

5

Departament



Main research areas

Treatment and resourcerecovery of highly-loadedoff-gases

Biological reactors for waste gasestreatment are known to work-well for thetreatment of large flows of gas containinglow concentrations of pollutants. We havebeen developing a range of processes toexpand their capacities to treat gaseffluents containing high concentrations ofpollutants. If possible, processes developedtarget the valorisation rather than thesimple removal of pollutants.

The main cases under study are:- Desulfurization of combustion off-gases, in this case the removal of SO2 for elemental Srecovery- Biogas and other energy-rich gases desulfurization, that is the biological removal of H2S forbiogas upgrading- Composting off-gases containing large loads of NH3

2018 topics

1) Biological desulfurization of sulfate-rich effluents for elemental sulfur recovery2) Monitoring and Modeling of sulfate reducing bioreactors 3) Long-term granular UASB operation for sulfate reduction and monitoring of

anaerobic microbial diversity

Leading researchersDavid Gabriel Buguña – [email protected] Javier Lafuente Sancho – [email protected]

6

Departament



Biological desulfurization of sulfate-rich effluents for elemental sulfur recovery Xudong Zhou, [email protected]

MotivationsSulfur oxides (SOx) is one of the main pollutants in theatmosphere. It not only endangers human health andplant growth, but also corrodes equipment andbuildings. It is mainly from the combustion of sulfur-containing fuels, metal smelting, petroleum refiningand silicate product roasting. The main method oftreating SOx in flue gas now is to use a liquidabsorbent for absorption, such as ammoniaabsorption, limestone and sodium hydroxide, etc..When dealing with sulfate-rich effluents, chemical andphysicochemical methods (osmosis, electrodialysis,nanofiltration) are usually more expensive and easilypoisoned by impurities. Biological sulfate removalmethod is cost-effective and environmental-friendly.This work aims to clarify the competition relationshipbetween SRB and methanogens at different heightsof UASB after inoculation of sludge from paperrecovery industry. It needs to evaluate the capacity ofa UASB reactor and it requires serum bottle culture toassess the activity of the SRB bacteria in the UASBreactor.

As the pictures (fig.1, fig.2) show, while VFA areaccumulated, methane production decreased underlong-term culture with a sulfate loading rate of kg S-SO4

2-/m3d after 85 days. Sulphate removal efficienciesare around at 84.26±9.84% during experimental time.Sludge from paper recovery industry reducing sulfateis mainly related to propionic acid (fig.3).

ChallengesIn order to understand the mechanism of SRBbioactivity, calculate the hydrolysis rate, acidogenesisrate, acetogenesis rate and methanogenesis ratewhen microorganisms use glycerol as a carbon sourcein serum bottles culture.

Fig. 1: UASB VFA .

Fig.2. UASB gas production.

Research Topics• Recover elemental sulfur from sulfate.• Determination of mechanisms, kinetic and

stoichiometric parameters of SRB.• Analysis of SRB biological activity• Anaerobic stage of the process.

Fig.3. Activity Test- Using different VFAs as carbon source.

7

VFA

Time (day)

0 50 100 150 200 250

mg C

/L

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50

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Acetic Acid

Propionic Acid

IsoButyric Acid

Butyric Acid

IsoValeric Acid

Gas Production Rate

Time (day)

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te (

ml/h

)0

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Time vs CH4

Time vs CO2

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Time (hour)

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-sulfate

/L

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Acetic acid

Propionic acid

Butyric acid

IsoButyric acid

Valeric acid

Student: Xudong ZhouSupervisors: David Gabriel, Xavier Gamisans,

Antoni Dorado

Monitoring and Modeling of sulfate reducing bioreactors

MotivationsSOx gases are of great concern since they can produce acid depositions, act as secondary particulate pollutant and influencein the deflection of solar radiation. The actual environmental impact can be seen by the huge amount of sulfur gasesemissions that were more than 7 million tons of SOx just in 2014 (EEA, 2014) with a contribution of anthropogenic activitiesaccounting 90 % of this sulfur emissions (Haoet al., 2014).In that sense, different processes have been developed in the treatment of these gases. Among them, the novel SONOVAproject is focused in the treatment of flue gases based on the circular economy principles. The process is divided in threemain steps to absorb gases, treat them biologically and recover elemental sulfur as a value-added product. The biologicaltreatment is performed in two steps, one for reduction of sulfate (formed by the absorption of SOx gases) to sulfide usingsulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and the second to partially oxidize sulfide to elemental sulfur using sulfide oxidizing bacteria(SOB).This research project is mainly focused in the first step of the biological treatment of the SONOVA Process. The sulfatereduction can be performed in UASB reactors using heterotrophic SRB achieving high sulfate load reduction as it has beenreported in the literature; eve though, the present of mixotrophic cultures and the UASB mass transfer limitations are stillchallenging aspects to overcome. The use of autotrophic SRB in gas-lift reactors (GLR) represents an alternative as they cangrow using inorganic carbon source and H2 as electron donor; under these conditions, there can grow only SRB, methanogensand homoacetogens. At the same time, GLR can reduce significantly the mass transfer limitations as there is a mixing zoneproduced by an upward liquid flow in an inner tube and a downward liquid flow in an outer tube; the upward and down flowsare enhanced by an inlet gas flow that goes through the inner tube (Fig. 1B). In this order, the main object of this project is todescribe experimentally and mathematically the behavior and performance of the hydrogenotrophic SRB in a GLR for thetreatment of sulfate-rich effluents.

Student: David Camilo Cueto FerreiraSupervisors: David Gabriel, Juan A. Baeza and

Mireia Baeza

Research Topics• Start-up of GLR using hydrogenotrophic SRB in

biofilms.• Monitoring and evaluation of updated analytical

techniques for hydrogen sulfide and oxidized sulfurspecies.

• Mathematical model of bioprocess occurring inbioreactors.

David Camilo Cueto [email protected]

As it can be seen from Fig. 1A, H2 has to be transfer from the gasto the liquid phase, then to the biofilm layer and finally inside thebiofilm. Three mass transfer limitation steps that need to be

overcome or reduce.

In terms of simulation, it is also challenging to mathematicallydescribe biofilm behaviour, especially if there is not way tocharacterize it experimentally.

From the reactor configuration (Fig. 1B), it is a big task todescribe the entire process by applying novel analyticaltechniques of key sulfur species.

Fig. 1 . A) H2 mass transfer limitations. B) GLR configuration.

A B

Preliminary resultsSulfate reduction was previously evaluated in a stirredreactor (see Fig. 2). It can be seen that from days 39 to42, the highest sulfate load reduction (SLR) of 340 mgS-SO42- L-1 d-1 was achieved. Culture medium of this wastaking to inoculate the GLR and improve the SLR.Sulfate profile (Stirred Reactor)

Time (d)

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

mg L

-1

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900

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1500

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2100

2400

2700

3000

L

0,0

0,2

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0,6

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1,2(S-SO42-)

SR (L)

Fig. 2 . Sulfate reduction by H-SRB in a stirred reactor

ChallengesThe main challenge is to optimize the GLR performance andsimulate the whole process including biofilm behavior.

8

Long-term granular UASB operation for sulfate reduction and monitoring of

anaerobic microbial diversity Eva Fernández Palacios, [email protected]

MotivationsThe major metabolic processes that take place inanaerobic bioreactors, such as methanogenesis,sulfidogenesis, and acetogenesis, are nowadayswell understood. However, our knowledge of thediversity and dynamics of the microbialcommunities responsible for these processes isstill limited. This is due to our inability to isolatemost of the microorganisms in pure cultures,however a combination of different biomoleculartechniques can help us to obtain a betterunderstanding of how the bacterial communitystructure changes in anaerobic bioreactors.Throughout the operation of the reactor, themicrobiological analysis of granular biomass willbe carried out, as well as the inocula, throughIlumina sequencing (to know the microbialdiversity) and FISH to visualize the evolution ofmicrobial diversity of SRB biomass and theirprofiles from the outside to the inside of thegranule.

ChallengesA startup protocol of SRB-UASB using sludge frommethanogenic anaerobic digesters has beenestablished in the SONOVA project even if significantamounts of methane are produced during startup.Later, long steady-state periods will be tested, whichare needed to properly assess the slow dynamics ofthe microbial community in anaerobic granularsystems. Illumina sequencing will allow identifying thespecies involved and searching for specific FISHprobes to monitor the bacterial populations in thesulfidogenic UASB. This technique will also allow us tohave a relative quantification of the quantity of eachmarked population to understand the impact ofoperational changes over microbial populations.

Research Topics• Sulfate removal from S-rich effluents.• Valorization of flue gases or other S-rich effluents and organic waste streams as bioenergy and sulfur.• Elemental sulfur recovery from sulfur dioxide.

Fig.1. UASB performance

Student: Eva Fernández PalaciosSupervisors: David Gabriel, Mabel Mora

Time (days)

0 50 100 150 200

Sulf

ate,

TD

S (

mg S

L-1

)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Sulfate effluent

Sulfide effluent

Sulfate influent

Fig. 2 UASB reactor Figure 3. FISH analysis of the UASB biomass

9

Main research areas

Characterization andbiofiltration of gas effluents

Odours from industrial facilities are a mixture of alarge list of simple and complex volatile, organicand inorganic compounds that produce aphysiological response in the pituitary gland. Wemeasure odour by dynamic olfactometry whilethe inventory of the compounds of gas samples isassessed by TD-GC/MS.

Also, Green House Gases (GHG) such as methane and nitrous oxide from a range of sourcesare characterized to either assess the carbon footprint of different processes and todetermine operational strategies for emissions reduction and/or treatment.

Overall we are able to run complete characterization of waste gases from a variety ofindustrial sites such as composting piles, biofilters, WWTPs, Municipal Solid Waste TreatmentFacilities, sewer networks, etc. We have a large expertise in biofiltration of odorous effluentsby seeking new packing materials and the optimization of the operational conditions ofbiofilters to maximize the removal of pollutants.

2018 topics1) Characterization of the gaseous emissions from the sewage sludge biodrying

process (in collaboration with GICOM-UAB and Beta Group –U. Vic)2) Emissions quantification and drying time of alperujo and orujo, in order to be used

as biomass in the manufacture of pellets for industrial and domestic use

Leading researchers

David Gabriel Buguña – [email protected] Javier Lafuente Sancho – [email protected]

10

Departament



Characterization of the gaseous emissions from the sewage sludge

biodrying [email protected]

Daniel González Alé, PhD

Student: Daniel González AléSupervisors: Dr. David Gabriel,

Dr. Antoni Sánchez from GICOM andDr. Joan Colón from UVic

MotivationsDuring processing of solid wastes and wastewater, generation of gaseswith complex mixtures of compounds creates odour concerns andenvironmental issues. The main goal of this research is to provide a fulland reliable inventory of VOCs, odours and other gases -such as GHG- atdifferent facilities. To achieve that, it is necessary to apply different typesof sampling and analysis methods.

Research topics• Gas sampling and analysis methodology.• Characterization and quantification of the gaseous emissions

generated in different waste and wastewater treatment plants andprocesses.

• Odour impact assessment.

Sewage sludge biodrying process

Challenges• To optimize the sewage sludge biodrying process in

order to obtain a valuable product.• To acquire knowledge on the gaseous emission

generated by the treatment process.• To provide a full and reliable inventory of VOCs and

odours produced during the biodrying ofconventional sewage sludge.

Plant descriptionThe sewage sludge biodrying process was carried out ina 100 L reactor during 13 days, using 43 kg of a mixtureof conventional non-digested sewage sludge,diatomaceous earth as co-substrate and pruning wasteas bulking agent.The main goal of a biodrying process is to obtain a finalproduct with low moisture content and enough calorificcontent to be used as a biomass fuel. To do that,metabolic heat as well as high aeration are used to drythe solid mixture.In this work, a follow-up of the biodrying processperformance as well as the gaseous emission of VOCs,NH3, H2S, CH4, N2O and odour was done to provide astarting point in view of assessing its environmentalimpact.Moreover, an inventory of the specific VOCs emittedduring the whole biodrying process was obtained.

GHGs emission factors for the biodrying process

CH4 (kg CO2eq · Mg-1 SS) 2.10E-01

N2O (kg CO2eq · Mg-1 SS) 4.45

Table 1. GHGs global emission factors for the biodrying treatment of conventional sewage sludge.

Figure 2. Odour emission rate profile during the biodrying process.

Figure 1. 100 L biodrying reactor.

BD OU

30/1

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ºC)

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in-1

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OE

R (

ou·d

-1)

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OER (ou·d-1)

11

Emissions quantification and dryingtime of alperujo and orujo, in order tobe used as biomass in the manufactureof pellets for industrial and domestic use [email protected]

Diógenes Hernández

Motivations

Several studies show that the main waste product ofthe olive process in the world are alperujo and orujo.The alperujo and alperujo are mixtures of water, oils,cellulose, lignin, proteins, carbohydrates, nitrogen,organic acids, pectins, tannins, polyalcohols and smallfractions of active phenolic compounds and otherderivatives. Due to its composition and its richness inorganic matter, orujo and alperujo can still be exploitedin different uses. In Chile, these residues do not yethave an adequate treatment process that allow theirtotal reuse, except for some small attempts, such assoil improver, animal feed, precursor of polyphenols,among others, implying that they still remainaccumulated in agricultural lands, generating anenvironmental impact important, to water, soil and airbecause of the odorant gases.The main objective of this research is to characterizeand quantify the odorant VOCs produced whenalperujo and pomace when it is dried in differentaccumulation times with minimal environmentalimpact, in order to dispose them with a low percentageof humidity.With the dry pellet of alperujo and orujo, themanufacture process was also studied for use indomestic boilers, which is mixed with wood biomass,particularly Pinus radiata and Populus spp sawdust, thelatter being the main materials used for themanufacture of pellets in Chile.

Student: Diógenes HernándezSupervisor: David Gabriel

Research topics

• Drying conditions of alperujo solid fraction

• Characterization of gas emissions during alperujoand orujo drying

• Manufacture of pellets of alperujo and orujo for usein domestic boilers, mixed with forest biomass Pinusradiata and Populus spp.

Results

The main results were:• The third month is the most appropriate time in order

to drying the alperujo and orujo, when stored in thetime from winter to spring, since it generates thelowest concentration of odorant compounds.

• The 12 different mixtures of biomass studied , only50% are apt to produce, both for compliance withquality in terms of international ISO standards, and forhaving production costs lower than those achievedwith the traditional pellet production.

• The pellets of alperujo and pomace mix with woodbiomass, produce less impact of the carbon footprintthan the traditional pellet manufacture.

Figure 2. Tromel drying alperujo and orujo

Figure 1. Alperujo and orujo pellet

12

Main research areas

In this line we study different strategies totreat industrial wastewater contaminatedwith toxic or recalcitrant compounds andnutrients by using advanced biologicaltreatments (granular biomass for example),chemical oxidation processes or combinedchemical and biological processes. Despiteall the processes available for the treatmentof industrial wastewater, it is still a difficulttask to select a single treatment option forthese wastewaters.

The selection of the most appropriate treatment depends on several challenging factors: thepresence of nutrients, the nature and the concentration of the recalcitrant compounds andthe transient or continuous presence of these compounds in industrial wastewaters. Inaddition, the load applied to the treatment plays an important role with regard to thetechnic, economic and environmental performance of the proposed treatment.

Industrial wastewater treatment

2018 topics1) Innovative processes to integrate biological nitrogen and sulphur

removal from wastewater

Leading researchers

Julián Carrera Muyo – [email protected]ía Eugenia Suárez-Ojeda – [email protected] Pérez Cañestro – [email protected] [email protected]

13

Departament



Innovative processes to integratebiological nitrogen and sulphurremoval from wastewater

[email protected] Polizzi

Motivations

The research is intended to gain knowledge on the challenging integration of biological removal of Nitrogen (N)

and Sulphur (S) trough autotrophic anaerobic processes. Industrial wastewaters generated from tanneries, mines

and part of the chemical sector are rich in N and S compound: the former is generally removed through

conventional nitrification-denitrification; the latter through physico-chemical treatment. The challenge of the

research is to assess the feasibility of anammox process to real pre-treated tannery wastewater as well as to gain

knowledge on S-laden denitrification with the perspective of their synergic integration.

Challenges

Anammox process is going to be tested for real

pre-treated tannery wastewater in a 7 L granular sludge

gas-lift reactor (Fig. 1). Batch activity tests with gradual

exposure to pre-treated tannery wastewater are ongoing

to assess potential inhibition due to recalcitrant COD (i.e.

tannins) and high salinity.

Sulphur-driven denitrification will be focused

with the purpose of integrating the two processes, with

special attention on mechanisms underlying partial

denitrification to nitrite, required substrate for the

anammox process.

Mathematical modelling are intended to integrate and

support the experimental activity. Specifically, a

dynamic-state calibration of the plant-wide model of the

Cuoiodepur WWTP (Pisa, Italy) is ongoing, aimed to

simulate alternative plant configurations for the possible

integration of anammox and S-denitrification processes in

the treatment line. Also, experimental results from lab-

scale reactors are going to be simulated by modelling.

Research Topics

- Application of anammox process to real

pre-treated tannery wastewater

- Sulphur-laden partial denitrification

- Mathematical modelling of the process

under esamination ansd plant-wide

modelling

14

Fig. 2 – Plant-wide simulation of Cuoiodepur WWTP,two-year monthly-base dynamic state

Fig. 1

Granular sludge

gas-lift reactor

Student:Francesco SpennatiSupervisor: David Gabriel

Giulio Munz (Univ. Florence)

Main research areas

Recovery of Biopolymers

The new generation of wastewater treatment facilities should include the recovery ofresources as added-value products. In this sense, this theme proposes the production ofbiopolymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates-PHA- or exopolymeric substances-EPS-) in parallel tothe biotreatment of wastewater.

PHAs have properties similar topolyethylene and polypropyleneand the large number ofcopolymers available opens thepotential of synthesisingbiopolymers with tailoredproperties. So far, we are workingin the enrichment of mixedpopulations able to meet twoobjectives, elimination ofpollutants and production ofbiopolymers. Also, we are workingin optimising the recovery processof the biopolymers from thebiomass.

2018 topics

Leading researchers

María Eugenia Suárez-Ojeda – [email protected] Antonio Baeza – [email protected]án Carrera Muyo – [email protected]

15

Departament



Main research areas

Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms and (bio) sensors for process monitoring

2018 topics

1) Inkjet/Screen/3D-Printed sensing platforms for biotechnological applications

Leading researchersMireia Baeza Labat – [email protected] Montes Martínez – [email protected]

16

• Electrochemical

• Optical

Technologies

Materials

(Bio)sensors

• Graphite

• Graphene

• CNTs

• NPs

• CNHs

• Inkjet Printing

• 3D Printing

• Screen PrintingA crucial challenge to address inbiotechnological processes is thedevelopment of automated devicesfor real-time monitoring ofchemicals involved. The ever-increasing demand of remoteautonomous field deployableanalytical systems has become thedriving force behind the differentstrategies born. In this scenario,microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platformsexcel, offering continuous tracking ofchemical agents in an integratedminiaturised fashion outstrippingtraditional systems. With the recentadvance in printing technologies,highly complex microfluidic devicescan be fabricated at low-cost in arapid manner, making microfluidicsmore accessible to end users.

Departament



Inkjet/Screen/3D-Printed sensing platforms for

biotechnological applications Roberto [email protected]

MotivationsModern manufacturing processes have leftwidespread hazardous compounds across the globe.Sulphide/sulphate, which is present in several wastewaters, have gain significant attention within thescientific community because of their toxicity. Theover exposure of workers involved in decontaminationprocesses in sewage treatment plants and the directimpact in rivers and streams has triggered the alarms.Therefore, production of durable, fast, and robustsensing platforms to track environmental relevantcompounds has become a global concern.

ChallengesSince traditional analysis methods consist of multiplesteps (e.g. sampling, transport, pre-treatment…) andare rather costly and time consuming, the emphasisnowadays is shifted towards the use of remoteautomated systems in a miniaturised fashion.Therefore, printing technologies have became theparadigm to overcome the challengesbiotechnological monitoring face.

Fig. 2. Fabrication scheme of a 3D-printed platform withfully integrated electrodes for S2- monitoring.

Fig.1. Inkjet-Printed Sulphide-Selective Electrode

Research Topics• Development of electrochemical/optical

detection-based platforms.• 3D-printed microfluidic systems for

sulphide/sulphate monitoring.• Integration of flow systems to the reactors

Fig.3. 3D-pinted platforms for low cost production ofscreen-printed electrodes

PhD Student: Roberto Pol Supervisor: Dr. Mireia Baeza

An inkjet-printed sulphide-selective electrode (Fig. 1)was developed and tested for batch measurements. Inorder to measure sulphide in an autonomous way, a3D-printed microfluidic platform with potentiometricdetection was fabricated and tested (Fig. 2). Screen-printed sensors based on nanocomposite have beenalso developed detection of other analytes involvedthrough out all the biotechnological processes (Fig. 3).Finally, a smartphone platform was developed forquantification of nitrogen cycle species (Fig. 4).

Screen-printed sensors based on nanocompositehave been also developed detection of other analytesinvolved through out all the biotechnologicalprocesses (Fig. 3). Finally, a smartphone platform wasdeveloped for quantification of nitrogen cyclespecies.

Fig.4. 3D-printed smartphone platform for remotequantification of nitrite.

17

Main research areas

2018 topics1) Comparison of SBR and continuous A-stage systems for treatment of urban wastewater2) Model-based study of the N2O production and emission in wastewater treatment plants3) Decision support system for selecting the optimal WWTP configuration including

resource recovery units4) Improving the implementation of an autotrophic biological nitrogen removal at

mainstream conditions in a two-stage system.

Leading researchersJuan Antonio Baeza Labat – [email protected] Guisasola Canudas – [email protected]án Carrera Muyo – [email protected] Pérez Cañestro – [email protected]ía Eugenia Suárez-Ojeda – [email protected]

Municipal wastewater treatment was the first research linedeveloped at GENOCOV. The first studies were related tothe experimental evaluation of configurations for organicmatter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal and hence wehave twenty years of experience in nitrification,denitrification and Enhanced Biological PhosphorusRemoval (EBPR). In addition, we have developedconfigurations and control systems for achieving stablepartial nitrification since 2003.

Urban wastewater treatment

Current projects are focused in performing a deep redesign of conventional WWTP,transforming these plants into resource recovery hubs with lower energy requirements thanconventional processes. Modelling and control techniques are a great expertise of the researchgroup that is widely applied in all of our projects. We are currently studying the utilization of newcarbon sources for EBPR, recovery of biopolymers as polyhydroxyalkanoates, the combinationof EBPR with recovery of phosphorus as chemical precipitate (as struvite), mainstreamimplementation of Anammox for nitrogen removal and increasing methane recovery duringanaerobic digestion (biogas upgrading).

18

Departament



Comparison of SBR and continuous A-stage systems for treatment of

urban wastewater [email protected]

Natalia Rey

Figure 1. SBR (left) and continuous (right) A-stage systems

Student: Natalia ReySupervisor: Albert Guisasola, Juan Antonio Baeza

Research challenges

•Compare a SBR and a continuous A-stage systemsfor treatment of urban wastewater in terms of CODremoval.

•Obtain an adequate effluent for the second step ofthe A/B process.

•Test a sequencing batch reactor as A-stage systemfor the first time.

•Study the biomethane production of both systems.

Motivations

Due to urban wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs) are energy-demand facilities, a betterapproach is needed for achieving a sustainableWWTP and chemical oxygen demand (COD) andnutrients removal. Recent research is focusing in theself-sufficient WWTP and many authors stated thatthis facility is based on two stage process calledadsorption/bio-oxidation process (A/B-process).In the first step, the objective is to maximize thecapture of carbon into sludge by adsorption and toredirect organic carbon towards an anaerobicdigestion step for biogas production. This stage isachieved through systems working at very shortsolids retention time (SRT) and hydraulic retentiontime (HRT). The two systems used in this work areshown in Figure 1.

The effluent of this first step is treated in the secondstage through the partial nitritation and anaerobicammonium oxidation (anammox) processes whichallows the reduction of aeration costs.

Figure 2. Cumulative methane production frommesophilic anaerobic digestion batch tests for differentSRTs sludge. A-stage: 2 d (○), 0.8 d (●). HRAS: 1.2 d (●).

Time (days)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

NL

CH

4·kg

-1V

SS

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

SRT = 0.8 d SRT = 2 d

HRAS SRT= 1.2 d

The main aim of the research was to demonstrate theapplicability of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) as A-stage system, since the existing studies are focused incontinuous operation.

A second objective was minimize the CODmineralization and favour the adsorption of theorganic matter onto the sludge for its later use as asubstrate in anaerobic digestion to energy production.

The results of different batch tests were presented inFigure 2.

19

Model-based study of the N2O production and emission in wastewater treatment plants.

[email protected] Solís Duran

MotivationsNitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas that it can be produced and directly emitted from WWTP. In recentyears, the emissions of N2O from WWTPs has become an emerging problem because of it has a strongerwarning effect and is also an ozone layer depletion gas. Thus, several efforts are performed in order tocharacterize the emissions and a huge variation in the N2O emission are measured.To date, three biological pathways are known to produce nitrous oxide during the nitrification (AmmoniaOxidizing Bacteria mediated) and during the denitrification (Heterotroph and PAO bacteria).The WWTP modelling seems to be an efficient tool to characterize the measured N2O emission and study theoperational conditions that triggers the excessive production of this greenhouse gas. In order to study theN2O production through modelling, our research group proposed a new model, ASM2d-N2O, that accountsfor all the known N2O producing pathways and the biological removal of the COD, N and P.

Challenges

The main challenge is to calibrate and validate ourASM2d-N2O model to real WWTP data.

This study aims at demonstrating that the ASM2d-N2Opresents the same prediction ability than the commonsASM models. The final challenge of this study is to gainknowledge of the operational conditions that triggersthe N2O production and emission and characterize themajor pathway that contributes on the N2O production,in order to propose novel control strategies to mitigatethe emission.

Student: Borja Solís DuranSupervisors: Juan A. Baeza and Albert Guisasola

Research Topics

- Model-based development and practicalimplementation of control strategies for anefficient operation of biological systems.

- Mathematical tools and sensitivity analysis forparameter estimation from experimental datain complex models.

- Benchmarking of control strategies forWWTPs.

20

Fig. 1 – Biological reactions and stoichiometry of all the knownbiological pathways of nitrous oxide production.

Fig. 2 – Predicted steady State N2O emission factorwith respect different DO set-points and influentNH4

+ concentration in a A2/O pilot plant.

Decision support system for selecting the optimal WWTP configuration including resource recovery units

MotivationsThe effort to upgrade urban WWTP into bio-refineries capable to recover and produce valuable resources ishindered by the fact that technical, economical and environmental impact analysis are complex and timeexpensive. I’m working on a Decision Support System (DSS) that finds an optimal configuration of a WWTPgiven a set of resource recovery unit processes. Seven innovative technologies are developed and testedduring the SMART-Plant H2020 project (No.690323). These technologies are modelled and integrated insidea plant-wide model superstructure. The DSS evaluates all the possible plant configurations and sort heseconfigurations by a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method. Plant design optimization is done underdynamic inflow conditions that depend on the local weather history, sewer characteristics and effluentlimitations, while sorting accounts for economic, effluent quality and environmental impact multi-criteria.

Challenges

The main challenge is to build a DSS based on open-source software, where the time of computationshould not be higher then 24 hours and its interfaceshould be simple enough for a non-expert user.

This study aims at finding the best configuration of aWWTP bio-refinery given a set of resource recoveryprocess units that operate under a particular locationdependent influent.

Student: Borja Solís DuranSupervisors: Juan A. Baeza and Albert Guisasola

21

Fig. 1 – WWTP superstructure model diagram.

[email protected]Živko Južnič-Zonta

Fig. 2 – SMARTech2b mainstream SCEPPHAR unitmodeled in Modelica language.

Research Topics

- Modelling of anaerobic and activated sludgeprocesses

- DSS and optimization under uncertainty

- Statistics tools for sensitivity analysis,parameter inference and complex systememulation

- Reactor scale-up design and operation

Improving the implementation of anautotrophic biological nitrogen removalat mainstream conditions in a two-stagesystem. [email protected]

Xènia Juan Díaz

MotivationsThe implementation of the autotrophicbiological nitrogen removal (BNR) processin the mainstream of an urban wastewatertreatment plant (WWTP) reduces aerationcosts because of the lower oxygenrequirements of the process compared to

conventional nitrification-denitrificationtreatment; and furthermore, increasesbiogas production since most of the organicmatter is converted to biogas in theanaerobic digestion process. For theachievement of a cost-effective urbanWWTP (energy-neutral or even energy-positive) the autotrophic BNR process isproposed.

Student: Xènia Juan DíazSupervisors: Julian Carrera Muyo

and Julio Pérez Cañestro

Research Topics

- Nitrogen removal in urban wastewater treatmentplants.

- Partial nitritation: how to hinder NOB growth and toobtain granulation?

- Understanding the UAnSB plug-flow reactorhydrodynamics at different low-temperatures ranges.

22

Fig. 2 Implementation of a two-stage autotrophic BNRsystem in the mainstream line of an urban WWTP.

Preliminary results- Successfully NOB repression and achievement

of granulation in the partial nitritation reactorat 20 ºC using real wastewater (RWW).

- The Up-flow Anammox (UAnSB) reactor wasable to work at high enough loading rates(NLR=0.1 gN L-1 d-1) at temperatures as low as10 ºC using RWW.

- The UAnSB reactor effluent concentrationswere mostly in accordance with Europeanlegislation at the different temperatures tested(20 to 10 ºC).

Fig. 3 Total nitrogen concentrations in the effluent and NLRof the UAnSB reactor. Dashed line indicates the maximumEuropean discharhing limit for an urban WWTP.

Fig. 1 UAnSB Anammox reactor

Time (days)

350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700

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)

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N-total effluent TAN+TNN+Nitrate

NLR

ChallengesThe autotrophic BNR has been successfully implementedto treat reject water derived form anaerobic digestionbut it has never been applied in the main water line of anurban WWTP. Recent lab-scale studies reportedsuccessful results to implement it at mainstreamconditions (Lotti et al., 2015; Laureni et al., 2015; Reino etal., 2016; 2017) but more information is still needed toeffectively apply the process. (1) To avoid NOBproliferation and to achieve granulation in the partialnitritation reactor at low temperatures. (2) To work athigh enough nitrogen loading rates. (3) To accomplishwith the European effluent discharging limits attemperatures as low as 10 ºC.

Main research areas

Bioelectrochemical systems combine themetabolism of exoelectrogenic bacteria withelectrochemistry. This is an emerging field andas such, high efforts in fundamental research areneeded in order to optimise these systems at labscale. The main focus of our group is to valoriseindustrial wastewater for hydrogen production.

The main research topics studied are- Efficient selection and survival ofexoelectrogens from anaerobic sludge- Optimal cell configuration and operation tominimise internal resistance and, thus, the cellefficiency- Understand, monitor and model the role offermenters and H2-scavengers

Fundamentals of bioelectrochemical systems

2018 topics1) Integration of a BES with electrochemical and fuel cell for S0 production from sulfate2) Application of Microbial Electrolysis to the treatment of Industrial wastewater3) Optimization of microbial electrolysis cells in view of its industrial application4) Bioelectrochemical treatment of acid mine drainage

Leading researchers

Albert Guisasola Canudas – [email protected] Antonio Baeza Labat – [email protected] [email protected]

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Integration of a BES with electrochemical and fuel cell for

S0 production from [email protected]

Enric Blázquez

MotivationsSeveral industrial activities produce wastewaterwith high sulfate content. Althoughbioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have recentlybeen studied for its treatment, the recovery ofelemental sulfur with these systems is still in itsbeginnings.Sulfide oxidation in a biocathode has beenobserved and attributed to oxygen diffusion fromthe anode chamber across the ion-exchangemembrane, however this diffusion cannot beefficiently controlled to match the sulfideproduction rate, leading to accumulation ofsulfide.The sulfide oxidation to elemental sulfur in ananode has been also observed, but there are noattempts to couple a BES with an electrochemicalor fuel cell to improve the elemental sulfurproduction.

ChallengesThe aim of this work was to evaluate thesimultaneous sulfate removal and partial sulfideoxidation in a integrated BES with anelectrochemical cell and a fuel cell in order toimprove the elemental sulfur production in aunique continuous reactor under autotrophicconditions.

Research Topics• Sulfate removal in industrial wastewater

treatment plants.• Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) for the

treatment of wastewater pollutants.• Elemental sulfur recovery from sewage with

high loads of sulfate.• Integration of electrochemical and fuel cells to

BES for elemental sulfur recovery.

Student: Enric BlázquezSupervisors: David Gabriel, Albert

Guisasola, Juan A. Baeza

24

Fig. 1: Scheme of the integrated BES with electrochemical cell (A) and BES with fuel cell (B) for the autotrophic sulfate reduction and elemental sulfur production.

Fig.2: Picture of the integrated BES with electro-chemical cell (A) and BES with fuel cell (B)

ANODE

CATHODE

CEM

ANODE

AEM

CATHODE

O2H+

H2O

H+

H2

S0

HS-

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H2

ANODE

CATHODE

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CATHODE

O2H+

H2O

H+

H2

S0

HS-

SO42-

O2

H2O

O2

A

B

A

B

Application of Microbial Electrolysis to the treatment of Industrial wastewater

[email protected]

Antonella Marone, PhD

MotivationsMicrobial electrolysis cells (MECs) is an emergingtechnology for energy and resource recovery duringwaste treatment. In MEC substrate oxidation iscombined with the addition of a small voltage toenable hydrogen gas evolution or otherthermodinamically unfavorable biological/chemicalreactions at the cathode. MECs have the potential tobecome an alternative to conventional wastewatertreatment, specifically for highly loaded organicwastewaters such as those coming from industry.When treating organic wastewater, energyvalorisation and fuel gas production by MECs has theadvantage that the products can readily be usedwithin the plant. Indeed, in a biorefinery scheme, theproduced H2 could be directly converted in a fuel cellto provide electricity for the system.

ChallengesIn the framework of BioEra project, which aims atdeveloping a fully biological MEC for agro-industrialwastewater treatment and product recovery, the firstphase is centered on the anodic compartment. Thegoal is to develop a stable anodic microbialcommunity able to efficiently oxidize industrialwastewater, effective in H2 production both at labscale and full scale.

Supervisor: Juan Antonio Baezaand Albert Guisasola

Figure 2. Lab scale bioelectrochemical system; b) Pilot plant microbial electrolysis system.

a) b)

Figure 1. Microbial interactions of anòdic community in Microbial Electrolysis Cell.

Research Topics- Hydrogen production via microbial electrolysis of

agro-industrial wastewater- Enrichment of an effective and stable anodic

microbial community able to efficiently oxidizeindustrial wastewater.

- Study of microbial ecology of anodic microbialcommunities.

- Moving from lab scale to pilot plant MEC system.

25

Optimization of microbialelectrolysis cells in view of itsindustrial application

[email protected] Sánchez Peña

Motivations

Nowadays, the search of new technologies thatallow providing renewable energy, besides beinglittle harmful for the environment, is one of thekey points. One of them is the microbialelectrolysis cell (MEC).

MEC is a novel technology that, in addition togenerate energy, allows the recovery ofwastewater through the oxidation of organicmatter thanks to the addition of a small voltage.Moreover, they can allow the production ofhydrogen, from the reduction of the proton thatreaches the anode, a clean gas and an efficientfuel without an impact on the emission ofgreenhouse gases.

Challenges

The main challenge is to improve the behavior ofMECs, for producing more hydrogen with betterquality. For this purpose, the internal resistance,the pH and the quantity of platinum used in theelectrodes have to be studied, among otherparameters.

After discovering that the limitation obtained wascoming from the behavior of the cathode,improving it became a priority in our experiments.So, to achieve that, the ink of the electrodes mustbe homogeneous. Reason for which alternativedeposition techniques are being tested to theoriginal ones, such as sputtering, spray,electrospray or doctor blade.

Student: Pilar Sánchez PeñaSupervisors: David Gabriel, Albert Guisasola

and Mireia Baeza

Research Topics

- Inoculation the anode in Microbial Fuel Cell(MFC), and then, use this anode in MECs.

- Hydrogen production by means of MECs.

- Study of new ways to deposit platinum in MECs’cathodes for doing an ink more homogenous,and therefore, a homogenous electrode.

- Decrease the quantity of platinum in MECs’cathodes keeping the same current intensity

26

Fig. 1 – Scheme of a MEC for hydrogen production.

Fig. 2 – Carbon Cloth a) without platinum, b) withplatinum deposited using Logan Brush Technique, c) withplatinum deposited using electrospray technique and d)with platinum deposited using spray technique.

a)

d)c)

b)

Bioelectrochemical treatment of acid mine drainage

[email protected] Sulonen, PhD

MotivationsThe exposure of sulfide-containing minerals to atmospheric conditions due to natural or anthropogenicactivities enables abiotic and/or biotic oxidation of related sulfur species to sulfate via reactions that producehigh amount of acidity. The formed sulfate-rich acidic water is known as acid mine drainage (AMD). This acidicwater leaches metals from minerals efficiently and AMD is therefore toxic not only due to the high acidity, butalso due to the high metal content. In addition, the release of sulfate increases the risk of eutrophication anduncontrolled formation of toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S). AMD is thus a severe threat to the environment notonly at the site of formation but also at distant locations downstream from the point of discharge. Moreover,AMD is often a problem at mining sites still after the mining activities stop, as the AMD formation cancontinue in the waste rock heaps and tailings for decades.

ChallengesThe high acidity, high sulfate content and high metal contentmake the treatment of AMD challenging. As mining waters arevery low in organic compounds, conventional bioreactorstreating AMD often require external substrate. By integratingbiological and electrochemical processes, however, efficient AMDtreatment can be achieved due to simultaneous neutralization,sulfate removal and metal removal. With bioelectrochemicalsystems, substrate for biological sulfate reduction can beproduced from natural sources (H+, CO2) and the(bio)electrochemical generation of hydrogen or microbialelectrosynthesis of acetate will assist in neutralization of thewater. In the presence of sulfide generated by the sulfatereducing bacteria, metal ions will readily precipitate as metalsulfides. Thus bioelectrochemical systems enable comprehensivetreatment of AMD, and as no external substrates, neutralizingagents or chemicals are needed, the external input required forthe process remains low.

Postdoc: Mira SulonenSupervisors: Juan A. Baeza

and Albert Guisasola

Research Topics- Bioelectrochemical systems for water

treatment

- Comprehensive treatment of acidicmining waters

- Biological reduction of sulfate withsulfate reducing bacteria

- Electrosynthesis of organic compoundswith the assist of microbial catalyst

27

Fig. 1 – Bioelectrochemical treatment of acid mine drainage via electrochemical, biological and chemical reactions.

Fig. 2 – Two-chamber bioelectrochemicalsystem for sulfate reduction and microbial

electrosynthesis

Main research areas

While bioelectrochemical systems givereasonably good response at lab-scale underwell-controlled environments, the scale-up iscertainly a major and difficult task due to thenature of these cells.

The main focus in this research line is toovercome the existing hurdles from lab to real-scale, particularly in the utilisation of real and,thus, complex wastewaters.

Scaling-up bioelectrochemical systems

The main research topics studied are- Efficient full-scale and economic configurations- Utilisation of real wastewater for bioelectrochemical hydrogen production- Understand, monitor and model full-scale bioelectrochemical systems- Study the long-term effect of operational parameters under real conditions

Leading researchers

Albert Guisasola Canudas – [email protected] Antonio Baeza Labat – [email protected]

2018 topics1) A MEC pilot plant for hydrogen production from real wastewater

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A new MEC pilot plant for hydrogen production from real wastewater

MotivationsBioelectrochemical hydrogen production has been successfully applied under lab-scale conditionswith different substrates. However, scaling-up microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is notstraightforward and the reported attempts so far have had very limited success. This work presentsthe design, building, start-up and operation of an MEC pilot plant (130 L) based on a cassetteconfiguration and with low energy consumption due to the lack of recycling. The plant started-upunder batch mode with acetate and glucose as substrate and operated for five months withdifferent substrates (i.e. glucose, diluted raw glycerol and real urban wastewater). The best resultsare obtained in the last period with primary effluent from a real urban wastewater. Hydrogenproduction increases to values higher than 4 L·d-1, with a gas purity of 95% and a cathodic gasrecovery of 82%. The organic matter removal efficiency is around 25% when working at a hydraulicresidence time of 2 d with an organic loading rate of 0.25 gCOD·L-1·d-1. The removal efficiency isincremented up to 72% in 9 d of batch operation. The results obtained are promising and representan important step towards the industrial implementation of these systems.

ChallengesIncrease hydrogen production in the MEC pilot plant with several modifications of the existing plantImprove the enrichment of anodic biomass in exoelectrogenic bacteriaTest industrial wastewaters in view of its valorisation

Supervisors: Albert Guisasola, Juan A. Baeza

%

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mg·L

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GLYCEROLGLUCOSE URBAN WW

Figure 1 Experimental profiles during the continuous operation of pilot plant over time.Up: hydrogen percentage (●), daily hydrogen production (○), methane percentage (■), daily methane production (□).Down: inlet COD (●), outlet COD (○),inlet TOC (■), outlet TOC (□).

29

Main cross-topics30

Over the years, the GENOCOV group has gained expertise in several transversal topics thatare commonly used to gain knowledge in every of the GENOCOV main research lines. Suchcross-topics are:

Development of process monitoring toolsProcess ModellingMolecular Biology ToolsProcess Control and AutomationElectrochemical Analyses

Wastewater

Off-gases

Dev

elo

pm

ent

of

pro

cess

mo

nit

ori

ng

to

ols

. P

roce

ss M

od

ellin

g. M

ole

cula

r B

iolo

gy

Too

ls.

Pro

cess

Co

ntr

ol a

nd

Au

tom

atio

n. E

lect

roch

em

ical

A

nal

yses

.

Urban / industrial effluents. Nutrient removal. EBPR, Partial nitrification,

Anammox.

Combination of chemical + biological treatment.

Bioaugmentation.

Biofiltration for NH3 and VOCs removal.

Conversion of chemical scrubbers into biofiltration units.

Microbial Fuel / Electrolysis Cells. Biopolymers production.

Struvite Recovery.

Biotrickling filters for H2S removal.

Departament



Main cross-topics31

Development of process monitoring toolsMonitoring of physic and chemical parameters and biological activity is needed in anyprocess to understand the interaction between microbial cultures and their environment. Inaddition to common instrumentation in most research labs, the GENOCOV group hasdeveloped several monitoring tools in the field of respirometry, titrimetry, flow injectionanalysis and microsensing.

A range of batch respirometric and titrimetric assays both in aerobic and anoxic conditionsare used to assess biological activity of the biomasses from our experimental setups, as wellas, from full-scale systems. As example, we have developed well defined tests to assess theactivity of nitrifying biomass, the biological phosphorus removal capacities and thedesulfurizing activity of biological samples. Often, the tests are combined with modelingtools to assess, in addition to the biological activity, the biological mechanisms as well askinetic and stoichiometric parameters related to a particular microbial culture. An exampleof one respirometric assay is in the following figure.

Flow techniques such as Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) and Flow Injection Analysis (FIA)have been developed in the GENOCOV group over the years for on-line measurement ofchemical parameters in our experimental rigs. Some examples are FIA systems formeasurement of nitrate, nitrite and sulfide and CFA systems for hydrogen sulfide, ammoniaand ammonium. Recently, the GENOCOV group is developing custom-made microsensorsfor monitoring key species inside biofilms or granular biomass. Most of such monitoringefforts have been developed in collaboration with the Department of Analytical Chemistryat UAB and with the National Center of Microelectronics (CNM-CSIC).

Time (min)

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

SO

UR

(m

gO

2 g

VS

S-1

min

-1)

0.00

0.05

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1º run 2º run 3º run

SOUR max

SOUR max

SOUR max

• A pulse of sodium acetate is added as control substrate.

Run 1

• A pulse of a recalcitrant effluent is added once the pulse in run 1 is consumed.

Run 2

• The pulse on Run 1 is repeated once the previous pulse is depleted or after 1 h of contact time.

Run 3

Departament



Main cross-topics32

Process modellingModels are a powerful tool for a wide range of applications such as predict performance,generate hypothesis, plan of new experiments, etc. The GENOCOV group has a longtradition in modelling biological systems in the field of urban and industrial wastewatersand modelling of multiphase reactors for waste gas treatment.

In addition to Activated Sludge models (ASM), specific models are developed for ourreactors, and particularly, in combination with the use of respirometric and titrimetric datato determine kinetic and stoichiometric parameters during the model calibration stage.Several models have also been developed for modelling respirometric assays, packed bed-type reactors such as biofilters and biotrickling filters, granular systems such UASB reactorsand GHG emissions as N2O.

MATLAB is the platform used as standard in the GENOCOV group for most of the modellingefforts. The utilization of MATLAB linked to the mathematical optimization expertise in thegroup, allows the fitting of complex models using practical and structural identifiability toolsas local and global sensitivity analysis, the Fisher Information Matrix, the implementation ofoptimal experimental design techniques for an upgraded parameter estimation and theoptimization of complex systems using benchmarking frameworks.

Figure: Mathematical simulator developed in Matlab to simulatethe control of oxygen of a bioreactor

Departament



Main cross-topics33

Molecular biology toolsIdentification of the microorganisms responsible for doing the work in our systems, as wellas to follow-up the evolution of the microbial populations in our reactors are key issues thathave been dealt within the GENOCOV group for many years. A range of tools have beenused over the years such as cloning and sequencing, DGGE or TRFLP. However, theGENOCOV group has decanted towards the use of the Fluorescence in-situ hybridization(FISH) coupled to Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and, more recently,sequencing techniques using the 454-Roche or Illumina MiSeq platforms as part of its day-to-day routine for assessing the microbial species evolution and diversity in our bioreactors.Taxonomic analyses at different levels (species, family, group…) provide in-depthinformation for further correlation with bioreactor performance. Coupled topyrosequencing, FISH probes are used for monitoring the evolution of target groups ofmicroorganisms such as ammonium- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, anammox, phosphorusand glycogen accumulating microorganisms or sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, as well as othertarget species as shown in the following figure. In addition, automated methods forfluorescence imaging thresholding and quantification have been developed.

General probe p-Nitrophenoldegraders

Merged imageDay 1

Day 21

Day 41

Figure: FISH-CLSM images obtained for bioaugmentation experiment using 5% w/w of p-nitrophenol degraders

Departament



Main cross-topics34

Process automation and controlScale-up of any process developed at lab-scale needs of advanced Instrumentation, Controland Automation (ICA) to operate under continuous, variable conditions while performing ina robust, reliable way. The members of GENOCOV have been involved in ICA since 1994,when it was developed a multilayer monitoring and control system of WWTP with PLC forlocal control, three distributed computers with a SCADA for monitoring and process control,on-line analysers control and a supervisory expert system. Since that work, several on-linemonitoring and control systems for different wastewater treatment processes have beendesigned and implemented as N/D and EBPR or partial nitrification systems based on on-line OUR or ammonium measurements, both in continuous and in sequenced operation.

The biological systems setups in the GENOCOV labs are currently automated using theAdvanced Direct Digital Control (ADD-Control) software developed in the group with NILabwindows or with a combination of industrial PLCs coupled to NI Labview software forprocess monitoring and supervisory control. The instrumentation and other automationdevices are industrial equipment to easy the scale-up of our developments. Most pilot andlab-scale systems in our labs operate year-round to demonstrate the long-termperformance of processes. Coupled to automation, the GENOCOV group has a largeexperience in developing and assessing the efficiency of control strategies for biologicalprocesses. The efforts have been directed towards Activated Sludge systems control tomaximize nutrient removal coupled to minimal energy consumption.

Figure: SMART-Plant SCEPPHAR pilot plant with its monitoring and control system.

Departament



Main cross-topics35

Electrochemical analysesThe group has a research line on bioelectrochemical system (BES). These systems arecharacterized using the advanced microbiological tools described above in addition to manyuseful techniques develop for characterizing, monitoring and understanding non-biologicalelectrochemical systems. The application of these “conventional” electrochemicaltechniques is nowadays a hot topic in the recently-developed BES field. The referredelectrochemical techniques are current interruption (CI), electrochemical impedancespectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) or differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Thesetechniques aim at identifying the BES limitations to improve their performance. Amongthem, the use of CV to acquire information about the electron transfer interactions betweenmicroorganisms and solid anodes EIS is used to understand and quantify the differentresistances in a BES in order to upgrade its design.

Figure: Left.:Screenshot of the software (AddControl) developed by GENOCOV and used

for pilot plant monitoring and control in most GENOCOV applications .

Right: implementation of the software in the SMART-Plant SCEPPHAR pilot plant.

Departament



On-going funded projects in 2018

Project Title : Two-Stage Autotrophic N-remoVal for maINstream sewaGe trEatment (LIFE+ SAVING-E). Project identification LIFE14 ENV/ES/000633Call: LIFE+ program. European ComissionParticipants: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Depuración de Aguas del Mediterráneo (DAM), Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA), European Water supply and sanitation Technology Plaltform (WssTP).From: 01/10/2015 to 31/03/2019Principal investigator : Julián Carrera MuyoBudget: Total: 1,165,306 €, EU: 672,645 €

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A new European LIFE+ project on pilot plant demonstration of a new urban WWTP concept has been awardedto GENOCOV (LIFE14 ENV/ES/000633) led by Julián Carrera together with María Eugenia Suárez-Ojeda andJulio Pérez.The current urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) requires a minimum energy consumption of 8-15kWh/inhabitant/year to meet the legal requirements of effluent discharge of organic matter, nitrogen andphosphorus. This means a significant economic cost and also noteworthy greenhouse gas emissions. Thechallenge of SAVING-E is to radically redesign the urban WWTPs in a way they become energy-producersrather than energy consumers, without affecting its performance or even improving it. SAVING-E aims atdemonstrating, at pilot scale and with real urban wastewater that the energetic balance of an urban WWTPcan be severely improved at both, high and low temperatures (as far as 10ºC).SAVING-E technology uses most of the entering organic matter for biogas production purposes by designing afirst biological step with low oxygen consumption and high biomass production, i.e. with very low sludgeresidence time (1 day or less). The biomass produced in this step, therefore, would have a very favourablemethane production potential, greater than the achieved in the current urban WWTPs. Then, SAVING-Etechnology is able to biologically remove nitrogen in the mainstream without the need of organic matter.SAVING-E uses the autotrophic biological nitrogen removal (BNR) for this aim with a novel two-stepapproach. This novel approach consists of two reactors, a first aerobic partial nitritation reactor followed by asecond anammox reactor. The application of autotrophic BNR to the mainstream severely reduces theaeration costs compared with the one of current urban WWTPs. Moreover, the novel two-step approach forautotrophic BNR represents an improvement compared with one-step autotrophic BNR because is able tostably work at low temperatures (10 ºC).Therefore, the main objective of this project is to demonstrate, in a relevant environment at pilot scale, thefeasibility, applicability, replicability and transferability of the SAVING-E technology.


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Project Title: INMOVILIZHALO!: Biorremediacion de compuestos halogenados mediante biopeliculasinmovilizadas en sistemas bioelectroquimicosProject identification Call: CTM2017‐91879‐EXPProject ID: 645769Funding Body: Gobierno de EspañaParticipants: Albert Guisasola and Mira Sulonen (GENOCOV) and Ernest Marco, Paqui Blánquez and David Fernandez (BIOREM-UAB)From: 01/11/2018 to 30/10/2020Principal investigator: Ernest Marco Budget:60,500 €

InmoviliZhalo! is a fundamental project aiming at finding novel opportunities for bioelectrochemicalsystems. Organohalide-respiring bacteria are key microorganisms to clean up groundwaters contaminatedwith halogenated compounds. They possess an unique capability of using them as electron acceptors andtransform organohalides into non-toxic compounds. The main goal of this project is to explore thefeasibility of cultivating these bacteria in biofilms using bioelectrochemical systems to allow their furtherapplication in groundwaters in immobilized form.

This approach would overcome some of the challenges faced by companies that commercializeorganohalide-respiring bacteria for bioremediation purposes. On the one hand, the low cell densityachieved by these bacteria requires the use of large reactors and subsequent filtration of the broth tofacilitate their use and transport. On the other hand, the fate and distribution of the inoculum wheninjected for bioaugmentation depends entirely of the heterogeneous hydrogeological characteristics of theaquifer. In this project, we propose the cultivation of organohalide-respiring bacteria in bioelectrochemicalcells in which the cathode would serve as the sole electron donor promoting the activation of densebiofilms of organohalide-respiring bacteria on the surface.

Later, this enriched cathode material can be placed into fluid-permeable cartridges that are specificallydesigned for this project and called Dehalotraps.As contaminated groundwater moves under hydraulic gradients through the Dehalotraps, thecontaminants are degraded. This novel process involves lower costs of cultivation because post-filtration isnot required. With regards to the in situ application, immobilized bacteria allow the establishment ofbiobarrier-configurations that could enhance the efficiency of bioaugmentation processes and a bettercontrol on the distribution of bacteria in the contaminated plume.

Project Title: Developing on-line tools to monitor, control and mitigate GHG emissions in WWTPs:C-FOOT-CTRLProject identification Call: H2020-MSCA-RISE-2014. Type of Action: MSCA-RISE. Project ID: 645769Funding Body: EU H2020Participants: NTU Athens, UAB, Brunel University, Unisensor, Aeris TA SL, U Queensland, Cobalt Water LLC, DRH2O LLC, Green Tech Fund California.From: 01/04/2015 to 31/03/2019Principal investigator: NTUA coordinates Simos Malamis, UAB Javier Lafuente SanchoBudget: 711,000 €

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C-FOOT-CTRL aims to develop, test and validate a new software tool for the online monitoring, control andmitigation of the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Gaseous emissions are originatedfrom various stages of treatment in a WWTP. Currently, in developed countries the energy required forwastewater treatment accounts for approximately 3% of the total electrical load. Also, WWTPs are the biggestsingle energy consumers of municipalities with a share of 20% of the total energy consumption. The typicalenergy efficiency of WWTPs in Europe is less than 50%, when energy efficiency is defined as the ratio ofelectricity generated at WWTP to the electricity needed from grid to operate the WWTP. Strategies todecrease the required amount of energy may in fact cause greater harm due to the increase of GHG emissions.Various greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the construction and operation of WWTPs. Theseinclude carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, with nitrous oxide being 298 times more harmful than CO2.The development of a tool that will be able to accurately record on line the various gaseous emissions duringthe construction and in the different treatment processes of WWTPs is important in order to (i) track theemissions at the moment of occurrence (ii) immediately apply measures to reduce gaseous contaminants andto (iii) link the gaseous emission with a particular activity in the plant.

The on line GHG emissions monitoring and control system will be an innovative, low cost and flexible systembased on wireless sensor networks for monitoring and ‘supervising’ activities aiming to reduce GHG emissionsduring the operation of WWTPs at all stages (pre-treatment, primary treatment, biological treatment, tertiarytreatment).

http://www.cfootcontrol.gr/index.php

Project Title: Development of a comprehensive treatment process for SOx and NOx from flue gas towards waste gases valorization (SONOVA)Funding Body: MINECO - CTQ2015-69802-C2-1-RParticipants: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica, Universitat Politécnica de CatalunyaFrom: 1/1/2016 to 31/12/2018 Principal investigator and coordinator: David Gabriel BuguñaBudget: UAB 190,000 €

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Departament



Emissions of SOx and NOx from flue gases requiretreatment before release into the atmosphere accordingto the current legislation. Physical-chemical treatmentsused so far are expensive and generate effluents thatrequire further processing. This project faces thechallenge of developing a comprehensive treatmentprocess for SOx and NOx from flue gases by economical,robust and environmentally friendly biological methodsthat also take into account the reuse of energy andresources in process development as well as residuesvalorization. The proposed process is based on amultistage process including selective absorption of SOxand Nox and biological reduction-oxidation processesbased on sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRB) andsulfide-oxidizing microorganisms (SOB) that allow therecovery of elemental sulfur.

To demonstrate the feasibility of the process, the project will carry out the different stages of the whole systemat laboratory scale in order to characterize the maximum capabilities of each of the stages and get valuabledesign data for different operating scenarios. The characterization of the process steps will be complementedwith the use of modeling techniques using computational fluid-dynamics, respirometric techniques todetermine the activity of SRB and SOB biomass, and the development of techniques for analytes monitoring.Monitoring will be applied to both, the operation of the bioreactors through the development of microfluidicsystems, and the biofilm development using microelectrodes based on microelectronic technology. Finally, thedata obtained from the project will allow to create a guide of the best available techniques for a broad range oftypical compositions of SOx and NOx emissions from flue gases.Project objectives achievement involves a new paradigm in the field of treatment of gaseous effluents.Specifically, it aims to provide a new approach to the problems of flue gases, changing the concept we havetoday that they are harmful and useless residue to address as a potential valuable effluent. The solutionprovided by this project involves i) to obtain a product with an interesting economic value (130€/ ton), ii) a lowconsumption of chemical reagents by maximizing the reutilization of effluents from the different stages, iii) todispose effluents hardly recoverable, and iv) to reduce treatment costs.

Project Title: Scale-up of low-carbon footprint material recovery techniques in existing wastewater treatment plants (SMART-Plant). Project identification: Call H2020-WATER-2015-two-stage, ID 690323Funding Body: EU H2020 Topic: WATER-1b-2015 - Demonstration/pilot activities. Type of Action: IAParticipants: Severn Trent Water Ltd, Vannplastic LTD, BWA BV, Universita di Verona, Alto Trevigiano Servizi SRL,BYK Additives Limited, Mekorot Water Company Limited, Sociedad castellana de mantenimiento y explotacionSA, Salsnes Filter AS, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Execon Partners GMBH, Cranfield University, NationalTechnical University of Athens, Agrobics LTD, Wellness Smart Cities SLU, Aigues de Manresa, S.A., Biotrend -Inovacao e Engenharia em Biotecnologia SA, KWB Kompententzzentrum Wasser Berlin Gemeinnutzige GMBH,Brunel University London, Universita Degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, JV Aktor S.A.-Athena S.A., EtaireiaYdreyseos Kai Apochetefseos Proteyoysis Anonimi Etaireia, SCAE di Pozzato Pierpaolo, Instituto de BiologiaExperimental e Tecnologica, Fundacio Universitaria BalmesFrom: 01/05/2016 to 31/04/2019Principal investigator: Project coordinator Univpm: Francesco Fatone. UAB: Juan Antonio Baeza LabatBudget: Total: 9,781,293.75 €, UAB: 459,455 €

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Departament



SMART-Plant scales-up in real environment eco-innovative andenergy-efficient solutions to renew existing wastewater treatmentplants and close the circular value chain by applying low-carbontechniques to recover materials that are otherwise lost. 7+2 pilotsystems will be optimized fore > 2 years in real environment in 5municipal wastewater treatment plants, including also 2 post-processing facilities. The systems are automated with the aim ofoptimizing wastewater treatment, resource recovery, energy-efficiency and reduction of greenhouse emissions. Acomprehensive SMART portfolio comprising biopolymers,cellulose, fertilizer sand intermediates will be recovered andprocessed up to the final commercial end-products.

The integration of resource recovery assets to system-wide asset management programs will be evaluated ineach site following the resource recovery paradigm for the wastewater treatment plant of the future, enabledthrough SMART-Plant solutions. The project will prove the feasibility of circular management of urbanwastewater and environmental sustainability of the systems, to be demonstrated through Life CycleAssessment and Life Cycle Costing approaches to prove the global benefit of the scaled-up water solutions.Dynamic modeling and superstructure framework for decision support will be developed and validated toidentify the optimum SMART-Plant system integration options for recovered resources and technologies.Global market deployment will be achieved as right fit solution for water utilities and relevant industrialstakeholders, considering the strategic implications of the resource recovery paradigm in case of both publicand private water management. New public-private partnership models will be explored connecting the watersector to the chemical industry and its downstream segments such as the construction and agricultural sector,thus generating new opportunities for funding, as well as potential public-private competition.

http://smart-plant.eu/index.php

Project Title: BioElectrolysis for the Refinery of Agro-industrial wastewater (BioERA)Funding Body: Agaur – Gencat: Beatriu de Pinos 2016 programmeParticipants: Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaFrom: 1/10/2017 to 30/09/2019 Principal investigator: Antonella MaroneCoordinator: Juan Alberto BaezaBudget: UAB 92,000 €

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Departament



This project faces the challenge of developing a fully biological MEC for agro-industrial wastewater treatmentand product recovery, combining anodic oxidising microbial community and reductive cathodic biofilmcontrolled by biological triggers. Such innovative (anode and cathode both biological) MEC will constitute atechnological brick within the concept of environmental biorefinery. Besides this technical aim, the projectwill focus on the acquisition of fundamental knowledge on microbial metabolic interactions occurring inexoelectrogenic mixed cultures.

Practical implementation of BioEra will follow four research steps: i) the development of a stable anodic (electroactive + fermentative) microbial community able to efficiently oxidize industrial wastewater with characterization of anodic microbial communities interactions. ii) the study the possibility of decreasing the cathodic over potential by the use of a cathodic biofilm that either increases hydrogen production rate or uses this hydrogen as an electron donor for other biological process. iii) Develop a fully biological MEC for industrial wastewater treatment and elemental sulfur recovery in lab scale systems by coupling the anodic community and an autotrophic sulfate degrading cathodic biofilm. iv) Provide the guidelines for the scale-up of the most effective developed fully biological MEC system.


Project Title : Grupo de investigación de calidad. Pla de Recerca de Catalunya.Call: CIRIT. Generalitat de Catalunya. Project identification: 2014 SGR 1255 Participants: GENOCOV Research GroupFrom: July 2014 to July 2019 Principal investigator: Javier Lafuente Sancho

Project Title: New and Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Wastewater Reuse (NEREUS). Project identification ESSEM COST Action ES1403Funding Body: Funded by the COST Association. EU.Participants: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/essem/ES1403?parties.From: 07/11/2014 to 06/11/2018Principal investigator: Coordinator: Dr. Despo Fatta-Kassinos. Dissemination Co-coordinator, MC Substituteand Member of the Steering Committee: ME Suárez-Ojeda.Budget: Total: 520,000 €

Project Title : Tratamiento y Reciclaje de Aguas Industriales Mediante Soluciones Sostenibles Fundamentadas en Procesos Biológicos.Project identification: Red CYTED 316RT0508Funding Body : Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo (CYTED). From 01/01/2016 to 01/01/2019Principal investigator: : Julián Carrera Muyo (Coordinator)Budget : 100000 €

Project Title : Eliminación de altas cargas de amoníaco en efluentes gaseosos mediante tecnologíasbiológicas optimizadas.Funding Body : Ecología Técnica S.A. (ECOTEC ) y Centro Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial. From 02/05/2018 to 1/05/2020Principal investigator: : David GabrielBudget : 72263 €

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Cano P. I. , Colon J. , Ramírez M., Lafuente J., Gabriel D., Cantero D. Life Cycle Assessment of different physical-chemical and biological technologies for biogas desulfurization in sewage treatment plants. Journal of Cleaner Production. 181: 663-674, (2018).

Carreras-Colom E.; Constenla M.; Soler-Membrives A.; Cartes J. E.; Baeza M.; Padrós F.; Carrassón M. Spatialoccurrence and effects of microplastic ingestion on the deep-water shrimp Aristeus antennatus, Marine PollutionBulletin. 133: 44-52, (2018).

González D., Colón J., Sánchez A., Gabriel D. Evaluation of the Odorous Compounds Emitted in a FullScaleSewage Sludge Composting Plant and Its Relationship with the Biological Stability. Chemical EngineeringTransactions. 68: 175-180, (2018)

Hernández D. , Astudillo C.A. , Fernández-Palacios E. , Cataldo F. , Tenreiro C. , Gabriel D. Evolution of physical-chemical parameters, microbial diversity and VOC emissions of olive oil mill waste exposed to ambient conditions in open reservoris. Waste Management. 79: 501-509, (2018)

LinY., Reino C., Carrera J., Pérez J., van Loosdrecht M. C. Glycosylated amyloid‐like proteins in the structuralextracellular polymers of aerobic granular sludge enriched with ammonium‐oxidizing bacteria. MicrobiologyOpen, 7(6), e00616. (2018)

López L.R. , Brito J. , Mora M. , Almenglo F. , Baeza J.A., Ramírez M., Lafuente J., Cantero D. , Gabriel D. Feedforward control application in aerobic and anoxic biotrickling filters for H2S removal from biogas. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. 93: 2307-2315, (2018)

Massara T., Solís B., Guisasola A., Katsou E. Baeza J.A. Development of an ASM2d-N2O model to describe nitrous oxide emissions in municipal WWTPs under dynamic conditions. Chemical Engineering Journal. 335: 185-196, (2018).

Montes R. , Céspedes F. , Gabriel D. , Baeza M. Electrochemical biosensor based on optimized biocomposite for organophosphorus and carbamates pesticides detection. Journal of Nanomaterials. 2018: 1-14, (2018)

Montpart N., Rago L., Baeza J.A. Guisasola A. Oxygen barrier and catalytic effect of the cathodic biofilm in single chamber microbial fuel cells. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. 93(8): 2199-2207, (2018)

Mora M. , Lafuente J., Gabriel D. Screening of biological sulfate reduction conditions for sulfidogenesispromotion using methanogenic granular sludge. Chemosphere. 210: 557- 566, (2018)

Morral E., Lao C. , Gabriel D., Gamisans X., Dorado A.D. Capillary membrane bioreactor for abatement of low soluble compounds in waste gas. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. 93: 548-556, (2018).

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SCI research papers published in 2018

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SCI research papers published in 2018

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Muñoz J., Montes R., Bastos-Arrieta J., Guardingo M., Busqué F., Ruíz-Molina D., Palet C., García-Orellana Baeza M. Carbon nanotube-based nanocomposite sensor tuned with a catechol as novel electrochemicalrecognition platform of uranyl ion in aqueous samples. Sensors and Actuators B. 273: 1807-1815, (2018).

Muñoz J., González-Campo A., Riba-Moliner M., Baeza M., Mas-Torrent M. Chiral magnetic-nanobiofluidsfor rapid electrochemical screening of enantiomers at a magneto nanocomposite graphene-pasteelectrode. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. 105: 95-102, (2018).

Reino C., Suárez-Ojeda M. E., Pérez J., Carrera J. Stable long-term operation of an upflow anammox sludgebed reactor at mainstream conditions. Water research, 128, 331-340 (2018).

Soler-Jofra A., Picioreanu C., Yu R., Chandran K., van Loosdrecht M. C., Pérez J. Importance of hydroxylamine in abiotic N2O production during transient anoxia in planktonic axenic Nitrosomonascultures. Chemical Engineering Journal, 335, 756-762. (2018).

Valle A., Fernánez M. , Ramírez M. , Rovira R. , Gabriel D., Cantero D. A comparative study of eubacterial communities by PCR-DGGE fingerprints in anoxic and aerobic biotrickling filters used for biogasdesulfurization. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering. 41 (8): 1165-1175, (2018).

Winkler M. K. H., Meunier C., Henriet O., Mahillon J., Suárez-Ojeda M. E., Del Moro G., De Sanctis M., Di Iaconi C., Weissbrodt D. G. An integrative review of granular sludge for the biological removal of nutrients and recalcitrant organic matter from wastewater. Chemical Engineering Journal, 336, 489-502. (2018).

Visit our website for further details at www.genocov.com


Understanding bioelectrochemical systems for hydrogen productionStudent: Edgar Ribot I LlobetSupervisors: Juan A. Baeza / Albert Guisasola.

Diseño de fotobioreactores para la producción de compuestos de valor añadidoStudent: Sergi CarbonellSupervisors: Juan A. Baeza / Albert Guisasola.

Sulfur recovery using bioelectrochemical systemsStudent: Enric BlázquezSupervisors: Juan A. Baeza, David Gabriel / Albert Guisasola.

Eliminación de materia orgánica y fósforo en una EDAR urbana energéticamente autosostenible.S

yearbook 2018 - genocov · 2019. 5. 15. · natalia rey martínez edgar ribot llobet borja solís...

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