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Group of Environmental Biotechnology

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Campus Vida Cretus
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Group of Environmental Biotechnology

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela



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Projects

2015

Integrated anaerobic system for wastewater reclamation at ambient temperature in European climates (LIFE SIAMEC)
Main researcher: Juan M. Garrido
Financial organism: European Commission
Date: 01/09/2015 - 01/09/2018
Amount: 368779.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Partners: CETAQUA (coordinator), CETGAL (Proyecto Life), Capsa Food, Esamur, Aguas de Murcia

LIFE SIAMEC project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using a novel Integrated System of anaerobic Methanogenic reactor and Membrane bioreactor (SIAM) for the removal of organic matter and nitrogen from wastewaters at ambient temperature while producing an effluent suitable for reuse and minimizing energy consumption and GHGs emissions.

The LIFE SIAMEC project will demonstrate the anaerobic treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater at ambient temperature in European climates in order to obtain a technology that consumes less energy, produces less biomass and has a lower integrated footprint for wastewater reclamation. This technology will overcome the main drawbacks associated with anaerobic wastewater treatment at low temperature – namely, greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen removal – since the dissolved methane present in the effluent is used as a source of carbon for denitrification in both a membrane and a non-membrane based post-treatment. The project will demonstrate the technical feasibility of applying basic and advanced reclamation processes to the effluents of both prototypes for agricultural, industrial, environmental and urban water re-use while reducing associated costs and environmental impacts in comparison to the conventional wastewater treatment schemes currently applied.

web: life-siamec.eu

Standard method and online tool for assessing and improving the energy efficiency of waste water treatment plants (ENERWATER)
Main researcher: Almudena Hospido
Working Group: Miguel Mauricio
Financial organism: European Commission
Reference: 649819 (H2020-EE-2014-3-MarketUptake)
Date: 01/03/2015 - 28/02/2018
Amount: 230125.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Coordinator: Almudena Hospido
Partners: Stefano Longo

The particular call on Energy Efficiency – Market Uptake was focus on removing market barriers, in particular the lack of expertise and information on energy management, and energy-intensive industries were prioritised. In this sense, Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are one of the most expensive public industries in terms of energy requirements accounting for more than 1% of consumption of electricity in Europe.

EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) 91/271/CEE made obligatory waste water treatment for cities and towns and, although most of the WFD objectives in relation to water protection have been achieved, most of these aging plants show unsustainable energy consumption and must be optimized and renovated accordingly. However, in Europe there is no legislation, norms or standards to be followed, and as consequence, a gigantic opportunity for reducing the public electric expense remains unregulated.

ENERWATER is a three-year activity that involves 9 partners (universities and companies) from 4 European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom). Its main objective is to develop, validate and disseminate an innovative standard methodology for continuously assessing, labelling and improving the overall energy performance of WWTPs. For that purpose a collaboration framework in the waste water treatment sector including research groups, SMEs, utilities, city councils, authorities and industry will be set up. ENERWATER will devote important efforts to ensure that the method is widely adopted. Subsequent objectives are to impulse dialogue towards the creation of a specific European legislation following the example of recently approved EU directives, to achieve EU energy reductions objectives for 2020, ensuring effluent water quality, environmental protection and compliance with the WFD. These actions should bring European Water Industry a competitive advantage in new products development and a faster access to markets by facilitating evidence of energy reduction, thereby fostering adoption on new technologies.

Website: - www.enerwater.eu/

Related news: - Futurenviro June2015

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Agrupación Estratégica CRETUS. Centre for Research in Environmental Technologies
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: Xunta de Galicia. Co-funded by FEDER (UE).
Reference: AGRUP 2015/02
Date: 01/01/2015 - 30/11/2017
Amount: 500000.00€
Scope: Proyecto autonómico
Partners: - Environmental Engineering and Bioprocesses (Biogroup) - University of Santiago de Compostela (Coordinator) - GI-1245.Cartografía de solos e paisaxes, físico-química, degradación e recuperación de solos y augas (Ambiosol) - GI-1252. Ecotoxicoloxía e Ecofisioloxía Vexetal (ECOTOX) - GI-1588. Quimica Física Ambiental (QF Medioambiental) - GI-1620. Modelización Ambiental (MA) - GI- 1456. Comportamento Social e Psicometría Aplicada (COSOYPA) - GI-1896. Grupo de Fisica non lineal (GFNL) - GI-2085 Laboratorio de Investigación e Desenvolvemento de Solucións Analíticas (LIDSA)

2014

Evaluation of innovative technologies for wastewater treatment (RedNovedar)
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. MINECO. Co-funded by FEDER (UE).
Reference: CTQ2014-51693-REDC
Date: 01/12/2014 - 30/11/2016
Amount: 41000.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
In the Novedar_Consolider project an inter-disciplinarian team composed of environmental engineers, microbiologists, toxicologists and economists shared the target of developing and implementing innovative technologies for treatment and reuse of wastewater from a holistic approach. Currently, the Novedar team is well-known due to their scientific and technological achievements among the Spanish water industry and Administration, and also between international scientists. The aim of the present network of excellence is to increase the value of the project outcomes by stressing the activities on the assessment of the more innovative processes. The acivity plan includes the up-scaling and validation of the new technologies, the cross validation of equivalent processes, the consolidaton of technology transfer, the discussion and dissemination of results at an international level and the organization of training activities on topics beyond the current state of the art (international summer schools, workshops on disruptive technologies and technical courses). Visits and meetings between researchers will allow establishing new and improved collaboration opportunities. A final conference targeted to water industry and Administration is proposed to further promote the corporate Novedar brand. The new initiatives proposed will enhance the impacts of the Novedar developments. The improved scientific quality of the collaborative research will increase the publication capacity and visibility of the partners at an international level. Dissemination to the industrial community during the courses and final conference will promote the technology transfer opportunities. The visibility of the networking results to stakeholders will be reinforced through the project website and by producing and distributing videos on the technological developments. Partners: - University of Santiago de Compostela (USC-Coordinator) - University of Cantabria (UC) - University of Barcelona (UB) - University of Cádiz (UCA) - University of Girona (UdG) - Centre CEIT of Gipuzkoa (CEIT) - University of Valladolid - University of Valencia (UV) - University of Murcia (UM) - Wageningen University & Research (WUR) - Technical University of Delft (TUD) logo_novedar.jpg
Reduced GREENhouse gas emissions and sustainable wastewater treatment by integrated Control and Operational STrategies (GREENCOST)
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: European Commission
Reference: 2014-P1004 Ref: 627475
Date: 03/11/2014 - 02/11/2016
Amount: 130722.60€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Quantitative tools for sustainable food and energy in the food chain. Cooperation and Innovation for Good Practices (Q-SAFE)
Main researcher: Almudena Hospido
Financial organism: European Commission
Date: 01/09/2014 - 31/08/2017
Amount: 31950.00€
Knowledge-Based Innovative Solutions to Enhance Adding-Value Mechanisms towards Healthy and Sustainable EU Fisheries (iSEAS) - 2
Financial organism: European Union
Reference: LIFE13 ENV/ES/000131
Date: 01/07/2014 - 30/06/2018
Amount: 59706.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Partners: CSIC (coordinator), CETMAR, IEO, USC, Talleres Josmar, OPROMAR

Discards are considered as an unacceptable waste of resources and a New Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has been set up by the European Commission to mitigate and prohibit them: Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013. The main objective of LIFE iSEAS is to demonstrate that a sustainable scenario (in terms of biological and socio-economic indicators) of the EU fisheries is possible through the enhancement of the real application on the fishing sector of existent knowledge and innovative solutions for discards reduction and management.

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Tecnología holística de baja huella ambiental para el tratamiento de aguas residuales orientada a la minimización de gases de efecto invernadero, micro y nanocontaminantes (HOLSIA)
Main researcher: Juan M. Garrido, Francisco Omil
Financial organism: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
Reference: CTM2013-46750-R
Date: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2016
Amount: 242000.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Holistic technology with low environmental footprint for the treatment of municipal wastewaters aiming at the minimization of Greenhouse Gases emissions, micro and nano pollutants (HOLSIA)
Enzyme-Magnetic Nanoparticle Reactor for the advanced oxidation of micropollutants in wastewaters
Main researcher: Maite Moreira, Gumersindo Feijoo
Financial organism: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)
Reference: (CTQ2013-44762-R)
Date: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2016
Amount: 279510.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
The main objective of this project is the development of an enzymatic reactor for the tertiary treatment of wastewaters aiming at the removal of micropollutants. The project integrates the complementary skills of researchers from three departments at the University of Santiago de Compostela.

2013

Green fertilizer upcycling from manure: Technological, economic and environmental sustainability demonstration (ManureEcoMine)
Main researcher: Marta Carballa
Reference: 603744
Date: 01/11/2013 - 31/10/2016
Amount: 310528.80€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Partners: Universiteit Gent, Universitat de Girona, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur Wien, Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Colsen, Van Alphen, Ahidra Agua y Energia S.L., Baucells Alibes S.A., LVA GmbH y Peltracom NV
FP7 Collaborative project (Topic: Eco-innovative demonstration projects (ENV.213.6.3-2) More information can be found at: http://www.manureecomine.ugent.be/
Sustainable management of livestock waste for the removal/recovery of nutrients (LIVEWASTE)
Main researcher: Francisco Omil
Financial organism: European Union
Reference: LIFE12 ENV/CY/544
Date: 01/09/2013 - 31/08/2016
Amount: 72020.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Partners: University of Verona (Italy), University of Athens (Greece), Cyprus University of Technology
More information at livewaste
Consolidación e estruturación. (GRC) GI-1613 Enxeñaría Ambiental.
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: CONSELLERIA DE CULTURA, EDUCACION E ORDEN
Reference: GRC2013-032
Date: 01/01/2013 - 30/11/2016
Amount: 370000.00€
Scope: Proyecto autonómico

2012

Conceiving Wastewater Treatment in 2020. Energetic, environmental and economic challenges (Water_2020)
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: European Commission
Reference: Cost Action ES-10755
Date: 01/10/2012 - 01/10/2016
Scope: Proyecto europeo
More information can be found at water2020 1. Spain - University of Santiago de Compostela (Coordinator) - University of Valladolid - University of Barcelona - University of Valencia - University of Cádiz - CEIT Research Centre, Environmental Engineering Department - Catalan Institute for Water Research (www.icra.cat) - University of Girona (UdG) - University of Cantabria - Autonomous University of Barcelona - Cetaqua 2. The Netherlands - TU Delft - Edmadi BV, Interim Management and Consultancy 3. Sweden - Lund University, Sweden - Uppsala University 4. Denmark - Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark 5. Belgium - Ghent University (UGent), Department of Biosystems Engineering - Ghent University. Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET) - Ghent Uinversity (BIOMATH) - Aquafin NV 6. United Kingdom - Cranfield University 7. Greece - Democritus University of Thrace - National Technical University of Athens - Technical University of Crete 8. Poland - Silesian University of Technology 9. Germany - Berlin Centre of Competence for Water gGmbH 10. Italy - Politecnico di Milano, DIIAR - University of Verona - National Research Council, Water Research Institute - Water Research Institute of the National Research Council - SME 11. Portugal - Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Águas do Algarve, S.A. 12. Turkey - Middle East Technical University - Istanbul Technical University 13. France - University of Lorraine 14. Czech Republic - AQUA PROCON 15. Romania - University Politehnica of Bucharest 16. Lithuania - Kaunas University of technology 17. Switzerland - Eawag
Mechanisms for organic micropollutant removal during anaerobic (co- )digestion sewage sludge (MicroDAN)
Main researcher: Marta Carballa
Financial organism: Galician Government
Reference: EM 2012/087
Date: 26/06/2012 - 25/06/2015
Amount: 98400.00€
Scope: Proyecto autonómico
Low-cost recovery of reclaimed water from sewage mixed industrial effluents (REWATER)
Main researcher: Marta Carballa
Financial organism: Spanish Government
Reference: EU ERANET NEWINDIGO - DST. PRI-PIMNIN-2011-1487
Date: 01/06/2012 - 01/06/2014
Amount: 28000.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Monitoring air quality using moss (MOSSClone)
Financial organism: European Commission
Reference: 282952
Date: 01/04/2012 - 31/03/2015
Amount: 23000.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Two European Directives on ambient air quality assessment (96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 and 2008/50/EC of May 2008) obliges the Member States to deliver periodically precise information about the air quality and the related health within their territories to ensure that the European population is aware of it. For compliance to both Directives, States usually use monitoring stations, but these stations are only useful when macro-pollutants are assessed in agglomerations. For measurement of other pollutants included in the Directives there are technical difficulties and their analysis on air is too expensive. As a consequence there is a lack of representative data through Europe. In addition, data from automatic devices are accurate but too limited in number of pollutants and to describe spatio-temporal trends of pollutants. Due to the limitations of traditional methods, bio-monitoring is an adequate alternative to acquire data about the levels of pollutants that affect European citizens and makes it possible to evaluate the state of environmental parameters influenced by synergistic effects of d ifferent p ollutants. Among the available bio-monitors, terrestrial mosses are especially adequate for air quality assessment due to their high efficiency in loading both particulate and gaseous determinants of organic, inorganic, and radioactive pollutants. However, there are some problems that can arise when using mosses for the current moss-bag technique: the absence of well-suited moss species living in urban, extra-urban, and even indoor reference environments; the bags are prepared from mosses naturally grown in unpolluted areas, so its availability and the natural variability on moss elemental composition could vary depending on n atural a nd a nthropogenic causes. The solution to avoid these problems is to cultivate in the laboratory a moss clone to always have homogeneous material with the same initial concentrations to prepare the bags. In this way, a high degree of standardization would be reached and would allow a comparison of the exposed mosses in the same way by means of Enrichment Factor or Net Enrichment. An additional, but highly relevant problem that usually affects the use of biomonitors is the lack of standardized protocols and methodologies. The lack of such protocols hampers comparison of the results obtained in different studies, and sometimes limits the conclusions that can be reached. The MOSSCLONE approach would overcome all these issues, thereby improving data quality and reproducibility, and therefore usability of environmental data c ollected t hroughout Europe. The main MOSSCLONE objectives are: 1. Selection of moss species on the basis of their use as bio-monitor, their distribution and their physico-chemical characteristics. 2. Creating a pilot bioreactor for the cultivation and the selection of the most suitable species. 3. Characterization of the selected moss clone. 4. Scaling up moss clone cultivation. 5. Design and methodological standardization of the moss-bag technique. 6. Moss-bags validation versus current state-of-the-art methods for air pollution monitoring. 7. Perform an initial validation of its usefulness for the detection of atmospheric small scale pollution focus. Partners: University of Santiago de Compostela Ecotoxicology and Plant Ecophysiology research group (Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biology) Group of Environmental Engineering and Bioprocesses (Department of Chemical Engineering) University of Freiburg Department of Plant Biotechnology (Faculty of Biology) University of A Coruña group of Applied Analytical Chemistry (QANAP) AMRA Scarl AMRA Scarl is an entirely public T.E. Laboratories Ltd. Orion S.R.L. Biovía Environmental Consultant TecnoAmbiente S.L. Maderas Ornanda S.A. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique The laboratory ’Géosciences Environnement Toulouse of the French CNRS The Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse
Bark Valorization into insulating Foams and Bioenergy (BioFoamBark)
Main researcher: Maite Moreira
Financial organism: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)-MICIIN
Reference: 235066 FP7-ERANET-20008-RTD. Wood Wisdom-NET 2
Date: 01/02/2012 - 31/01/2015
Amount: 95900.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Calculation of the most competitive technologies and chain supplies for European tannin foams based on sustainability and technico-economic criteria. For this, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be used for primary production of tannin-based insulating foams and end of life use as bioenergy (through syngas production) from the bark of important European Tree Species. "Networking and Integration of National Programmes in the Area of Wood Material Science and Engineering in the Forest-based Value Chains". Partners: University of Freiburg (Germany), VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, University Henry Poincaré Nancy (France), University of Ljubljana biotechnical Faculty (Slovenia), Fraunhofer Institute of Solar Energy (Germany), University of Santiago de Compostela, Nova-Institut GmbH (Germany), Ledoga Srl (Italy), Savanaho Oy (Finland).
Assessment and improvement of the urban water cycle eco-efficiency using LCA and LCC (AQUAENVEC)
Main researcher: Gumersindo Feijoo
Reference: LIFE10 ENV/ES/520
Date: 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2014
Amount: 120144.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Entidades Participantes: Centro Tecnológico del Agua, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Valencia More information at: life-aquaenvec
Reciclado de aguas residuales y lodos para producir materiales plásticos
Main researcher: Anuska Mosquera
Financial organism: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Reference: CTQ2011-22675
Date: 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2014
Amount: 159720.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Partners: R. Kleerebezem

2011

Trabajos de modelado matemático y control de bioprocesos anerobios de interés energético
Main researcher: Rodríguez Jorge
Financial organism: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Reference: RYC-2010-05819
Date: 10/05/2011 - 09/05/2013
Amount: 15000.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Sustainable production of Biologically Active Molecules of Marine Based Origin (BAMMBO)
Main researcher: Maite Moreira
Financial organism: Unión Europea
Reference: 265896
Date: 01/04/2011 - 31/12/2014
Amount: 192145.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Partners: Limerick Institure of Technology (Ireland)
BAMMBO will provide innovative solutions to overcome existing bottle-necks associated with culturing marine organisms in order to sustainably produce high yields of value-added products for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and industrial sectors. BAMMBO will screen and identify target marine organisms for potential as sustainable producers of high-added value molecules (HVAB's). Our project will apply analytical methods for the extraction, purification and enrichment of bioactive compounds. A life cycle analysis of the production pathways developed in the project will be undertaken to evaluate the sustainability of production applications.
Control óptimo de la co-digestión anaerobia con integración de la ecología microbiana en el modelado y diagnosis del proceso
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Reference: CTM2010-17196
Date: 01/01/2011 - 31/07/2014
Amount: 199650.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Tecnologías basadas en reactores enzimáticos de membrana para la eliminación de compuestos disruptores endocrinos
Main researcher: Maite Moreira
Financial organism: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Reference: CTQ2010-20258
Date: 01/01/2011 - 31/07/2014
Amount: 234740.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Mecanismos de eliminación de microcontaminantes cosméticos y farmacéuticos en tecnologías innovadoras de tratamiento de aguas
Main researcher: Francisco Omil
Financial organism: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Reference: CTQ2010-20240
Date: 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2013
Amount: 196020.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Red REPENSeI (Regulación, Estrategias y Políticas para la Emergencia de Nuevos Sectores Innovadores)
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Reference: Programa de Consolidación y Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas del SUG
Date: 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2012
Scope: Proyecto autonómico
Participantes: - Grupo Innovación, Cambio Estrutural e Desenvolvemento (ICEDE). (Coordinador) - Grupo Valoración Financeira Aplicada (VALFINAP) - Grupo Instituto de Dereito Industrial (IDIUS) - Grupo IUS PUBLICUM, de Dereito público, Economía, Política e Sociedade - Grupo Medicina Xenómica - Grupo Enxeñaría Ambiental e Bioprocesos (Enxeñaría Ambiental)

2010

Finding regional ENvironmental life cycle assessment Information on packaging waste management through fleXible software tools and databases (FENIX). Servicio tecnológico en el ámbito de las tecnologías de vertido de residuos en el marco de proyecto FENIX
Main researcher: Gumersindo Feijoo
Reference: LIFE 08 ENV/E/000135
Date: 01/09/2010 - 31/12/2011
Amount: 35000.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo
Partners: Universidad Pompeu Fabra-USC
Desarrollo de tecnologías limpias para la optimización del diseño y operación de EDARs
Main researcher: José Luis Campos
Financial organism: Dirección Xeral de I+D - Xunta de Galicia
Reference: 10MDS265003PR
Date: 08/08/2010 - 30/09/2013
Amount: 34718.50€
Scope: Proyecto autonómico
Partners: Jorge Alonso
Red temática "Biotecnología de Materiales Ligninocelulósicos: Retos moleculares, enzimáticos y químicos para su aplicación industrial y medioambiental"
Financial organism: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Reference: BIO2009-07866-E
Date: 01/02/2010 - 01/02/2012
Amount: 25000.00€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Partners: Gloria Caminal (UAB-CSIC). (Investigadora principal)
Convocatoria de Gestores en Valorización Tecnológica. Conception of the Sewage Treatment Plant of the XXI Century. Development, implementation and evaluation of Technologies for the treatment and resources recovery from wastewaters (NOVEDAR).
Main researcher: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (FECYT)
Reference: CTV-09-656
Date: 18/01/2010 - 17/01/2012
Amount: 104320.35€
Scope: Proyecto nacional
Engineering anaerobic mixed microbial communities for biofuels production (EnAnaMMic-BioF)
Main researcher: Rodríguez Jorge
Working Group: Juan M. Lema
Financial organism: Comisión Europea
Reference: PERG04-GA-2008-239470. 2010/PE001
Date: 05/01/2010 - 04/01/2013
Amount: 45000.00€
Scope: Proyecto europeo

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