Lines of Research

  • Advanced analytical techniques (mineralogical, chemical and microbiological, generally not available commercially) to identify spills and residues, the analysis of historical events of pollution of industrial areas, and the study of extreme environments. Experience with a wide range of organic (oil, fuel, chlorated hydrocarburants and others), inorganic (heavy metals and their speciation) and emergent (pharmaceutical products, etc.) pollutants.
  • Soil recovery, subterranean waters and polluted coasts: viability tests, pilot-scale testing, and establishment and monitorizing in real scale of bioremediation, soil cleaning, and cutting-edge physical-chemical techniques, such as nanoparticles. We also provide environmental consultancy services (research, quantitative analysis of risks and selection of technologies for polluted areas).
  • Phytoremediation: Viability tests, establishment and monitorizing in real scale. The group studies the proper selection of the hyperaccumulative species, favoring the use of plants that have already adapted to the polluted areas. Tree species have to option of having its roots mycorrhized, of using endophyte or rhizosphere bacteria, which allows them to adapt better and generate more biomass. The obtained biomass may be used as a biofuel.
  • Biotechnological process derived from bacteria and cultivated consortia or from the genome of non-cultivated bacteria present in the environment (polluted soils, acid waters, etc.): New enzymes, biosurfactants, immovilization of metals, depuration of polluted urban and industrial waters, activity in rhizospheres, etc.
  • Application of microbiology and geochemistry on fossil oil to the phases of prospection, exploitation and production of deposits of conventional and non-conventional hydrocarburates: Biodegradation, heavy raw oil, improved techniques for recovery.