Environment Laboratory

Biodegradability studies of organic residues under anaerobic conditions

• Analysis of methanogenic potential and biogas characterization (%CH4, %CO2, %O2, %N2, %H2S)
• Characterization of residues and optimization of mixtures for methanation plant.
• Analysis of short-chain volatile fatty acids (SCFA): Acetic, Propionic, Butyric, Isobutyric, Valeric, Isovaleric, Isocaproic, Hexanoic y Heptanoic.

Nutrient recovery studies from wastewater and agro-livestock through chemical precipitation

• Crystallization tests for the recovery of N and P in struvite form (slow release fertilizer) and determination of agronomic power

Characterization of materials

• Test for Material characterization using FTIR.
• Test for Morphological characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
• Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Dispersion studies of atmospheric pollutants

• Modelling of pollutant emissions from road traffic and fixed points (industries) applying dispersion models, such as ADMS Road, CalRoads or ADMS 3.3.

Monitoring of air quality

• Continuos monitoring of air quality parameters: humidity, temperature, CO2 (indoors), ozone and particulate matter (PM2,5 y PM10)

Aerobic biodegradability studies of plastic materials

• Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastics in aqueous media according to ISO 14852.

Other activities

• Biomass and residues hydrolysis (ultrasound, cavitation, enzymatic, acid, alkaline)
• Spray drying studies of aqueous solutions from laboratory scale
• Determination of the molecular mass distribution of polymers by gel permeation chromatography (GPC).
• Biofuel production tests. Analysis of raw materials to obtain biodiesel, synthetic diesel, syngas, biochar.
• Synthesis of catalysts. Design of specific catalysts for different types of reactions: steam reforming, transesterification.