Environmental Engineering Group (GIA), University of Oviedo, Spain
The group’s main research goal is to enhance the sustainable management of waste and wastewater. Our laboratory activities and pilot plant trials focus on minimising energy consumption and recovering energy and materials from waste. The group has extensive experience in the application of anaerobic digestion of a variety of waste and residual biomass (cattle manure, municipal solid, food and supermarket waste, sewage sludge, glycerin from biodiesel, etc.). Studies on co-digestion processes using different substrates and the application of different pretreatments have led to greater efficiency in biogas production and hence greater environmental and economic benefits.
The group has also carried out research on the physicochemical and biological treatment of different types of wastewater (steel industry, metal finishing, landfill leachate and sewage).
A more recent line of research is related to air particulate matter composition, particle size distribution, and morphology for the identification of pollutant sources by applying back trajectory analysis to air masses.
The group has carried out applied research projects in collaboration with numerous partners from both the public and private sectors. Its research facilities are located at the Polytechnic Engineering School on Gijón Campus, University of Oviedo. This campus forms part of what is known as Gijón’s ‘Mile of Knowledge’. The majority of the region’s leading R&D and innovation companies have their headquarters or facilities in this park, thus facilitating collaboration between researchers, companies and institutions.
- Profile in Horizon 2020 Projects: Portal – Issue 6
- Special Report on www.Horizon2020projects.com – March 2015
- Renewable energy (biogas);
- Anaerobic co-digestion of biodegradable wastes;
- Enhanced biodegradation by application of pretreatments;
- Wastewater treatment;
- Recovery of materials and energy from waste;
- Life cycle assessment (LCA); and
- Air pollutant sources identification.
Professor Elena Marañón
Chair in Environmental Technology
tel: + 34 985 182 027
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Polytechnic School of Engineering
University of Oviedo
33203 Gijón
Spain