The Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering & Environmental Technology (LBEET) was founded in 1990 and since then is conducting research on development, mathematical modeling, optimization and control of bioprocesses with special emphasis on environmental protection and wastes valorization via biotechnological production of high-added value chemicals and/or biofuels.
LBEET is conducting fundamental and applied research covering a wide spectrum of activities from the identification of key-mechanisms taking place in biochemical processes at the lab-scale up to the design and optimization of bioreactors and processes in industrial scale.
Particular emphasis has been given in developing and optimizing biological as well as integrated processes for the removal of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from municipal and industrial wastewaters and studying the fate of xenobiotics (pharmaceuticals, surfactants, etc) and their effect in WWTPs. The current research interests of LBEET focus on the development of innovative or improved environmental technologies for the integrated management of liquid or solid wastes with high organic content. In this context, special emphasis is given on the application of biological processes for the valorization of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes, agricultural residues, energy crops or organic wastes through their bioconversion to liquid and gaseous biofuels (bioethanol, hydrogen, methane etc) or high added-value chemicals (e.g. bio-plastics, bio-surfactants, bio-plasticizers etc).
LBEET is also using modern environmental tools and techniques such as Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) coupled with optimization methods for developing schemes for the optimal integrated management of municipal solid wastes.
