solar light; water treatment; oxidation; disinfection; bacteria and virus; wastewater reuse
We are looking forward to join consortia, and offer the ample expertise of the Laboratory of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering in the following topics:
1) Regeneration and reuse of wastewater within the framework of the circular economy of water
2) Removal of aquatic pollutants of emerging concern: priority substances, micro-plastics, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and their genes (ARG)
3) Environmental fate of wastewater contaminants in natural waters: photochemical processes
4) Water purification in developing countries: physicochemical processes and the solar disinfection process (SODIS)
5) Fundamentals of water disinfection: elimination mechanisms of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and algae
The Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) is one of the oldest Technical Universities in Spain, with its Schools originating back in 18th and 19th century. The Laboratory of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering belongs to the School of Civil Engineering, currently ranked No6 worldwide (Shanghai Rankings).
Our research Group, "Environment, Coast and Ocean Research" is currently formed by 5 Professors, 2 Associate Professors, 1 Research Professor (Ramon y Cajal Fellow), 4 Assistant Professors, 3 Associated Professors, 5 PhD students, 2 laboratory technicians and a considerable number of undergraduate students who are active initiated in research.
The Laboratory of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering is fully equipped with a wide array of physicochemical equipment, reactors and measurement apparatus:
• UV-Vis spectrophotometers, turbidity meters, oxygen meters, radiometer and pyranometer, pH and conductivity meters, liquid chromatographer (HPLC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer, digestor and analyzers of Kjeldahl N, kits for determination of physicochemical characteristics of natural waters and wastewaters (nitrate, nitrite, metals, sulfates…), ultrasound baths and sonication probes, BOD and COD measurement apparatus, calcination ovens and centrifuges (1-50 mL).
• Furthermore, the laboratory possesses the experimental set-up for biodegradability and toxicity tests (Zahn-Wallens, Microtox, HACH toxicity tests), as well as a complete photo-chemistry laboratory with UVC, UVB, UVA, visible light lamps and solar simulators. Also, a series of lab-scale/small pilot reactors, such as ozonation, membrane filtration and electrocoagulation are also available.
• The laboratory maintains a collection of environmentally relevant pathogens, such as bacteria (E. coli, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Bacillus), viruses (MS2 and other bacteriophages), yeasts (Candida, Saccharomyces) and Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial strains, as well as an array of special E. coli genetic mutants for mechanistic interpretation of their response to advanced water treatment.