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Group History
The Natural Resources Institute (known as IRENA) was created in 1997 within the University of León, aimed to study, preserve and find application to the available natural resources, all from a multidisciplinary perspective and looking for the ultimate benefit of society.
The research group, belonging to IRENA and dedicated to the energy recovery from wastes and development of technical processes, is the Chemical and Environmental Engineering – Bioprocess Group. It is a multidisciplinary group composed of more than 25 people. In the last ten years the group’s work has been developed mainly in the lines of:
- Energy recovery from various organic wastes through anaerobic digestion.
- Wastewater Treatment by MEC and MFC
- Heat treatment (pyrolysis) of waste and fuels.
- Production of biofertilizers.
- Hydrogen production from the biological fermentation of organic waste
- Bio-electrochemical treatments for recovery of different materials.
- Development of prototypes for energy recovery and water/waste treatment
Our facilities include a pilot pyrolysis reactor used for the production of biochar with a processing capacity of 10-15 kg/h. Besides, within our facilities, processes for biomass and waste valorisation have been studied and developed. We also have broad experience in pyrolysis processes and soil application of the generated biochar as a useful tool on retention and controlled release of nutrients.
Moreover, our Group has developed and patented a new type of intelligent biofertilizers. Currently a biological support to enhance seed germination is under development.
We hold a wide experience in anaerobic digestion of several residues and implementation of pretreatments to improve sludge digestibility. As an example, we can highlight that a prototype for digestion of “Fresh-cut” products has been developed suitable to be used for particulate materials.
The group has also collaborated with the development and start-up of pilot plants for pyrolysis and solid and liquid anaerobic digestion. Additionaly, this group is currently developing pilot plants for water treatment by bioelectrochemical processes.
Group letter
We aim to offer, using this website, a general perspective about who we are and what are we dedicating our efforts on. We hope you could excuse mistakes or difficulties you could find in this website and, in the same way, we agree to amend them as soon as possible.
This webpage has been built with the best intention and we hope you could find all the information you would like to find. Anyway, do not hesitate to contact us for any additional information you would like to request, we will be glad to answer any query.
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