Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation profile
GENOCOV stands for Group of biological treatment and of liquid and gaseous effluents, nutrient removal, and odors and Volatile Organic Compounds. The group is a research group from the Chemical Engineering Department at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. GENOCOV, whose principal investigator is Prof. Francisco Javier Lafuente, has been active over the last 25 years in understanding the biological processes for the treatment of urban and industrial water and gaseous effluents, with special emphasis on monitoring, modelling and control of such complex biological systems.
The quality of the research group can be measured at first sight through several quality indices such as several EU projects and projects funded by the Spanish Government. With respect to publications, in the last 5 years the group has more than 70 peer-reviewed international journals publications as well as an important participation in international conferences.
The group consists nowadays of seven senior researchers: Francisco Javier Lafuente Javier Sancho (professor and head of the group), Juan Antonio Baeza Labat, Julian Carrera Muyo, David Gabriel Buguña, Albert Guisasola Canudas, Julio Perez Cañestro, María Eugenia Suárez Ojeda, in addition to around 15 active researchers (including postdocs, PhD students and lab technicians).
Directed by:
David Gabriel Buguña
Research lines
- Research lines:
- Urban and industrial wastewater treatment in a circular economy scenario
- Recovery of volatile fatty acids, long-chain carboxylic acids and biopolymers as polyhydroxyalkanoates
- The combination of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal with phosphorus recovery as chemical added-value compounds (struvite and vivianite)
- To recover nutrients such as ammonium and sulfur from wastewaters through bioelectrochemical systems
- Developing an energy-producer urban WWTP by implementing autotrophic nitrogen removal and the use of bioelectrochemical systems for hydrogen production
- Treatment of high-strength wastewaters contaminated with toxic or recalcitrant compounds and nutrients by using advanced biological treatments (granular biomass) and the combination of chemical oxidation with biological processes.
- Decision Support Systems for the evaluation of different WWTP configurations
- Development of sensing platforms. Development of automated devices for real-time monitoring of chemicals involved in gas and water biological treatment processes towards the use of remote automated systems in a miniaturized fashion
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Grup de Tractament Biologic i Valorització d'efluents Liquids i Gasosos. Eliminació de Nutrients, Olors i compostos organics Volatils. GENOCOV is active. These topic labels come from the works of this organisation's members. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Profiles
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Juan Antonio Baeza Labat
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
- Grup de Tractament Biologic i Valorització d'efluents Liquids i Gasosos. Eliminació de Nutrients, Olors i compostos organics Volatils. GENOCOV
Person: Affiliation to research, Professor (non-goverment employee)
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Julian Carrera Muyo
- Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering
- Grup de Tractament Biologic i Valorització d'efluents Liquids i Gasosos. Eliminació de Nutrients, Olors i compostos organics Volatils. GENOCOV
Person: Affiliation to research, Professor (non-goverment employee)
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TRAMPOLINe: TRAMPOLINe-: A training programme to promote the industrial adoption of microbial electrochemical technologies
Guisasola Canudas, A. (Principal Investigator), Baeza Labat, J. A. (Investigator), Ul Kausar, Z. (Project Manager), Cossio, W. (Beneficiary) & Narimani, A. (Beneficiary)
European Commission (EC), MSCA Doctoral Network
1/01/25 → 31/12/28
Project: International research project
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Guia per a la selecció de mecanismes de mitigació d’emissions en el compostatge en granja: estratègies físiques, químiques i biològiques
Gonzalez Ale, D. (Principal Investigator), Sanchez Ferrer, A. (Principal Investigator), Gabriel Buguña, D. (Investigator) & Olivera Begué, E. (Collaborator)
European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD)
5/02/24 → 22/09/26
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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Cierre de ciclos hacia la sostenibilidad local en la agricultura: producción de biofertilizantes enriquecidos en nutrientes y enmiendas orgánicas con propiedades biopesticidas y bioestimulantes (FertiLab)
Sanchez Ferrer, A. (Principal Investigator), Artola Casacuberta, A. (Investigator), Baeza Labat, J. A. (Investigator), Barrena Gomez, R. (Investigator), Gea Leiva, M. T. (Investigator), Font Segura, X. (Investigator), Sala Marti, A. (Collaborator) & Molina Peñate, E. (Collaborator)
1/12/22 → 30/11/25
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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A comprehensive methodology for parameter assessment in solid-state fermentation modelling
Guisasola, A., Moral Vico, J. & Gea Leiva, T., Apr 2026, In: Chemical Engineering Research and Design. 228, p. 621-634 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Biometanació : produir gas amb alt valor energètic gràcies als microorganismes
Gabriel, D. & Fachal Suarez, M., 2026, In: Divulga UAB – Revista de Difusió de la Recerca de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Dissemination
Open Access -
Computational Fluid Dynamics Reveals Mass Transfer Limitations in a Pilot-Scale Microbial Electrolysis Cell
Guerrero-Sodric, O., Navarro-Quispe, R. J., Cortada Garcia, M., Baeza, J. A. & Guisasola, A., Jun 2026, In: Water Environment Research. 98, 6, 10 p., e70452.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access
Student theses
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Automatització i monitorització d'una planta de tractament d'efluents gasosos per biofiltració.
Lucia Martin (Author), Gabriel Buguña, D. (Director) & Lafuente Sancho, F. J. (Director), 13 Sept 2004Student thesis: Others
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Optimització d'un sistema FIA i experimentació amb la tècnica SIA per l'anàlisi de metanol en mostres procedents d'una fermentació. Projecte de fi de carrera d'Enginyeria Tècnica Industrial, especialitat de Química Industrial -itinerari Medi Ambient-
Almuzara Campos, C. (Author), Gabriel Buguña, D. (Director) & Valero Barranco, F. (Director), 1 Jun 2001Student thesis: Final degree project (TFG)
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Monitorización on-line de un biofiltro para el tratamiento de biogas con alta carga de sulfuro de hidrógeno
Rosa María Redondo Miranda (Author), Gabriel Buguña, D. (Director) & Baeza Labat, M. D. M. (Director), 12 Sept 2007Student thesis: Dissertation (TFM)