Contact person
Maria del Pilar Castillo
Forskare
Read more about Maria del Pilar
Contact Maria del Pilar
Biological degradation of organic materials
The field of biodegradation of organic materials includes very long experience of conducting various laboratory-scale digestion experiments - both substrate sampling, pre-treatment and analysis as well as batch and continuous experiments. There is also a high level of expertise in aerobic degradation of biomaterials, pesticides, organic pollutants and polymeric substances, and in the measurement and analysis of gas emissions from soil, manure and various waste management systems. The competence and ability have been extended to include anaerobic treatment of waste water from the heavy industry.
Organic waste analysis
- Sampling techniques for organic waste streams and gas emissions
- Chemical and physical characterization
- Theoretical assessment based on analysis results
- Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests
Anaerobic digestion studies at laboratory scale reactors
- Continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR)
- Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)
- Plug flow digester
Aerobic degradation of organic materials in compost and soil
- Degradability and respiration studies
- Microbial degradation of pesticides
- Biobed and biofilter design
Laboratory analysis
- Dry matter (DM), Volatile Solids (VS), suspended solids, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, COD
- Nitrogen analysis (ammonium, organic and total Kjeldahl nitrogen)
- Volatile fatty acids, sugars – HPLC
- Methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide – GC
- Methane, CO2, H2S – portable gas analyzer
- Passive diffusion gas ammonia analysis (FIA)
- Viscosity - Brookfield viscometer
