Instituto
INSTITUTO DE LA GRASA

Head researcher
RAFAEL BORJA PADILLA

Reuse of by-products and treatment of wastes and wastewaters


The research group "Re-use of By-products and Treatment of Wastes and Wastewaters" of the "Instituto de la Grasa" (CSIC) of Seville develops since 1986 various lines of research related to the reuse and treatments of wastewaters and solid wastes from food processing industries. We study and optimize anaerobic digestion or biomethanization processes of wastewaters derived from these industries (olive mill wastewaters, wastewaters from washing processes of olives and olive oil in the two-phases manufacturing process, vinasses, molassess, piggery wastes and cattle slurry, etc.) using high-rate bioreactors, developing different lines of research related to kinetics, control, stability and biochemical basis of these processes. We also investigate the use of some agri-food solid wastes (defatted sunflower flour, olive mill solid wastes, etc..) for biogas production by anaerobic digestion processes in one and two stages.

Main specialization

Área de investigación:
Disciplina ERC:
  • LS - LIFE SCIENCES
  • LS9 Applied Life Sciences and Non-Medical Biotechnology
Industrial Leadership:
  • 4. Biotechnology
  • 4.2. Biotechnology-based industrial processes
Societal Challenges:
  • 3. Secure, clean and efficient energy
  • 3.3. Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources