Project Partners

Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas - Plataforma Solar de Almería

http://www.ciemat.es
http://www.psa.es

The Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT) is a Public Spanish Organism owned by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Its work deals with the research and technological development on energy (including Renewable Energies) and environmental related subjects. CIEMAT has six departments, five of them are for research and development and an additional one devoted to the study of future uses of the energy. CIEMAT objectives are the promotion and execution of technological R&D projects in the areas of energy and environment and to advise national authorities in strategic issues related with energy and environment.

One of CIEMAT's departments is Renewable Energies (DER) where different R+D programmes are carried out. The Solar Energy Programme of CIEMAT includes the Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA) as main national research center. Formally considered as a European Large Scientific Installation, the Plataforma Solar de Almería is also the largest European Laboratory for solar energy applications. The PSA participates actively in demonstrative applications of different solar technologies, at national and international levels, with the main objective to improve the technology cost and efficiency and make possible the efficient collection of solar energy for electricity production, development of chemical applications, development and testing of materials under extreme conditions, desalination, bioclimatic applications, etc.

ECOSYSTEM Environmental Services S.A.

ecosystem@retemail.es

The company Ecosystem Environmental Services S.A., founded in 1991, is a small and flexible Spanish Engineering and Consulting firm located in Barcelona. Its work is focused in researching and developing new treatment technologies and erecting hazardous waste treatment plants for specific problems of contamination demanded by customers. Specific business activity areas of the company are: contaminated soil remediation, hazardous waste treatments, innovative technologies for wastewater treatment, waste recycling and minimisation, education, public administration and private companies advisement. The design of that kind of plants normally includes chemical, mechanical, environmental, legal, automation and control issues. The company is also currently working in the development of new techniques for treating, recycling and minimising chemical and pharmaceutical wastewater and recovering of contaminated groundwater.

Ecosystem is an engineering firm owning a strong practical vocation. The company posses its own research laboratory to develop new processes for “tailor–made” solutions or new applications of company technology. Ecosystem manufactures specific control and automation equipment for these new processes. The company has also a relevant experience with scientific R&D projects founded by the European Commission and other public Spanish Institutions.

AO SOL Energias Renováveis, Lda.

http://www.aosol.pt

AOSOL - ENERGIAS RENOVÁVEIS, Lda, is a private Portuguese company, located near Lisbon, manufacturer of solar energy collectors of the non-evacuated compound parabolic concentrator type with applications in water heating, heating and cooling of buildings and steam production for industry. The technology was awarded with a national price within the National Program for new industrial ideas sponsored by the Portuguese Government. AO SOL was created in 1998 to be a manufacturer of CPC solar concentrators. These are stationary and have low cost, with the same ease of installation as conventional flat plates and a higher thermal performance. At present AO SOL is owned by GALP POWER, member of the holding GALP ENERGIA, the Portuguese Oil and Gas Group, to develop solar thermal use in Portugal. This recent (June2000) strategic decision of GALP to purchase AO SOL establishes a new and very important phase for both companies and for the development of Solar Energy in Portugal. It has already allowed AO SOL to install itself in a new and much larger production facility in a 3500 m2 building belonging to GALP.

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

http://www.ucm.es

The 700-year-old Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) is the largest and one of the most prestigious high education institutions in Spain. With the exception of some engineering careers, all possible studies in Natural and Health Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts may be followed in its campus (76 different degrees). Approximately 6000 faculty members of 184 departments perform academic and research activities in over 62 Centers and Research Institutes. About 3000 persons are devoted to service and administration duties. Two million books and 40,000 journals form the largest university library in Spain.

The proposed research tasks on photosensitized disinfection of water under the responsibility of UCM will rest on the 15-plus year experience and multidisciplinary nature of the Applied Photochemistry Group of UCM. Their combined training spans from organic (mainly heterocyclic and solid-phase synthesis) and inorganic synthesis (luminescent coordination compounds with transition metals), to molecular spectroscopy (both emission and absorption, steady-state and time-resolved), applied photophysics and photochemistry, and optical analysis techniques (including dyed membranes and fiber-optic sensors).

The group experience covers: (i) the basic design and preparation of tailored luminescent dyes, both organic molecules and coordination compounds of transition metals; (ii) novel procedures for immobilizing photosensitizers onto solid supports; (iii) investigations on the interaction of fluorescent molecular probes with nucleic acids, membrane mimics and whole cells; (iv) mechanistic studies on photoinduced electron and energy transfer from Ru(II) complexes; (v) fabrication and application of fiber-optic sensors and biosensors for real-time monitorization of chemical species (e.g. pH, sulfide, iron(III), oxygen, carbon dioxide, lower alcohols, humidity, glucose, BOD, pesticides, and surfactants, among others).

National Technical University of Athens

http://www.ntua.gr
http://www.metal.ntua.gr/home-en.html

The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is the oldest and most prestigious educational institution of Greece in the field of technology and has contributed unceasingly to the country's scientific, technical and economic development since its foundation in 1836. The academic level of the faculty is exceptionally high, as all of its members have studied to an advanced level both in Greece and abroad, published a considerable number of papers in scientific journals and actively participated in sponsored research programs. Over the years, NTUA researchers established the excellence of the University in international R&D efforts. Currently, NTUA attracts funding for research from National and European sources that place it on the top of all Greek Academic and Research Institutions. Research is carried out by about 100 laboratories belonging to the various Departments and Sections of the institution.

The Laboratory of Environmental Science and Engineering is part of the Sector of Materials Science and Engineering in the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. The Laboratory was founded in 1992 and today has developed as one of the leading world laboratories in the area of the study of the interaction among microorganisms and pollutants, in particular on the subject of Biosorption with significant contribution to the state of the art. Environmental biotechnology is a good general descriptor for the case of the research work carried out in the laboratory. State of the art facilities help the laboratory members in their efforts: Multi detector Capillary Gas Chromatography, Ion Chromatography, Plasma Spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy, and EDAX Microanalysis, are examples of available equipment. Pilot technology facilities include fully automated Bioengineering Fermentors, Rotating Biological Contactors, Continuous Moving Bed Sand Filter Reactors capable of supporting biological growth, Rotary Drum Bological Composting Reactor, Adsorption Reactors, Walk in constant temperature room, and other pilot scale equipments. [More information, PDF(146KB)]

Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua

http://www.imta.mx

The Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA) is an interdisciplinary research center, belonging to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico, focused toward finding specific solutions to technological development problems related with water. Its work includes updating available technology to solve traditional problems. IMTA is also concerned with urgent matters, such as technology for efficient water use, utilization of wastewater and preservation of the resource’s quality. The Institute has several reference and research laboratories for water quality control, isotopic hydrology, measurement of efficient use and hydraulics, water quality research, and material and equipment certification. At the present, IMTA has 400 employees; seventy per cent of them deal with technology transfer and human resources development. Among these, ninety have a post graduate degree.

The IMTA’s Water Quality Laboratory (WQL), which will be directly involved in the execution of the present project, is a specialized laboratory in chemical and biological analyses and water treatability tests. The multidisciplinary group of specialists at WQL/IMTA has experience in the diagnosis, evaluation and solution of water-related problems through research, services and other activities related to the use of water, such as: Environmental protection studies, Wastewater characterization and treatment, Potabilization, Pollutant transport and Environmental assessment.

Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica

http://www.cnea.gov.ar

The National Atomic Energy research center of Argentina (CNEA) is a 55 years old institution that carries out R&D activities in three Atomic Centers: Constituyentes (CAC), Bariloche (CAB) and Ezeiza (CAE). The staff of CNEA is around 1,800 people, roughly half of which belongs to CAC. Besides the specific nuclear technology activities, CAC has been traditionally engaged in basic and applied research, and in technological developments in other non-nuclear areas. CAC is the largest R&D center in Argentina, with large Departments (Unidades de Actividad) in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science and Biology. Among the non-nuclear areas with strong development, Materials Science and Environmental Technologies (especially related to Energy Production), must be noted. Groups working in Photovoltaic and Thermal Solar Energy have also a long tradition. Photocatalysis is also developed at the Chemistry Department for the processing of conventional wastes in nuclear power plants.

The Department of Chemistry has a staff of around 80 people, with expertise in environmental impact of energy production, thermal solar energy and in photocatalysis. Several contracts and grants on these areas are currently being executed. These include a Contract with the National Regulatory Board for Energy (ENRE) to carry out measurements, develop transport models and prepare guidelines for environmental impact assessment of thermal electricity generation; a Contract with the Organization of American States (now in the status of a pre-qualified Proposal) to develop simple methods (including photocatalytic procedures) for the purification of water in rural communities in Latin America: the Coordination of a CYTED Iberoamerican Network on Photocatalysis, and several research grants.

Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería

http://www.uni.edu.pe

The Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (UNI), or National Engineering University, is one of the most prestigious Technical Universities in Peru. It is permanently contributing to the country's scientific and technical development since its foundation in 1876. Currently it has about 7,000 students and 1,318 lecturers distributed in eleven faculties. The Faculty of Science is one of these faculties with 114 lecturers, having 34 of them the PhD degree.

Within this Faculty of Science, the Thin Films Research Group (Laboratorio de Películas Delgadas) will be the one directly involved in the execution of the present project. It is one of the most active research groups at Faculty of Science, with twenty-two graduated thesis, seven MSc and six PhD produced during the last ten years. The Thin Films Research Group has been involved for more than ten years in the study of semiconductor materials for photo-electrochemical applications and has strong connections and collaborations with other Latin American research groups, mainly through CYTED networks such as: “Semiconductor Oxides and Materials Related with Optic Environmental Applications” (with ongoing activities since 1999).

TINEP S.A. de C.V.

http://www.tinep.com

TINEP S.A. de C.V. is a medium private company, founded in 1987 and with its headquarters located Mexico Distrito Federal, specialised in public drinking water supply systems, including design and installation of superficial and groundwater potabilisation plants. Company activity also covers the design and installation of complete water treatment systems to the reuse of municipal and industrial wastewaters. The company current staff is formed by 115 people. Commercial activity of the company is taking place mainly within Mexico, addressed to both the public and private sectors, at federal, state and municipal levels. Nevertheless, in addition to Mexico, the actual market of the company also covers the Southern States of the USA, Chile and Costa Rica. At present TINEP is involved in negotiations that will permit its participation within relevant projects in the North of the United States and the South of Canada by the year 2003 and in the European Union, with a scheduled initiation in Spain in the year 2004.

The Departamento de Proyectos Especiales (Special Projects Department), with a total staff of 16 people fully devoted to the research and development of company own technology, would be the one directly involved in the present project. The principal activities of this department are related with TINEP growth and consolidation; these main activities are: i) technology development, ii) elaboration of basic engineering and processing appropriate for the required operating conditions and available raw materials and, iii) design of equipment and systems for public or private service including the preparation of market studies and project viabilities.

École PolyTechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

http://www.epfl.ch

The École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), is an academic university organisation belonging to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, with 4,500 students including PhD students and postdoctoral courses and 3,500 full time positions (scientists + administration).

In EPFL, the LABORATOIRE DE BIOTECHNOLOGIE ENVIRONNEMENTALE (LBE) develop teaching and applied researches in the field of biological engineering related to the elimination and valorisation of organic wastes and to the environmental protection with respect to pollution. Main researches concern improvement of biological reactions involved in the treatment of wastewater, sewage sludge, household waste and organic industrial effluents with the aim of recovering useful by-products and energy. LBE researches principally concern the field of environmental biotechnology with emphasis on the biological treatment of industrial effluents by free and immobilised biomass. This includes the following aspects: i) selection, adaptation enrichment and stabilisation of mixed bacterial populations able to degrade target xenobiotic compounds in industrial effluents. Study of the metabolic behaviour and kinetics of these selected consortia in controlled CSTR and packed bed bio film reactors in order to validate their rational exploitation; ii) coupling physico-chemical (electrochemistry, photochemistry) and biological processes to degrade recalcitrant pollutant

Laboratoire d'Application de la Chimie à l'Environnement

http://lace.univ-lyon1.fr/

LACE (Laboratoire d'Application de la Chimie à l'Environnement) is a Joint Unit between CNRS and the University of Lyon 1. Its main activity is concerned by the use of catalytic, photocatalytic and photochemical processes for the removal (as well as the prevention of the formation) of pollutants. Ca 19 Senior scientists are involved in this activity. They are shared between six main fields of research: inorganic synthesis, catalytic combustion of hydrocarbons, three-way catalysis, DeNOx catalysis, photochemistry and photocatalysis, activated carbons.

LACE is able to perform the synthesis of catalytic materials based onto noble metals as well as onto base transition metals. The catalysts so prepared are in the powdered form and washcoated onto ceramic monoliths. The catalytic activity is measured in microreactor, in fresh state and after ageing in various conditions. Several bulk and surface properties are determined by several physicochemical methods. Synthesis procedure will be modified according to the causes found for the deactivation of the catalysts. LACE is also is strong interactions with industrial partners concerned by environmental problems.