Research Lines

The Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Unit at CIEMAT focusses on the development of different biological processes for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into different biofuels and bioproducts. The specific tasks address the biomass transformation process at certain stages, including the use of hydrothermal and thermomechanical technologies for biomass pretreatment, the hydrolysis of carbohydrates by biological catalysts, the microbial fermentation of resulting sugars into bioethanol, microbial oils or lactic acid, and/or the anaerobic digestion of pretreated streams to obtain biogas-biomethane. The developments and achievements reached in this research activity contribute to the valorization of the different fractions contained in lignocellulosic biomass within a biorefinery context, allowing obtaining different industrially relevant bioproducts.

Previous projects

ACMIBIO

Duration: 2018-2021

Microbial oils for the production of advanced biofuels: use of carboxylate and sugars as platform molecules. ACMIBIO project was done in collaboration with IMDEA Energy and coordinated by CIEMAT, and was funded by the National Research Agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (ENE2017-86864-C2-1-R, AEI/FEDER, UE).

logos de acmibio

BIOREOL

Duration: 2018-2021

Advances towards a flexible multi-feedstock, multi-product biorefinery in regions with high density of agroindustrial biomass: the olive case. This project received funding from the State Research Agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (ENE2017-85819-C2-2-R, AEI/FEDER, EU).

logos de bioreol

WASTE2BIO

Duration: 2017-2020

Valorization of urban wastes to new generation of bioethanol. This project has received funding from the ERA-NET BESTF3 and has been co-financed by CDTI and MINECO in Spain, DECC in UK and by the H2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.

More info: http://www.waste2bio.com/

BIOLIGWASTE

Duration: 2017-2019

New concept of multifunctional biorefinery for bioethanol and other bioproducts production from garden pruning residues. Project funded by the National Research Agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities within the National R&D Program oriented to the Challenges of the Society and has been co-financed by ERDF funds (RTC-2016-5281-5, AEI/FEDER, UE).

BABET-REAL5

Duration: 2016-2020

New technology and strategy for a large and sustainable deployment of second generation biofuel in rural areas. Project funded by the Horizon 2020 Program of the European Commission (Contract Agreement: 654365)

More info: https://www.babet-real5.eu/

SMIBIO

Duration: 2015-2018.

Development of modular small-scale integrated biorefineries to produce an optimal range of bioproducts from a variety rural agricultural and agroindustrial residues/wastes with a minimum consumption of fossil energy. Project funded by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Programme (ERANet-LAC). 

Web page: https://www.smibio.net 

BIOROLSOS

Duration: 2015-2017.

Design and optimization of a sustainable biorefinery based on biomass residues from the olive sector: techno-economic and environmental analyses. Project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness within the National Programme for Research Aimed at the Challenges of Society. 

RESTOENE-2

Duration: 2014-2018.

Production of clean biofuels for transport from lignocellulose biomass. Project funded by the Regional Government of Madrid.

Web page: http://www.restoene.net

CLAMBER

Duration: 2014-2015.

Scientific and technical consulting service for the CLAMBER project (Castilla La Mancha BioEconomy Region). Project funded by the Regional Government of Castilla La Mancha.

Web page: https://clamber.castillalamancha.es