Catalogue of product profiles

AGUABIOT-Integrated water management and biotechnological processes

AGUABIOT is a research group focused in the development and innovation in the field of water management, considering the entire water cycle, with special emphasis on the more technical aspects related to treatment. On the other hand, in relation to the treatment, the group also works in the use of living organisms, primarily microorganisms, in any aspect of the environment (water treatment, soil, petroleum fractions, etc..) and health (production of antibiotics, proteins, etc.).

The group has extensive research experience, reflected in the 100 publications in international journals, several books and book chapters, and very especially in the more than 40 research projects, developed both public and private funding.

Its research lines are focused in:

• Development of biotechnological processes.
• Integrated water management.

The group is looking for companies or other research groups interested in commercial or tehcnical agreements, and partners for R&D regional or national calls, european projects, etc...

• Technical cooperation
• Commercial cooperation
• R&D cooperation

Monitoring and remote control system of groundwater quality: treatment and reuse by land application

AGUABIOT research group from Alcalá University has designed and implemented systems for the continuous remote measurement of analytical parameters of water, as tools of a system of optimization and management of water resources and its application in quality control of groundwaters. A methodology for the design of green filters (non conventional depuration techniques) has also been developed for small populations.

The research group has developed this technique focusing on an analyzer of nitrates detectable at different wavelengths.

The equipment they are designing meets the following requirements: autonomous functioning, reliability, minimum maintenance, possible remote measurement, easy installation and low cost.

The proposed design methodology evaluates and quantifies those facts related to the physical environment and the vegetation needed, and also the specific legal requirements referring to the quality of sewage as well as socio-economic and technical data that has to be taken into consideration. A comprehensive evaluation of all these facts allows us to design a filter with the right dimensions and assures its good performance. It is a multistage design which permits the absorption of the fluctuations of flow common to small populations such as rural areas, second homes, etc.).

After depuration the sewage can be used in the timber industry or the refilling of aquifers.

The research group is looking for Town Councils of small urban populations and/or companies in the sector of sewage treatment that would be interested in using this system of integrated management for the treatment and reuse of sewage. They look for commercial or tehcnical agreements, and partners for R&D regional or national calls, european projects, etc...

• Technical cooperation
• Commercial cooperation
• R&D cooperation

Waterproof optical probe with continuous and automatic register for nitrate concentration control of water resources (superficial and groundwater).

AGUABIOT research group from Alcalá University has developed a probe based on a light source, an optical analyzer with optical fibber connections and a waterproof sensor. This is suitable for measuring nitrate concentration in water (superficial and groundwater) The system works using spectral techniques in the ultraviolet wavelength range.

The main steps in order to measure nitrate concentration in superficial water and groundwater using this spectral techniques in the ultraviolet begin with the obtain the spectral response from the analyzer when immersing the sensor into the water. The computer has some nitrate concentration patters to be compared with the spectral response. An evolutionary programming algorithm is used to decide the best suitable pattern. The best pattern determines the nitrate concentration of the measured water.

This system has the following main parts:

-Light source made of deuterium-halogen suitable for wavelengths from 200 to 800 nm (ultraviolet and visible).
-Optical analyzer suitable for the above mentioned wavelength range.
-Fibber optic cable (diameter 400 micron)
-Waterproof optical sensor using lenses for light guiding.
-Evolutionary programming algorithm for analyzing the optical analyzer response.
-Computer.

The research group is looking for companies specialized in the development of sensors, in order to reach commercial agreements with technical assistance. Partners for R&D regional or national calls, european projects, etc...are also wellcome.

Patent granted with reference P200600428.

• Technical cooperation
• Commercial cooperation
• R&D cooperation

System of distributed irrigation monohatch with manual or automated operation.

AGUABIOT research group from Alcalá University has developed a system of irrigation based on the cut of the current in the irrigation ditch by means of the only hatch, provoking the increase of the water level until it reaches one or two divisors of wealth.

This system involves some innovative aspects:

-The design of a unique floodgate that allows the motorized activation to close and to open the water flow, with simple possibility of manual use by workers nonspecialized.
-The design of a device of division of volume to direct the water to different furrows without intervention from worker and modification of the irrigation ditch to adapt to the joint operation of floodgate and splitter of volume.
-The design of an electromechanical and/or electronic controller of the irrigation system that allows the automatic operation of the system.

The group seeks to reach agreements of technical cooperation or commercial agreements with companies from the agricultural sector. Partners for R&D regional or national calls, european projects, etc...are also welcome.

Patent granted with reference number P200600371

• Technical cooperation
• Commercial cooperation
• R&D cooperation