The Environmental Biotechnology group aims at developing and improving mixed culture bioprocesses for waste treatment and product formation. For this purpose, microbial ecosystems are studied at all levels ranging from molecule to full-scale bioprocesses.

The research is based on the exploration of microbial and biochemical cycling of elements in nature. We study the organisms involved in the conversions of Sulfur, Nitrogen, Phosphate and Iron compounds, with special attention for the formation of biopolymers. These conversions are used in the development of processes for water and wastewater treatment and production of chemicals from waste. The process engineering focus is on biofilm and gradient systems. The microbiological focus is on the development of molecular ecology approaches for studying the ecophysiology of mixed microbial cultures. The research team is complemented with a research line on inorganic chemical processes to be able to cover full process designs.