Mission

The UCIBIO pilot plant's mission is to be a key enabler of training and education to produce highly skilled graduate students in the field of Biotechnology/ Biochemical Engineering. To be responsible for conducting world-class research and innovation in key areas of bioprocess technology and providing state-of-the-art pilot plant facilities for conducting research, development, and training.  The pilot plant enables the transition from lab-scale to experiments viable to industrial prototypes, by developing biotechnological processes up to the 200L working volume and to obtain products (such as biopolymers) up to the kg-scale.

 

The main research areas are:

  • Wastewater treatment: removal of contaminants, recovery of resources and production of clean effluents;
  • Wastes Stream Valorisation;
  • Biopolymer production.

 

Equipment

The pilot plant is equipped for aerobic and anaerobic biological processes and allows operation in batch, fed-batch, sequencing batch, and continuous modes. Below is a summary of the main equipment available:

  • 1 anaerobic stirred reactor with up to 150 L operating volume, equipped with heating and stirring systems;
  • 2 upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors with up to 100 L operating volume each;
  • 3 aerobic reactors with operating volumes up to 200 L, equipped with aeration and stirring systems;
  • Dedicated ventilated systems for each reactor;
  • 5 feeding and buffer tanks with capacities ranging from 200 L to 500 L;
  • Feeding, recirculation, and dosing pumps;
  • pH control systems, gas and liquid flowmeters, level controllers, and online sensors for process monitoring;
  • Centralized control and data acquisition system with dedicated computers, control hardware, and software;
  • CEPA® Z 41 high-speed tubular centrifuge for bioproduct recovery;
  • Laboratory equipment for analysis and downstream processing, including oven, scales, freeze-dryers, and all necessary instruments for sample characterization and bioproduct analysis;
  • Utilities including air compressor for aeration and antifoam systems, water baths, a full fume hood, uninterruptible power supply (UPS, ITYS PROv 10–20 kVA), a cold chamber for large-volume sample storage, and ventilated cabinets for reagents.

 

Team

 

Responsible

Maria Reis

PhD in Biochemical Engineering, 1991

Habilitation in Biochemical Engineering, 2003, NOVA FCT

Full Professor, NOVA FCT

 

Assistant Professor

Nídia Lourenço

 

Assistant Researchers

Mariana Matos

Joana Fradinho

 

Postdoctoral Researchers Fellows

Eliana Guarda

João Pereira

 

PhD Fellows

Cláudia Duarte

Marta Rodrigues

 

Research Assistants

Marisa Saloio

Diogo Ventura

Pedro Jesus

 

Funding

  • Pacto da Bioeconomia Azul – Biomaterials vertical (Project Nº C644915664-00000026) (2022-2026) Maria A.M. Reis (PI).
  • HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01-04 -101112877 (UPSTREAM) Circular and Bio-Based Solutions for the Ultimate Prevention of Plastics in Rivers Integrated with Elimination And Monitoring Technologies (2023-2027) Nídia Lourenço (PI).
  • HORIZON JU Innovation Actions project IA-02-101156998 (ReLEAF) Recycling Locally Produced Bio-Wastes to Ensure Affordability and Availability of Innovative Bio-Based Fertilisers (2024-2028) Nídia Lourenço (PI).

 

 

 

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