Who we are

The Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA) is a research group of the University of Girona (UdG) devoted to the development of eco-innovative environmental solutions. LEQUIA is a part of the UdG’s Institute of the Environment (IMA) and participates actively in the Euro-Mediterranean Tourism and Water Campus of International Excellence (e-MTA). LEQUIA is a “consolidated research group” recognised by the Catalan Government (2017-SGR-1552) and a member of TECNIO, a network that brings together leading experts in applied research and technology transfer in Catalonia.

The team

LEQUIA has a team of 35 people, including university professors, post-doctoral and pre-doctoral researchers, and technical and management support staff. Because our work is multidisciplinary, LEQUIA projects currently involve environmental scientists, chemists, biologists, engineers and computer scientists.

Research lines

• Innovative bioprocesses for treatment, resource recovery and synthesis of new products

• Physicochemical advanced processes for treatment and/or reuse of liquid and gas side streams

• Planning, control and evaluation of complex environmental systems

Facilities

The group is based in the Faculty of Sciences of the UdG (Montilivi Campus) and a 550m² area in the Jaume Casademont building of the UdG’s Science and Technology Park. We have an analytical chemistry laboratory; fully instrumented pilot plants with different configurations for wastewater treatment at laboratory/semi-industrial scale; photoreactors for advanced oxidation processes; and software for environmental modelling and life cycle assessment (LCA) studies.

Projects

Research activity is carried out with funds from national and international R&D projects, and technology transfer contracts with public and private organisations. Between 2011 and 2015, LEQUIA had an average turnover of 1.3 million euros (of which, 19% came from privated funds).

Post-graduate education

LEQUIA has always played an active role in postgraduate and doctorate programs of the University of Girona, such as the Master in Water Resources and the Doctorate Programme in Water Science and Technology. The group coordinated Marie Curie Integrated Training Network SANITAS (FP7) and was partner of Marie Sklodowska Curie European Industrial Doctorate Network TreatRec (Horizon 2020).

Quality Certification

LEQUIA has a quality assurance management system certified by the Catalan Agency for Enterprise Competitiveness (ACCIÓ) and based on ISO 9000 standards and the EFQM excellence model.