CRETUS STAFF
Francisco Omil Prieto
• Professor of Chemical Engineering
• Department: Chemical Engineering
• Center: Escola Técnica Superior de Enxeñaría (USC)
• Research Group: Environmental Biotechnology (BIOGROUP)
• Tel .: +34 8818 16805
• Email: francisco.omil@usc.es
• Group Web: www.usc.es/biogroup
• Personal website: http://www.usc.es/biogroup/users/francisco-omil
• Scientific Profile: Orcid
Bio
Professor of the University of the Dept. of Chemical Engineering at USC since 2010.
His research is basically focused on the field of Environmental Engineering, especially in the development of processes based on the application of biological reactors to the treatment of urban and industrial waters (elimination of conventional and emerging contaminants such as organic micro-contaminants, drugs, recalcitrants, etc. ) and gaseous emissions (elimination of VOCs, odors and greenhouse gases).
Author of more than 100 national and international research articles (around 75% in international journals indexed in the SCI), 13 book chapters, more than 120 communications at international conferences (55% oral) and 2 patents (one graduate to VIAQUA company). H index: 35. Number of citations in SCOPUS: 4905.
Deputy director of the Escola Técnica Superior de Enxeñaría (ETSE) of the USC since June 2012. Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering at the USC since November 2008. Coordinator of the Environmental Section of the Spanish Society of Biotechnology (2005 – 2012). Coordinator of the Biotechnology Commission of the USC (2015-2017).
Lines of investigation
• Elimination of organic micro-contaminants
-Study of processes for the elimination of xenobiotic compounds at trace levels (particularly drugs, cosmetic products and endocrine disrupting compounds, among others) in urban and hospital wastewater.
-Development of innovative technologies based on hybrid systems.
• Biological treatment of industrial wastewater
-Food industries (canning, dairy, etc.) and other sectors of interest in Galicia (manufacture of boards, pharmaceuticals, textiles, etc.).
-Strategies of elimination and / or biodegradation of inhibitory, toxic and recalcitrant compounds.
• Environmental management of gaseous emissions and biological treatment alternatives
-Strategies to minimize the environmental impact derived from the use of formaldehyde in the automotive sector.
-Biofiltration systems for the elimination of odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Application to the elimination of greenhouse gases.
Current projects
• Joint PhD Laboratory for New Materials and Inventive Water Treatment Technologies (NOWELTIES). EU Project 812880, MSCA-ITN-EJD. January 2019 – December 2022. European Union. Horizon 2020 Program.
• Sustainable management of livestock waste for the removal / recovery of nutrients (LIVEWASTE). Validity: from 1/9/2013 to 8/31/2016. LIFE + Program (LIFE12 ENV / CY / 544). European Union. USC Group IP. Endowment: € 134,791.65
• Holistic technology with a low environmental footprint for wastewater treatment aimed at minimizing greenhouse gases, micro and nanocontaminants (HOLSIA). Validity: from 1/1/2014 to 12/31/2016. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTM2013-46750-R). Co-IP Endowment: € 2,000,000.
Leading indicators
• SCI research publications: 90
• H index: 35
• SCOPUS Citation: 4905
• Books: 1
• Book chapters: 13
• Research publications without impact index: 3
• Patents: 2 (one licensed to VIAQUA company)
Most relevant publications
Alvarino, T., Suarez, S., Lema, J., Omil, F. (2018). “Understanding the sorption and biotransformation of organic micropollutants in innovative biological wastewater treatment technologies”. Science of the Total Environment, 615, 297‐306.
Paredes, L., Omil, F., Lema, J.M, Carballa, M. (2018). “What happens with organic micropollutants during UV disinfection in WWTPs? A global perspective from laboratory to fullscale”. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 342, 670‐678.
Tomás Allegue, Adrián Arias, Nuria Fernandez‐Gonzalez, Francisco Omil and Juan M. Garrido (2018). “Enrichment of nitrite‐dependent anaerobic methane oxidizing bacteria in a membrane bioreactor”. Chemical Engineering Journal, 347, 721‐730
S. Gómez‐Cuervo, C. Alfonsín, J. Hernández, G. Feijoo, M.T. Moreira & F. Omil. (2017). “Diffuse methane emissions abatement by organic and inorganic packed biofilters: Assessment of operational and environmental indicators”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 1191‐1202.
T. Alvarino, O. Komesli, S. Suarez, J.M. Lema and F. Omil. (2016). The potential of the innovative SeMPAC process for enhancing the removal of recalcitrant organic micropollutants. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 308:29‐36.
T. Alvarino, S. Suarez, E. Katsou, J. Vazquez‐Padin, J.M. Lema, F. Omil. (2015). Removal of PPCPs from the sludge supernatant in a one stage nitritation/anammox process. Water Research, 68, 701‐709.
E. Fernandez‐Fontaina, M. Carballa, F. Omil, J.M. Lema. (2014). Modelling cometabolic biotransformation of organic micropollutants in nitrifying reactors. Water Research, 65, 371-383.
D. Serrano, S. Suárez, J.M. Lema and F. Omil (2011). “Removal of persistent pharmaceutical micropollutants from sewage by addition of PAC in a sequential membrane bioreactor”. Water Research, 45 (16), 5323-5333.
S. Suárez, J.M. Lema and F. Omil (2010). “Removal of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) under nitrifying and denitrifying conditions.” Water Research, 44, 3214-3224.
F. Omil, S. Suárez, M. Carballa, R. Reif and J.M. Lema (2010). “Criteria for conceiving sewage treatment plants for an enhanced removal of organic micropollutants”. In: Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle. Fatta Kassinos, Bester & Kümmerer (eds.). Springer. ISBN: 978-90-481-3508-0. Pages: 283-306.
Most relevant publications
Alvarino, T., Suarez, S., Lema, J., Omil, F. (2018). “Understanding the surprise and biotransformation of organic micropollutants in innovative biological wastewater treatment technologies”. Science of the Total Environment, 615, 297-306.
Paredes, L., Omil, F., Lema, J.M, Carballa, M. (2018). “What happens with organic micropollutants during UV disinfection in WWTPs? A global perspective from laboratory to fullscale ”. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 342, 670‐678.
Tomás Allegue, Adrián Arias, Nuria Fernandez ‐ Gonzalez, Francisco Omil and Juan M. Garrido (2018). “Enrichment of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidizing bacteria in a membrane bioreactor”. Chemical Engineering Journal, 347, 721‐730
S. Gómez ‐ Cuervo, C. Alfonsín, J. Hernández, G. Feijoo, M.T. Moreira & F. Omil. (2017). “Diffuse methane emissions abatement by organic and inorganic packed biofilters: Assessment of operational and environmental indicators”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 1191‐1202.
T. Alvarino, O. Komesli, S. Suarez, J.M. Lema and F. Omil. (2016). The potential of the innovative SeMPAC process for enhancing the removal of recalcitrant organic micropollutants. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 308: 29‐36.
T. Alvarino, S. Suarez, E. Katsou, J. Vazquez ‐ Padin, J.M. Lema, F. Omil. (2015). Removal of PPCPs from the sludge supernatant in a one stage nitritation / anammox process. Water Research, 68, 701‐709.
E. Fernandez ‐ Fontaina, M. Carballa, F. Omil, J.M. Motto. (2014). Modeling cometabolic biotransformation of organic micropollutants in nitrifying reactors. Water Research, 65, 371-383.
D. Serrano, S. Suárez, J.M. Lema and F. Omil (2011). “Removal of persistent pharmaceutical micropollutants from sewage by addition of PAC in a sequential membrane bioreactor”. Water Research, 45 (16), 5323-5333.
S. Suárez, J.M. Lema and F. Omil (2010). “Removal of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) under nitrifying and denitrifying conditions.” Water Research, 44, 3214-3224.
F. Omil, S. Suárez, M. Carballa, R. Reif and J.M. Motto (2010). “Criteria for conceiving sewage treatment plants for an enhanced removal of organic micropollutants”. In: Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle. Fatta Kassinos, Bester & Kümmerer (eds.). Springer. ISBN: 978-90-481-3508-0. Pages: 283-306.
