The BioTechniques Ghent 2015 conference will cover a wide range of topics related to the application of environmental biotechnology for air pollution control, treatment processes in bioreactors and clean (bio) fuels production. GENOCOV members will participate in this conference with the following presentations:

D. Gabriel (Oral)- Biotrickling filtration of high loads of ammonia: lab- and pilot-scale experiences

E. Blázquez (Oral) - Promoting autotrophic sulfate reduction in bioelectrochemical systems

L.R. López (Poster) - Optimization of biogas desulfurization in aerobic biotrickling filters through trickling liquid velocity regulation under variable loading rate conditions

M. Mora (Poster) - Respirometry as a tool for microbial activity monitoring in biotrickling filters

Other topics that will be discussed are:

• Bioreactors for air pollution control and biotransformations: biofilters, trickling biofilters, bioscrubbers, membrane bioreactors, two-phase partitioning bioreactors, air-diffusion bioreactors;
• Innovative bioreactors for air pollution control and biotransformations, e.g. fluidized beds, airlift reactors, RBC.
• Hybrid systems (bioreactor/bioreactor, physico-chemical technology/bioreactor, …) for air pollution control and biotransformations;
• Biotic component of bioreactors (bacteria, fungi, algae): Microbiological aspects of biodegradation and biotransformations (physiology, metabolism), Microbial ecology approach (density, diversity, structure), Identification of new functional species, Functional communities, Immobilized enzymes, microbial aerosols;
• Process component of bioreactors (Mass and Energy Flows): mass transfer and kinetics, process improvement;
• Indoor air pollution control;
• Mathematical modelling and monitoring of bioprocesses for air pollution control and bioconversions: Kinetics, Phenomenological, Empirical and Artificial Intelligence based models and their applications;
• Bioreactors designing; Air emissions sampling and measurements by gas chromatography, electronic noses, sensors and other methods;
• Biodegradation of volatile compounds (odors, VOCs), mitigation of GreenHouse Gases (GHGs) (e.g., CH4, NOx, N2O, CO2);
• Biotransformation of volatile substrates into valuable products; e.g. production of biofuels, proteins, biopolymers, biofuels production from CO2 (algae);
• Biogas and other biofuels upgrading (e.g., fuel desulfurization using bioreactors);
• Eco-friendly biofuels and their relation with reduced air pollution;
• Process scale-up, full-scale applications, case studies;

The conference will try to facilitate research cooperation between academics and industries, potentially allowing commercialization of new biotechniques.

The scientific program of the conference can be downloaded from the following link: 

http://www.biotechniquesghent2015.com/program/scientific-program/