University of Granada TEP212, Spain

The research group aims to develop specific formulations for the food industry, containing non-toxic,biodegradable surfactants from natural sources and/or specific enzymes, including nanofluids to treat each type of dirt, formulations with eco-friendly-surfactants that improves the wetting and washing efficiency, as well as the production of biosurfactants from waste using microorganisms and their possible applications. Another important objective of the group is the development of protocols for cleaning and disinfecting using ozone, surfactant solutions, enzymes, nanoparticles, immobilized and encapsulate enzymes. The optimization and application of cleaning protocols, which should be specific to the type of dirt to be treated, and which are necessary in the food industry can be an important challenge for efficient cleaning and better operation of industrial facilities.

The washing efficiency is measured using the BSF method, developed and patented by the research team and modified to incorporate ozone washing bath.

In order to achieve the proposed objectives, it is necessary to characterize both the different soils to be tested and the components of the formulations, especially the surfactant products, analyzing their biodegradability and toxicity, as well as the different enzymes that are incorporated into the formulations, determining their activity and stability due to the presence of the different components of the formulations. The search for microorganisms and more suitable conditions for the production of biosurfactants etc.

The research group develops different standardized methodologies for the determination of surfactant products as well as for their characterization: specific analyzes for anionic and nonionic surfactants, surface and interfacial tensions, biodegradability and toxicity of surfactants etc.