David Gabriel Buguña

David Gabriel Buguña is a Professor in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He leads the GENOCOV research group focused on biological treatment and valorization of liquid and gaseous effluents, specializing in nutrient removal, odor control, and volatile organic compounds treatment. With an h-index of 41 and over 4735 citations from 178 research outputs, he has established himself as a leading researcher in environmental biotechnology and bioreactor engineering.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2000)
• Master's in Biotechnology from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (1996)
• Degree in Industrial Chemistry from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (1994)

Professor Buguña's research focuses on the design, characterization, monitoring, and control of bioreactors for treating gaseous emissions containing volatile organic compounds, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. His work pioneered the application of biotrickling filters for gaseous effluent treatment in Spain, establishing a national research frontier in this field. He has made significant contributions to wastewater treatment technologies, biofiltration systems, and biogas processing. His research integrates chemical engineering principles with environmental microbiology to develop sustainable solutions for air and water pollution control, with practical applications in industrial settings and waste management facilities.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on bioreactor optimization, waste valorization, and renewable energy production through projects like RECYCLES and LIFE-NIMBUS. The research spans from fundamental microbial processes to applied engineering solutions, with particular attention to mathematical modeling of long-term bioreactor dynamics and inhibition effects. His work shows increasing integration of advanced monitoring techniques and system optimization for environmental protection.

Professor Buguña actively supervises PhD students and has led numerous research projects, including 24 projects with 3 currently active. His work has secured funding from diverse sources including the European Commission, MICINN, and European Regional Development Fund, demonstrating the international recognition of his research contributions in environmental engineering and sustainable resource management.

He leads the GENOCOV research group (Grup de Tractament Biologic i Valorització d'efluents Liquids i Gasosos. Eliminació de Nutrients, Olors i compostos organics Volatils), which has established itself as a center of excellence in biological treatment technologies. The group maintains strong collaborations with international researchers, particularly with Professor Marc A. Deshusses at UC Riverside, and has contributed significantly to advancing bioprocess engineering for environmental protection across Europe.