EGAR belongs to the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) from the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). EGAR team develops research on atmospheric aerosols and gaseous pollutant with a combined air quality and climate focus. We carry also research on industrial emissions of trace pollutants and industrial waste management.
Other objectives of this research group are the study of the environmental impact of coal utilization and on the valorization of combustion/gasification by-products.
EGAR research on Air Quality aims at understanding the chemical and physical processes responsible for the emission, transport, fate and removal of atmospheric pollutants with impact on human health and vegetation. The main objective is to investigate measures (technological and non-technological) to reduce emissions, concentrations or human exposure.
Atmospheric aerosols affect the radiative balance of the Earth-atmosphere system and the Earth’s climate directly through scattering and absorption of solar radiation. Indirectly, by acting as cloud condensation nuclei, atmospheric aerosols can modify cloud properties and precipitation. Our aim is interpreting optical aerosol radiative effects as a function of their chemical and physical patterns and source contributions.
Major knowledge gaps remain regarding exposure to fine and ultrafine particles in indoor, commuting and outdoor environments. Our aim is investigating the pathways of human exposure to air pollutants in both types of environments, and to understanding and quantifying the contribution of different sources to outdoor, commuting and indoor exposure.
Industrial emissions from large industrial facilities (coal-fired power plants, ceramic and cement industry, refineries) are important sources of air pollutants (SOx, NOx, and particulate matter (PM)) producing also significant emissions to water and soil. We develop research on characterising emissions of trace pollutants with a major environmental impact and devising and testing the efficiency of emission abatement controls.
Since the earlier 1980s we develop research on environmental valorisation of industrial wastes with special emphasis on coal combustion/gasification residues. These wastes may be hazardous and we devise and test the efficiency of valorisation processes as well as pollutants immobilisation strategies in case of waste disposal.
Permanent Researchers
Postdoc Researchers
PhD Students
Technical
Administration
Communication and Outreach
Projects and Fundraising
Biological dynamics of CO2 in classrooms given the current context of climate change and pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19 disease)
The project studies how the natural ventilation required during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic influences air quality in classrooms, in line with the recommendations of the guide published by CSIC (https://www.ciencia.gob.es/stfls/MICINN/Ministerio/FICHEROS/Guia_para_ventilacion_en_aulas_CSIC_v4.pdf). CO2, PM2.5 and NO2 are measured in different classrooms of urban and rural schools of Barcelona province during 2021 and placed into the context of anthropogenic climate change concerning seasonal variation of CO2, temperature, humidity, wind speed-direction, precipitation and surrounding vegetation cover.
SINERGIA Project (Severo Ochoa)
Start Date: 01/01/2021 – End Date: 31/12/2021
Project Leader: Natalia Moreno Palmerola , Belen Martrat
Funding: National Project
RECOPPs
RECOPPs: REcovery of Added-Value Raw Materials from Copper Primary Production
RECOPPs (REcovery of Added-Value Raw Materials from Copper Primary Production) aims to transition the environmentally and economically sustainable recovery of added-value raw materials Bismuth (Bi) and Antimony (Sb) and removal and inertisation of Arsenic (As) from the residues and by-products generated during the pyrometallurgical production of Copper (Cu), based on RECOPP fast track proven technologies (TRL 5), to a TRL of 7(pilot scale) to validate this technological solution at such operational environment.
Start Date: 01/01/2021 – End Date: 31/12/2023
Project Leader: Patricia Córdoba Sola
Funding: European Project
Caucho granulado y contaminación atmosférica: un aspecto medioambiental del reciclaje de neumáticos
El fin último de este estudio es continuar ampliando nuestro conocimiento sobre la calidad del aire que respiramos en diferentes ambientes. Hasta la fecha no se ha realizado ningún estudio tan detallado sobre exposición a material de neumáticos reciclados en ambientes tan sensibles como parques infantiles o pistas deportivas. Este conocimiento debe transferirse no solo a las autoridades pero especialmente al ciudadano. La colaboración entre la Fundación ACS y el CSIC continuará divulgando resultados y mostrando a todos la necesidad de realizar estos estudios y el beneficio social que producen.
Entidad financiadora: Fundación ACS
Start Date: 01/12/2020 – End Date: 01/12/2021
Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez
Funding: National Project
EXPOPLAS
Assessment of human exposure to chemical additives associated with plastics
The general objective of EXPOPLAS is to assess the human exposure to chemical additives associated with plastics and to identify: i) chemical contaminants to which we are most exposed, ii) main routes of exposure, iii) most contaminated food items, the processes and treatments that lead to greater contamination of foodstuff, iv) main sources of inhalable contaminants in indoor and outdoor environments.
Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CGL2016-79132-R)
Start Date: 01/06/2020 – End Date: 31/05/2023
Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez , Ethel Eljarrat Esebag
Funding: National Project
Evaluación de la presencia y de la eficiencia de desinfección de SARS-CoV-2 en superficies y aire de autobuses de transporte público
Se pretende determinar la carga vírica en el aire y en superficies en autobuses del transporte público, y proponer actuaciones para minimizar las posibilidades de infección en su interior, añadidas a las actuales obligaciones de uso de mascarillas. Así mismo se pretende comprobar el efecto de las posibles acciones a implementar en la reducción de la probabilidad de contagio tanto en aire como superficies.
En este proyecto tratamos de evaluar y aplicar-optimizar unos mínimos para reducir al máximo posible el contagio. Estamos ante un problema general de transporte metropolitano y si consensuamos acciones apropiadas según lo expuesto serán de gran interés no solo para las empresas de transporte sino evidentemente para la población en general.
Funding: CSIC (COVID funding) and TMB
Start Date: 04/05/2020 – End Date: 03/05/2021
Project Leader: Teresa Moreno Pérez
Researchers: Xavier Querol Carceller , Andrés Alastuey Urós , Natalia Moreno Palmerola , María Cruz Minguillón
Funding: National Project
FRAGMENT
Frontiers in dust mineralogical composition and its effects upon climate
Frontiers in dust mineralogical composition and its effects upon climate. Consolidator Grant. European Research Council (ERC). Partners. BSC, IDAEA-CSIC Universidad Damstad (Alemania). P.I. Carlos Pérez-García Pando (BSC), del IDAEA-CSIC: X. Querol. 2018-2021. Financiación 2.1 Millones Euros, IDAEA-CSIC: 0.51 Millones Euros.
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/214076_es.html
Start Date: 01/10/2018 – End Date: 30/09/2021
Project Leader: Xavier Querol Carceller , Andrés Alastuey Urós
MAPAMA-Air Quality
Detección de episodios naturales de aportes transfronterizos de partículas y otras fuentes de contaminación de material particulado, y de formación de ozono troposférico
Encargo: Detección de episodios naturales de aportes transfronterizos de partículas y otras fuentes de contaminación de material particulado, y de formación de ozono troposférico. Entidad financiadora: Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAPAMA), Expediente N°: 17CAES010/ Encargo. Entidades participantes: CSIC. Duración, desde: 2018 hasta: 2021 Cuantía de la subvención: 551.634,27Euros. Investigador responsable: Xavier Querol y Andrés Alastuey. Número de investigadores participantes: 8