Cedenna researchers win ANID contest on promotion of international links

One of the projects seeks to solve the environmental problem of contamination of water resources and is led by the researcher and academic Dr. Samuel Baltazar. The other was awarded by the food packaging group. The other is directed by Dr. Francisco Rodríguez and will focus on promoting scientific cooperation between national and international research groups.

Carmen Luz Ibarra, USACh Communications.- With two projects designed to contribute to environmental problems, researchers from the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Cedenna, were awarded the Fomento a la Vinculación Internacional contest, launched by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID).

The first project is called “Decontamination of water resources through the use of 3D structures reinforced with allotropes of carbon and nanoparticles: A theoretical-experimental collaboration”. It seeks to provide an innovative solution to the environmental problem of contamination of continental water resources.

This research, led by the researcher and academic from the University of Santiago, Dr. Samuel Baltazar, is based on the previous experience and collaboration of the three research groups that are part of this project, which makes it possible to strengthen international collaboration networks. .

The Cedenna team is also made up of Dr. Pamela Sepúlveda (Usach), Dr. Felipe Valencia (Universidad Mayor) and Javier Rojas (Usach), together with Dr. Alejandra García (CIMAV Institute, Mexico).

Dr. García will carry out the synthesis and characterization of carbon allotrope materials and will support them in a polymer matrix with the aim of obtaining an optimal three-dimensional structure for the removal of contaminants in water and, later, characterize them by microscopic, spectroscopic and mechanical techniques.

In Chile, the research will be carried out through experimental and theoretical studies of 3D hybrid substrates. Experimental studies will be carried out on the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants such as Florfenicol and lead, respectively, through adsorption and catalytic degradation processes using 3D structures as substrates for removing pollutants in water.

The second project, “International collaboration network in research on sustainable food packaging in the context of the environmental problems generated by plastic materials”, was awarded by the food packaging group. The project is directed by Dr. Francisco Rodríguez and co-directed by Dr. Alejandra Torres and is made up of Dr. Julio Bruna and Dr. María. J. Galotto and Dr. Abel Guarda, all also belonging to LABEN-CHILE.

The study will focus on promoting scientific cooperation between national research groups (Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Talca and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso) and international (University of Alicante – Spain, Polytechnic University of Madrid – Spain, and University of Burgundy – France) who direct their lines of work in the study of biobased plastic materials, and who have recognized experience in the area.

From this interaction It is expected to identify research areas where it is possible to generate collaborative work, initiate the formalization of collaboration agreements, make visits and stays to foreign and national institutions, along with holding a scientific event in Chile with the participation of foreign and national researchers associated with the network, as well as undergraduate and graduate students.