Advanced BioFuels USA

(Autonomous University of Guadalajara (UAG)/Surest Informa (Google Translation)) … The researcher pointed out that thanks to this line of research and the projects that have derived from it, it has been possible to model chemical processes such as the production of biodiesel from waste from grease traps and also biological processes such as the growth of the Artrospira Microalgae (Spirulina maximum).  

“The objective of the research line is to generate mathematical models that reliably describe the dynamics of a chemical or biological process. This line is supported by the research carried out by the students of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Dean of Design, Science and Technology of the UAG through the Process Control Research Group formed by Dr. Felicia Rodríguez Palomera, Dr. Armando Campos Rodríguez, for me and everyone assigned to the Department of Biotechnological and Environmental Sciences ”, he said. 

The biodiesel production process was studied thanks to federal financial support from the National Council of Science and Technology and also through state financial support from the State Council of Science and Technology of Jalisco (COECyTJAL).  

Also in bioplastics  

The project that is currently active in this line of research is the “Synthesis of starch-lignin biofilms for the production of single-use bags”, with which it is intended to propose a biodegradable polymer made up of starch obtained, either from the Chlamydomonas Reindhartii microalgae or avocado starch bone and lignin obtained from wheat straw, to manufacture single-use bags that help reduce the impact of plastics. 

Currently the project “Synthesis of starch-lignin biofilms for the production of single-use bags” has allowed 17 students from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences to achieve their degree by thesis. It has also been possible for 6 students of the Master in Renewable Energy to obtain their degree and there has been 1 student address of the Doctorate in Chemical Engineering of the UDG thanks to the CONACyT project. 

This project is in the development stage; but basically science is being generated to determine the operational conditions to optimize starch production using the microalgae Chlamydomonas Reindhartii.  

In this way, it will be possible to generate biodegradable starch-lignin films that could replace the material from which single-use bags are currently made. In this project, there is a strong collaboration with the Microbial Metabolism Laboratory of the UAG in charge of Dr. Froylán ME Escalante and also with Professors Mtro. Erick Eduardo Guzmán Quezada and Mtro. Bernardo Haro from the Faculty of Engineering of the UAG. 

…

Increase technological stock 

As a consequence of the objectives and goals achieved in this project and the support of the PROPIN 2012 call, it was possible to apply for the patent “Procedure to synthesize a catalyst from sawdust and use it in esterification reactions” which is currently pending and it would be part of the intellectual property of the UAG. 

“Recently this line of research has evolved on the one hand towards the design, construction, instrumentation and control of chemical process equipment that have allowed increasing the technological heritage of the Chemical Engineering Laboratory of the UAG. A single-effect evaporator, a pressurized reactor with automatic temperature control, a packed distillation column that operates continuously and more recently a photobioreactor that allows the microalgae to grow to obtain starch has been built and instrumented. operation of a tubular reactor for the production of green solvents ”, he said.  

He added that all the equipment has been conceived by students of the Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, which has allowed them to occupy relevant positions in the Chemical Industry of Western Mexico. 

Grateful to his students 

Dr. Efrén Aguilar has always had the support of young students who seek to break through and grow in research.  

In fact, one of the graduates of this line of research, Dr. Felicia Rodríguez Palomera, is currently the Director of the Department of Biotechnological and Environmental Sciences and has recently been recognized by the National System of Researchers. In other words, a former UAG student is now part of the research line as a researcher.  READ MORE