Rocio Barros

• PhD
• Senior Researcher at University of Burgos

Organic and inorganic contaminants are entrained into environmental systems through natural and anthropogenic processes, such as mining activities, manufacturing, and waste disposal. In terrestrial and aquatic environments, the contaminant(s) remediation can be achieved by immobilization, thereby inhibiting their dispersal and bioavailability. Mobi...

This review explores the potential of dendroremediation, a tree-based phytoremediation technique, as a sustainable solution for managing degraded lands (including abandoned mining sites and brownfields). Mining and industrialization are realities of the present capitalistic economy, and continue to proliferate, due to ever-increasing demand and non...

Natural based solutions, notably constructed/artificial wetland treatment systems, rely heavily on identification and use of macrophytes with the ability to tolerate multiple contaminants and grow for an extended period to reduce contamination. The potential to tolerate and remediate metal(loid) contaminated groundwater from an industrial site loca...

The present study reports findings related to the treatment of polluted groundwater using macrophyte-assisted phytoremediation. The potential of three macrophyte species (Phragmites australis, Scirpus holoschoenus, and Typha angustifolia) to tolerate exposure to multi-metal(loid) polluted groundwater was first evaluated in mesocosms for 7- and 14-d...

As new technologies emerge is necessary to assess if they can actually contribute to sustainable improvement of industrial processes. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a valuable tool to determine environmental impacts and compare systems. However, this comparison raises challenges when they have different maturity. This paper performs ex-ante LCA of...

The biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in soil is very challenging due to the complex recalcitrant nature of hydrocarbon, hydrophobicity, indigenous microbial adaptation and competition, and harsh environmental conditions. This work further confirmed that limited natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) (15% removal) ne...

The harsh impacts of climate change, once considered a myth by the masses, have become a reality. Each year we are observing the problems of extreme weather and natural disasters, and among the most vulnerable countries lie the developing countries, like in the sub-continent region (including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Yemen) or the African r...

Better understanding of macrophyte tolerance under long exposure times in real environmental matrices is crucial for phytoremediation and phytoattenuation strategies for aquatic systems. The metal(loid) attenuation ability of 10 emergent macrophyte species (Carex riparia, Cyperus longus, Cyperus rotundus, Iris pseudacorus, Juncus effusus, Lythrum s...

Previous degradation tests done at a lab scale displayed good results in TPHs degradation using the combination of vermicompost, nutrients addition, and microbial inoculation; this work was a scaling-up experiment for testing and optimizing the use of biopiles for bioremediation of TPHs polluted soils. In this scaling up experiment, based on previo...

Natural based solutions rely heavily on identification and use of macrophytes with the ability to tolerate multiple contaminants and grow for an extended period to reduce contamination. The potential to tolerate and remediate metal(loid) contaminated groundwater from an industrial site located in Flanders (Belgium) was assessed for 10 wetland macro...

The present study reports the findings related to the treatment of a polluted groundwater using macrophyte assisted phytoremediation. The potential of three macrophyte species (including Phragmites australis , Scirpus holoschoenus , and Typha angustifolia ) to tolerate exposure to multi-metal(loid) polluted groundwater was first evaluated in mesoco...

Natural based solutions, notably constructed/artificial wetland treatment systems, rely heavily on identification and use of macrophytes with the ability to tolerate multiple contaminants and grow for an extended period to reduce contamination. The potential to tolerate and remediate metal(loid) contaminated groundwater from an industrial site loca...

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is herb with many biological and medicinal benefits for humans. However, growth on zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) contaminated sites might get severely affected due to over accumulation of heavy metals (HM) in different plant tissues. Antioxidants play a crucial role in minimizing the negative effects of HM. The present s...

Heavy metal concentrations in water bodies are a global concern that affect human health. Phytoremediation is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative treatment relaying on natural ability of plants that accumulate, reduce, and/or degrade the pollutants. Understanding of underlying plants’ biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in phytorem...

The development of novel advanced nanomaterials (NMs) with outstanding characteristics for their use in distinct applications needs to be accompanied by the generation of knowledge on their potential toxicological impact, in particular, that derived from different occupational risk exposure routes, such as inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. T...

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment presents a challenge to modern science. The most significant impact this can induce is the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which can lead to a global health emergency. It is important to note that the impact of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is not limited to antibiotic resi...

Environmental awareness and the necessary reduction in costs in industrial processes has facilitated the development of novel techniques such as Additive Manufacturing, decreasing the amount of raw materials and energy needed. The longing for improved materials with different and enhanced properties has resulted in research efforts in the Metal Mat...

In the presence of stress, such as metal(loid)s, plants initiate a response which involves different biochemical, physiological, and genetic alterations to minimize it. Plant cells possess antioxidant defense systems that decrease the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), promoting cellular redox equilibrium and mitigating oxidative stress....

The nutrient cycle and organic matter decomposition are catalyzed by soil enzymes. In this study, enzymatic activities of catalase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and urease are studied in soils amended with compost (C), moss (M), or biochar (B) and irrigated with heavy metal-contaminated wastewater (HM-CW), when Nicotiana alata L. and Petuni...

Heavy metals (HMs) are indestructible and non-biodegradable. Phytoremediation presents an opportunity to transfer HMs from environmental matrices into plants, making it easy to translocate from one place to another. The ornate features of HMs' phytoremediation are biophilia and carbon neutrality, compared to the physical and chemical remediation me...

In the present study, a comparative human toxicity assessment between newly developed Mn3O4 nanoparticles with enhanced electrochemical properties (GNA35) and their precursor material (Mn3O4) was performed, employing different in vitro cellular models representing main exposure routes (inhalation, intestinal and dermal contact), namely the human al...

The initial stages of the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 showed that early detection of the virus in a simple way is the best tool until the development of vaccines. Many different tests are invasive or need the patient to cough up or even drag a sample of mucus from the throat area. Besides, the manufacturing time has proven insufficient in pandemi...

Phenolic compounds are toxic and ominously present in industrial effluents, which can end up in water bodies, causing potential damage to living organisms. This study employed the dried biomass of freshwater green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris to remove phenol and 2-chlorophenol from an aqueous environment. C. vulgaris was grown under different pho...

The study of the biological response of microbial cells interacting with natural and synthetic interfaces has acquired a new dimension with the development and constant progress of advanced omics technologies. New methods allow the isolation and analysis of nucleic acids, proteins and metabolites from complex samples, of interest in diverse researc...

The biological effects induced by the pollutants present in soils, together with the chemical and physical characterizations, are good indicators to provide a general overview of their quality. However, the existence of studies where the toxicity associated to soils contaminated with mixtures of pollutants applying both in vitro and in vivo models...

A theoretical study using Density Functional Theory and classical Molecular Dynamics simulations for the study of carbon nanomaterials in archetypical Menthol + Thymol Type V Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent is reported. The nanoscopic structure of the representative nanofluid is analyzed considering confinement, adsorption and solvation effects, as w...

The growth in the use of novel materials, as it is the case of the Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs), is producing a positive impact in production processes, allowing to obtain final products with improved functionalities, such as an increase of the strength-to-weight ratio, or enhancement of the mechanical properties of the material, minimizing as we...

Present work focuses on the operational conditions for improving the degradation rates of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) in contaminated soil from a machinery park were optimized at a microcosms scale along a 90-days incubation period. In this study, bioremediation strategies and an organic amendment have been tested to verify the remediation...

BIOMAC-European Sustainable BIO-based nanoMAterials Community is a Horizon2020 project that will establish an Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB), a true collaborative ecosystem where technologies and solutions utilizing nano-enabled bio-based materials (NBMs) will be upscaled and prepared for market applications. THE BIOMAC OITB TEST CASES GOALS AND I...

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have become an important part of most production component in terms of material selection. Its combination with Additive Manufacturing technologies it is very promising, and could also reduce the environmental damages caused by manufacture processes. The production of powder has been investigated and successfully impl...

The integration of Safe and Sustainability approaches is gaining interest in the EU policies & roadmaps due to the economic and strategical impact of new nanomaterials. The sustainability approach highlights the necessity of using management tools in a Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) perspective. The European Commission is funding research projects where...

Lithium silicates have attracted great attention in recent years due to their potential use as high-temperature (450-700 °C) sorbents for CO2 capture. Lithium orthosilicate (Li4SiO4) can theoretically adsorb CO2 in amounts up to 0.36 g CO2 per g Li4SiO4. The development of new Li4SiO4-based sorbents is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the mechani...

In the present study, a comparative human toxicity assessment between newly developed Mn3O4 nanoparticles with enhanced electrochemical properties (GNA35) and their precursor material (Mn3O4) was performed, employing different in vitro cellular models representing alveolar, oral and dermal exposure routes, namely the human alveolar carcinoma epithe...

The development of new candidate alloys with outstanding characteristics for their use in the aeronautical field is one of the main priorities for the sector. In this context, nanocrystaline (nc) alloys are considered relevant materials due to their special features, such as their exceptional physical and mechanical properties. However, another imp...

the nature of flavonoids in polar organic solvents solutions is studied using classical molecular dynamics simulations considering quercetin as an archetypical flavonoid and acetone, dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide as representatives of solvents with different polarity. The solvation, intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonding) and interactio...

The growth in the use of new materials, as is the case of the Metal Matrix Composites, is improving the production process, longing for different functional characteristics of the final products, such as less weight, more strength and hardness; and could also minimize environmental impacts, depending on the casting process used. This paper provide...

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted the attention of academy and industry due to their potential applications, being currently produced and commercialized at a mass scale, but their possible impact on different biological systems remains unclear. In the present work, an assessment to understand the toxicity of commercial pristine multi-walled ca...

The current study was dedicated to finding the effect of soil amendments (biochar and compost) on plants belonging to Poaceae and Fabaceae families. Plants selected for the phytoremediation experiment included wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), white clover (Trifolium repens), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)....

Due to their exceptional physico-chemical and magnetic characteristics, rare earth (RE) permanent magnets are applied in multiple critical technologies. However, several environmental and economic difficulties arising from obtaining RE elements have prompted the search of alternatives with acceptable magnetic properties but containing a lower perce...

A theoretical study considering Density Functional Theory and classical Molecular Dynamics simulations is reported on the study of the behavior of model poly-α-olefins base oils interacting with 2D MoS2 monolayers. 2D materials offer a promising route to enhance anti wear and friction reduction. Among them, MoS2 show a set of specially favorable pr...

Environmental matrices are polluted with the plethora of contaminants, and among these, the concerns related to heavy metals (HMs) are also included. Due to the low cost in a long-term application and environmental friendliness, the use of biological remediation has gained significant attention in recent decades. The use of ornamental plants (OPs)...

Boron nitride (BN) nanomaterials have been increasingly explored for potential applications in chemistry and biology fields (e.g., biomedical, pharmaceutical, and energy industries) due to their unique physico-chemical properties. However, their safe utilization requires a profound knowledge on their potential toxicological and environmental impact...

Substitution in the context of raw material criticality generally refers to the ability to achieve essentially the same function in a product or service by means other than the usual raw material. In simple terms, the availability of suitable substitutes can be seen as a reasonable way to avoid a "no-build" situation, in which particular products (...

Nitrogen (N) pollution induced by irrigated agriculture is a significant environmental problem. The main N inputs and outputs were measured or estimated in the semi-arid La Violada irrigation district (Spain). Data on two periods (1995–1998 and 2006–2008) were compared and related to observed changes during the decade in cropping patterns and N fer...

Irrigation district salt balances identify the main sources and sinks of salts and quantify salt loads in irrigation return flows. Salt balances were performed in La Violada Irrigation District during the 80s (1982–1984), 90s (1995–1998) and 00s (2006–2008) decades. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and loads in irrigation return flows were related with...

One of the main constraints of irrigated agriculture is off-site N pollution due to export of nitrate in irrigation return flows (IRF). Models capable of simulating the growth of crops and the N loads in IRF as affected by irrigation and N fertilization may be valuable tools in watershed studies. The Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX...

Long-term analysis of hydrologic series in irrigated areas allows identifying the main water balance components, minimizing closing errors and assessing changes in the hydrologic regime. The main water inputs [irrigation (I) and precipitation (P)] and outputs [outflow (Q) and potential (ETc) crop evapotranspiration] in the 4000-ha La Violada irriga...

The analysis of long-term irrigation performance series is a valuable tool to improve irrigation management and efficiency. This work focuses in the assessment of irrigation performance indices along years 1995-2008, and the cause-effect relationships with irrigation modernization works taking place in the 4000Â ha surface-irrigated La Violada Irri...

Long-term analysis of hydrologic series in irrigated areas allows identifying the main water balance components, minimizing closing errors and assessing changes in the hydrologic regime. The main water inputs [irrigation (I) and precipitation (P)] and outputs [outflow (Q) and potential (ETc) crop evapotranspiration] in the 4000-ha La Violada irriga...

Los modelos hidrosalinos permiten predecir el volumen de agua, la concentración y la masa de sales en los retornos de riego, y analizar las prácticas más eficientes para el control de la contaminación salina inducida por la agricultura de regadío. El modelo conceptual hidrosalino CIRFLE se calibró en los años 80 en la zona regable de La Violada (cu...

Mass balances identify the main sources and sinks of the studied variables and quantify export loads and environmental pollution induced by irrigated agriculture. Salt and nitrogen mass balances were performed in La Violada irrigation district (VID) along the irrigation seasons (April to September) of the 80’s (1982 to 1984), 90’s (1995 to 1998) an...

El desarrollo con éxito de programas de manejo de ácaros fitófagos basados en el control biológico por fitoseidos requiere como primer paso el conocimiento de la fauna de fitoseidos. Por ello, se muestrearon los fitoseidos en plantaciones experimentales de seis cultivos frutales (arándano, avellano, castaño, cerezo, kiwi y manzano) en Asturias. Se...

El desarrollo con éxito de programas de manejo de ácaros fitófagos basados en el control biológico por fitoseidos requiere como primer paso el conocimiento de la fauna de fitoseidos. Por ello, se muestrearon los fitoseidos en plantaciones experimentales de seis cultivos frutales (arándano, avellano, castaño, cerezo, kiwi y manzano) en Asturias. Se...

Resumen El estudio de series históricas de índices de calidad del riego junto con la información sobre el manejo del riego, el patrón de cultivos y los datos climáticos puede ser una herramienta útil para mejorar la sostenibilidad de la agricultura de regadío. Este trabajo se centra en la evaluación del riego en la zona regable de La Violada (4000...