
Romina Romero CarrilloUniversity of Concepción · Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica
Romina Romero Carrillo
PhD Analytical Chemistry
About
50
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Introduction
Dr. Romina Romero specializes in sustainable chemistry, tackling environmental challenges through innovative, eco-friendly solutions. Her research spans advanced wastewater treatment and biomass valorization, with a particular focus on pioneering pyrolysis techniques to transform waste into valuable chemicals and materials. Driven by a commitment to sustainability, Romina is dedicated to developing efficient methods that support cleaner water systems and renewable resource generation.
Additional affiliations
December 2016 - January 2020
Education
March 2012 - October 2016
March 2006 - December 2011
Publications
Publications (50)
Correlations between the photocatalytic activity and the chemical composition of carbon-supported P-Fe-based nanocomposites were found. Nanoporous carbon was prepared by chemical activation with H3PO4 of the endocarp of babassu coconut. The synthesis of the nanocomposites was conducted by aqueous impregnation of the support with Fe(NO3)39H2O and N...
Fenton reactions driven by dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs) have been used for pollutant removal via advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), but such systems have the disadvantage of DHB release into the aqueous phase. In this work, insoluble tannins from bark can be used to drive Fenton reactions and as a heterogeneous support. This avoids the release of DHB...
Fast pyrolysis of water-insoluble (W-I) tannins—mainly composed of condensed tannins—obtained from Pinus radiata bark methanol-water extraction was carried out in pursuit of a renewable source of high-value chemicals, in particular catechols. Micropyrolysis in an isothermal furnace unit (Py-GC–MS/FID) was performed between 450–600 °C. Catechin and...
1,2-dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs) are organic compounds which are widely studied as they are applied to advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). These compounds are also related to the development of oxidative stress, wood biodegradation, and neuronal disease in humans. DHBs are metal ligands with pro-oxidant and antioxidant properties. These activities are...
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated in the plants during cellular metabolism. But extreme environmental conditions like drought, salinity or floods etc. lead to an enhanced level of these ROS in plants, which cause deterioration of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids and ultimately death of a plant. Growing evidence has suggested that ROS pl...
Lignin valorization through heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising pathway for obtaining value‐added products, including chemical building blocks, biofuels, etc. However, several challenges still demand attention and resolution in this field. One of the key parameters in the heterogeneous photocatalytic process is the synthesis of efficient ph...
This study investigates the effects of hydrothermal treatment combined with acetic acid on the distribution of products in bio-oil obtained from grape seed pyrolysis. A Box-Behnken experimental design was employed, varying pH (2.0, 4.5, and 7.0), temperature (160, 180, and 200 °C), and flow rate (1, 2, and 3 mL·min⁻¹) to determine the hydrothermal...
The wood-based panel industry generates a significant amount of solid residues in its production activities, including medium-density fiberboard (MDF) molding manufacturing. These residues consist of fine fibers measuring between 0.15 mm and 1.19 mm in length. A large proportion of them currently needs to be utilized, mainly due to the problem of e...
Pinus radiata (PR) and Eucalyptus globulus (EG) are the most planted species in Chile. This research aims to evaluate the pyrolysis behaviour of PR and EG from the Bío Bío region in Chile. Biomass samples were subjected to microwave pretreatment considering power (259, 462, 595, and 700 W) and time (1, 2, 3, and 5 min). The maximum temperature reac...
The catalytic oxidation of phenethoxybenzene as a lignin model compound with a β-O-4 bond was conducted using the Keggin-type polyoxometalate nanocatalyst (TBA)5[PMo10V2O40]. The optimization of the process’s operational conditions was carried out using response surface methodology. The statistically significant variables in the process were determ...
Photoactive nanoparticles are used to reduce microbial colonization and self-clean surfaces of materials such as glass and ceramics. To test whether such an approach is feasible for wood surfaces, we treated radiata pine samples with TiO 2 (rutile and anatase) or ZnO nanoparticles and then coated the samples with different finishes. Coated samples...
In this work, chitin, as a biobased polymer, is used as a precursor to obtain a phosphorylated derivatives. The influence of the different degree of phosphorylation in chitin on pyrolysis pattern was investigated. In order to understand the pyrolysis mechanism and the potential application of phosphorylated chitins, the samples were pyrolyzed at di...
In this work, TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles of different sizes and crystallographic configuration were used to protect wood surfaces against UV radiation. The sizes and levels of photoactivity of the nanoparticles were measured in vitro by transmittance electron microscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and then they were impregnate...
The use of waste tires for producing valuable chemicals via fast pyrolysis necessarily involves the understanding and synthesis of catalysts. Therefore, here, a statistical-based screening of SiO2-supported metal catalysts (Ni, Pd, Co, and Fe) to produce limonene from waste tire pyrolysis (WTP) is presented. The response surface method (RSM) was in...
A series of tetrabutyl ammonium (TBA) salts of V-included Keggin-type polyoxoanions with W (TBA4PW11V1O40 and TBA5PW10V2O40) and Mo (TBA4PMo11V1O40 and TBA5PMo10V2O40) as addenda atoms were prepared using a hydrothermal method. These synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)...
Blueberry pruning waste (BPw), sourced as residues from agroforestry operations in Chile, was used to produce added-value products, including platform chemicals and materials. BPw fractionation was implemented using biobased solvents (γ-valerolactone, GVL) and pyrolysis (500 °C), yielding solid fractions that are rich in phenols and antioxidants. T...
Heterogeneous photocatalysis under visible light irradiation allows performing of selective oxofunctionalization of hydrocarbons at ambient temperature and pressure, using molecular oxygen as a sacrificial reagent and potential use of sunlight as a sustainable and low-cost energy source. In the present work, a photocatalytic material based on heter...
Thermophilic bacteria able to survive extreme temperature stress are of great biotechnological interest due to their extracellular production of bioactive molecules as a part of a survival strategy, or by intracellular modifications. In the present study, thermophilic Bacillus haynesii CamB6, isolated from a Chilean hot spring, was studied for the...
In this study, a novel method for calcium carbonate deposition in wood that increases carbon dioxide concentration and fire resistance is proposed. The method promoted the mineralization of radiata pine wood microstructure with calcium carbonate by using a process consisting in the vacuum impregnation of wood with a calcium chloride aqueous solutio...
Abstract
A statistical-based screening of Ni, Pd, Co and Fe supported catalysts for the production of limonene from waste tire pyrolysis (WTP) is presented. The Response Surface Method (RSM) was integrated to a principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the catalyst, and reaction conditions that maximizes the selectivity to limonene. The experi...
Fenton (F) and Fenton–like (FL) reactions can be amplified by dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs). These compounds chelate and reduce Fe(III), promoting hydroxyl radical production (•OH). The products or intermediaries of F and FL reactions driven by DHBs can produce chemiluminescence (CL) with different profiles, depending on the type of DHB involved. In thi...
Piscirickettsia salmonis is the etiological agent of piscirickettsiosis, the most prevalent disease in salmonid species in Chilean salmonids farms. Many bacteria produce N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as a quorum-sensing signal molecule to regulate gene expression in a cell density-dependent manner, and thus modulate physiological characteristic...
Phorate is a systemic insecticide used to eradicate mites, insects, and nematodes. Extensive use of this organophosphate has engendered severe environmental concerns. The current research aimed to explore the kinetic pathways of phorate biodegradation in aqueous solutions. Two novel bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PR1 (KP268772.1) a...
The coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2, appears as a major pandemic having adverse impact on public health and economic activities. Since viral replication in human enterocytes results in its faecal shedding, wastewater surveillance is an ideal, non-invasive, cost-effective...
The use of TiO2 nanoparticles for photoprotection comprise a side effect due to the photocatalysis of the nanoparticles under UV radiation. In this work we studied how the suppression of TiO2 photocatalytic activity may affect the production of phenoxy radicals and the color of wood surfaces exposed to UV radiation. The experimental work considered...
Metal catalysts based on Ni, Co, and Pd supported on SiO2 were evaluated in the catalytic pyrolysis of waste tires using pyrolysis experiments coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (TGA–FTIR) techniques. The effect of temperature and the nature...
Pesticides are chemicals that are meant to be effective against various pests and weeds that cause economic damage to various crop systems. They are also hazardous to the health of aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Moreover, pesticides have the tendency to leach out directly into the soil system and thus contaminate the quality of the surface and...
Discharging of industrial effluents directly into water bodies is a global concern for aquatic and terrestrial biota. Various methods like physical and chemical have been implemented so far, but these existing technologies are sometimes restricted of either technical or economic constraints or are expensive and unsustainable approaches. Bioremediat...
The herbicide glyphosate is widely used to control weeds in grain crops. The overuse of glyphosate has induced issues such as contamination of surface water, decreased soils fertility, adverse effects on soil microbiota and possible incorporation in food chains. Here we review biochemical, agricultural, microbiological and analytical aspects of gly...
The fast pyrolysis of waste tires (WTs) is studied by quasi-isothermal thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis, kinetic modelling and an analytical pyrolyzer coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The TGA demonstrated that the WTs pyrolysis is ruled by devolatilization/condensation and depropagation reactions, up to 482 °C. At highe...
Iron ligands as 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes (1,2-DHBs) have been used to increase the oxidizing ability of Fenton systems. However, these kinds of ligands become toxic quinones in the process creating an environmental problem since these compounds cannot be easily separated from a solution. To avoid this problem, in the present work, water-insoluble tann...
Fast pyrolysis of Radiata pine bark was carried out in pursuit of a renewable source of high-value chemicals. Bench-scale experiments of pine bark were performed in a fluidized bed reactor between 450-650 °C to provide information related to yield of liquid, solid and gas, respectively. The higher yield of pyrolysis-oil was achieved at 550 °C. The...
Fast pyrolysis of Radiata pine bark was carried out in pursuit of a renewable source of high-value chemicals. Bench-scale experiments of pine bark were performed in a fluidized bed reactor between 450-650 °C to provide information related to yield of liquid, solid and gas, respectively. The higher yield of pyrolysis-oil was achieved at 550 °C. The...
High-quality water is the most sought-after resource for human survival. Various natural and anthropogenic activities have contributed to groundwater pollution and have affected the quality of drinking water in the past few decades. Release of toxic effluents from the industrial sector is a major source of groundwater pollution. Different conventio...
A comprehensive study of carbon aerogel-supported nickel (Ni/CAG) in the catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of torrefied Eucalyptus globulus was performed in a micropyrolysis unit (Py-GCMS). Effects of pyrolysis temperatures (450–600 °C), catalyst-to-biomass ratio (1:1 < C-to-B < 10:1) and metal cluster sizes (9.6 < Dpi < 21) on upgrading reactions wer...
Nickel and iron supported on thermostable cellulose-derived carbon aerogels (CAG), were used for the catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) of crude and torrefied Eucalyptus globulus. Pyrolysis vapors produced from torrefied biomass under non-catalytic conditions were reduced by 70% in carboxylic acids with respect to vapors originating from crude biomass,...
Fractionation of bio-oil is an important step in the development of an effective upgrading strategy of bio-oil to transport fuels and chemicals as it reduces bio-oil complexity and side reactions; however, the strategy should preferably make use of all fractions. We therefore fractionated bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of pine wood using water additio...
En las últimas décadas, la presencia de contaminantes orgánicos en efluentes municipales e
industriales ha sido un problema de creciente consideración lo que ha llevado a la búsqueda de
métodos eficientes para el tratamiento de la contaminación ambiental abriendo el campo a la
investigación de nuevas tecnologías. Entre éstas, los llamados Procesos...
In this work, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV/RID) is applied to the simultaneous determination of acetic acid, formic acid, acetol, glyoxal, glycolaldehyde and levoglucosan in a by-product in an aqueous liquid phase that is produced by the Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) process and in an aqueous bio-oil phase, which comes from a...
In this work we show that catalytic oxidation of aqueous phase bio-oil with molecular oxygen and a Keggin-type polyoxometalate (H 5 PV 2 Mo 10 O 40) produces formic acid with high selectivity. Bio-oil was obtained from sawdust (pinus radiata, size of 1-3 mm, moisture content of 9.1% on dry-basis), in a fast pyrolysis pilot plant using a fluidized b...
In this work we made a modification of the conventional Fenton reaction for increase the hydroxyl radical production with a heterogeneous system employing hydrogen peroxide and a solid iron container with dihydroxybenzenes, as the literature indicates that amplify Fenton reaction. The measure of hydroxyl radical was made by Electron Paramagnetic Re...
Questions
Questions (2)
Dear all,
I am trying to optimize a collagen obtaining process from squid as raw material. We already study the effect of time, temperature and acid concentration.
We are using CH3COOH for an acid extraction for 36 h.
Te complete process is in first intance a washing with ethanol and afterwards a non-collagen proteins precipitation with NaOH.
After, the acid extraction it is neccesarily the neutralization of the solution and the precipitation of collagen (the titration was made with NaOH). The next step it is a centifugation step and a lyophilization. However, my yield it is not complete real because I am dragging Na as salt. However, the precipitate it is not complete powder is more like a gel, so If I try to wash it I lost a lot of sample and my yields only reach 3%.
Do you have any advice to help me to avoid this consequence and obtain a better purity in the collagen?
Thank you very much in advance!!
Romina
I'm looking a method for crystallization in hexane extracts for purification of high molecular weigh compounds like sterols...
Thank you in advance!!