ICIR Euroinvent 2024

Camilo ZAMORA-LEDEZMA

 Professor PhD
Universidad Católica de Murcia, Spain

He is an experimental physicist. He obtained his PhD in the framework of a cotutelle with the Université de Montpellier (France) and the Universidad Central de Venezuela (Venezuela). He have been doing teaching and research at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, at the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, at Polytech in Montpellier (France), at Université de Bordeaux (France) and at Yachay Tech University (Ecuador). Since 2018, he has been an invited researcher at the research group “Propiedades Mecánicas, Procesado y Modelización de Cerámicas Avanzadas” of the Universidad de Sevilla (Spain). Since 2021, he joined the Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition of the Universidad Católica de Murcia (Spain), as full-time Researcher/Teaching and Research Staff (PDI) in the research group “Green and Innovative Technologies for Food, Environment and Bioengineering”. His research activities are mainly focused on the synthesis of tailored organic/inorganic nanomaterials and biomaterials based on nanocarbon and nanoparticles. He also has broad experiences in experimental techniques of characterizations of materials such as Raman, UV-vis, FTIR, and XPS spectroscopies, electron microscopies as well as characterization of the mechanical properties and the nano/microstructure of materials. He directed various undergraduate and doctoral thesis and co-authored more than forty-five (45) articles and book chapters related to materials science, nanomaterials, and biomaterials. Finally, he has been a principal investigator and collaborator researcher in more than 12 national, European and international competitive projects.

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INNOVATIVE SURFACE TREATMENTS FOR BIOMIMETIC ALUMINA SCAFFOLDS IN BONE REGENERATION

In the intricate domain of biomaterials, ceramics emerge as promising long last alternatives in clinical applications, unyielding, yet remarkably adaptable. Among these, alumina ceramics stand as profound potential. Composed primarily of aluminum oxide, these ceramics have captivated the imaginations of researchers and clinicians alike. In this talk, we will present recent research that introduces a novel procedure for the bioactivation of alumina-based porous ceramic constructs, specifically designed to mimic the structural and mechanical properties of human cortical bone [1]. By incorporating wollastonite and applying an acidic surface treatment (piranha solution), we achieved constructs with adequate pore size and interconnectivity. Uniaxial compression tests revealed that as the wollastonite content increased, the Young’s moduli and compressive strength decreased. Importantly, our study demonstrated that increasing wollastonite content significantly enhanced the proliferation rates of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, without any observed cytotoxic effects. These findings position our bioactivated alumina-based porous ceramics as promising materials for practical bone tissue engineering applications.

Radu Claudiu FIERĂSCU

 Senior Researcher PhD
National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry – ICECHIM Bucharest, ROMANIA

Alumni of the University of Bucharest, Dr. Fierăscu has been active since 2006 within ICECHIM Bucharest. He is currently senior researcher and Technical Director of ICECHIM. Since 2023 he serves as President of the Scientific Council of ICECHIM for a four years mandate. Since 2019 he is also PhD supervisor within the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Chemical Engineering field. He led, as project manager/partner responsible several RDI projects, with a total value over 10 million euros, being main author/co-author of more than 170 ISI papers (H-index– 26), having more than 2100 citations, author/co-author of more than 20 books/book chapters and over 30 granted patents & patent applications. His scientific research activity was carried out in the development of new materials and technologies with applications in increasing the quality of life (including environmental protection, preservation of cultural heritage and biomedical applications). At national level, he developed the field of phytosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles, establishing in 2018 in ICECHIM the research group Emerging Nanotechnologies. 

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DEVELOPMENT OF APATITIC NANOMATERIALS FOR INCREASING THE QUALITY OF LIFE

The research focuses on the development of new apatitic nanomaterials with practical application in increasing the quality of life. For more than a decade, our group proposed, in different research projects, the application of tuned-properties apatitic materials in different areas, intended for increasing the quality of life. As such, different types of materials and composites were developed and their potential use in the protection of cultural heritage artifacts, in the development of antimicrobial composites or in environmental protection (particularly for water treatment) was evaluated. In time, the technology readiness levels of the proposed solutions was increased, reaching pilot-scale demonstrators, or even real-life application. All the obtained results demonstrate the tremendous potential of this type of materials to be used in daily applications, as well as their versatility for different types of applicaiton..

Mohamad Anuar KAMARUDDIN

Associate Professor PhD
Environmental Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr. Anuar, is lecturer at the School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, boasts extensive experience in research and environmental consultancy within diverse sectors, including industries, institutions, and government agencies. Specializing in scheduled waste management and solid waste management, he has provided his expertise to a wide range of organizations. Dr. Anuar’s proficiency is acknowledged in environmental management compliance, encompassing environmental audit, monitoring, impact assessment, management, and due diligence. He has actively participated in technical seminars and academic conferences, presenting his research findings. With over 40 peer-reviewed journal publications at the international level, Dr. Anuar is currently engaged as a subject matter expert in municipal solid waste management treatment, waste-to-wealth technologies, and waste diversion initiatives.

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WASTE TO ENERGY: A NEW APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT

The exponential increase in greenhouse gas emissions associated with municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in recent decades is primarily attributed to the heavy reliance on conventional landfilling methods. This trend correlates closely with ever increasing population growth and shifts in human lifestyles. Conventional landfilling requires significant land area for landfill cells, leading to the release of untreated leachate into nearby water bodies and unsustainable emissions of landfill gases. Therefore, transitioning to cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable waste treatment technologies is advisable. Currently, gasification, incineration, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion are the most prominent waste treatment methods globally. However, their effectiveness varies depending on the waste composition and quality, making it challenging for end-users to fully grasp their efficacy. To address this issue, it is crucial to establish high-tech waste-to-energy facilities that can meet specific waste compositions of the local area. However, identifying revenue streams for these technologies is challenging for the return of investment and the need to comply with strict local regulations, resulting in increased operational costs. Thus, stakeholders must carefully evaluate the optimal waste treatment approach. In tropical climates, a significant portion of MSW comprises organic matter, primarily from food waste, accounting for up to 45% of total waste components. Additionally, it is estimated that over 25% of recyclable materials are improperly disposed of in landfills, reducing their intended lifespan. Therefore, employing advanced technology for the pre-treatment of both organic and inorganic MSW components is recommended.