Verónica B. Rajal

Bio: Verónica B. Rajal is an academic researcher from National Scientific and Technical Research Council. The author has contributed to research in topics: Freundlich equation & Adsorption. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 53 citations. Previous affiliations of Verónica B. Rajal include National University of Salta.

Parasitosis intestinales en Argentina: principales agentes causales encontrados en la población y en el ambiente

Abstract: Fil: Juarez, Maria Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico - CONICET - Salta. Instituto de Invest.para la Industria Quimica (i); Argentina;

Properties of polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes modified with polyethylene glycols

Abstract: Fil: Mendez, Mercedes Liliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Salta. Instituto de Investigacion Para la Industria Quimica (i); Argentina

Virus removal by iron oxide ceramic membranes

Abstract: Nanoporous iron oxide ceramics were studied for the removal of virus contamination from water. Supported and unsupported iron oxide nanostructured hematite was fabricated by a green chemistry route from ferroxane nanoparticles. The material had a surface area of approximately 30 m 2 /g and a mean pore size of 65 nm. Bacteriophage P22 was chosen as a model for human virus. The kinetics and equilibrium of the attachment process was investigated. P22 adsorption isotherms on iron oxide were described by the Freundlich equation. Batch experiments resulted in 1.5 LRVs. Removal proceeded rapidly for the first 7 h; next, a diffusion-limited stage occurred. Dynamic attachment experiments demanded extensive recirculation to achieve significant reduction levels. Up to 3 LRV were observed. The enhanced performance can be explained by the higher iron oxide area available and the facilitated access to inner porosity sites that were previously unavailable due to slow diffusion. The role of electrostatic interactions in the attachment mechanisms was confirmed by the dependence of the isotherm on the ionic strength of the suspension medium. P22 bacteriophage is expected to attach to the iron oxide by electrostatic forces up to a pH of 6.5. DLVO theory predicts moderately well the interaction energies between P22 particles themselves and between the phage and the ceramic. However, a slight underestimation of the P22–P22 repulsive forces was evident by comparison to the experimental data.

Increasing Capacity for Environmental Engineering in Salta, Argentina

Abstract: Background The Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the United States National Institutes of Health includes the International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (ITREOH) Program. The “International Training Program in Environmental Toxicology and Public Health” Center, funded in 2002 is based at the University of California, Davis, and is part of the ITREOH group of Centers. It has major efforts focused at the public universities in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Salta, Argentina. Results Training and research efforts in Salta begun in 2005 in the College of Engineering. A donated used real-time PCR machine was the starting point and the initial FIC support was instrumental to face other problems including physical space, research projects and grants, trainees, training, networking, and distractions/opportunities in order to develop local capacities in Environmental Engineering using modern methodology. After 6 years of successful work, the Salta center has become a reference Center in the field, and is still growing and consolidating. Conclusions This program has had a significant impact locally and regionally. The model used in Argentina could be easily adapted to other fields or types of projects in Argentina and in other developing countries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:11–19, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Modified polyether-sulfone membrane: a mini review.

Abstract: Polyethersulfone has been widely used as a promising material in medical applications and waste-treatment membranes since it provides excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Hydrophobicity of polyethersulfone is considered one main disadvantage of using this material because hydrophobic surface causes biofouling effects to the membrane which is always thought to be a serious limitation to the use of polyethersulfone in membrane technology. Chemical modification to the material is a promising solution to this problem. More specifically surface modification is an excellent technique to introduce hydrophilic properties and functional groups to the polyethersulfone membrane surface. This review covers chemical modifications of the polyethersulfone and covers different methods used to enhance the hydrophilicity of polyethersulfone membrane. In particular, the addition of amino functional groups to polyethersulfone is used as a fundamental method either to introduce hydrophilic properties or introduce nanomaterials to the surface of polyethersulfone membrane. This work reviews also previous research reports explored the use of amino functionalized polyethersulfone with different nanomaterials to induce biological activity and reduce fouling effects of the fabricated membrane.

Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment.

Abstract: This paper provides a review of the treatment technologies, which utilize natural processes or passive components in wastewater treatment. In particular, this paper primarily focuses on wetland systems and their applications in wastewater treatment (as an advanced treatment unit or decentralized system), nutrient and pollutant removal (single and multiple pollutants, and metals), and emerging pollutant removal (pharmaceuticals). A summary of studies involving the plant (vegetation) effects, wetland design and modeling, hybrid and innovative systems, storm water treatment and pathogen removal is also included.

Polyethylene glycol and iron oxide nanoparticles blended polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membrane for enhanced performance in dye removal studies

Abstract: Abstract Ultrafiltration (UF) is one of the most widely used membrane technologies for the effective separation of macromolecules in feed solutions. However, despite good separation efficiency, the UF membranes made up of pure polymers suffer to a greater extent because of low flux problem, which affects the process time and load. To handle this limitation, the base polymer is blended with a suitable additive to modify the structural and surface morphology of the membrane to provide better fluxes. In this current study, a series of polyethersulfone (PES) UF asymmetric membranes blended with polyethylene glycol and iron oxide nanoparticles was prepared using the phase inversion technique. Prepared membranes were analyzed for their morphology, thermal stability, and membrane characterization. Morphology studies using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirmed the increase in the number of pores, pore size in support layer, and surface roughness in the blended membranes, ensuring the chances of enhanced flux. Surface hydrophilicity was increased with the increase in the iron oxide concentration in the composite membranes. Thermal analysis studies showed the better thermal stability of the blended membranes. Pure water flux of the prepared composite membranes was improved to a maximum of four times in comparison with pure PES membrane. Dye rejection studies clearly showed that the blended membranes almost had the same rejection as that of pure PES membrane. Thus, the prepared PES composite UF membrane is a promising candidate for the treatment of dye-polluted wastewater, ensuring high fluxes and effective rejection.