Probing the catalytic activity of sulfate-derived Pristine and post-treated porous TiO2(101) anatase mesocrystals by the oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophenes

Mesocrystals (basically nanostructures showing alignment of nanocrystals well beyond crystal size) are attracting considerable attention for modeling and optimization of functionalities. However, for surface-driven applications (heterogeneous catalysis), only those mesocrystals with excellent textural properties are expected to fulfill their potential. This is especially true for oxidative desulfuration of dibenzothiophenes (hard to desulfurize organosulfur compounds found in fossil fuels). Here, we probe the catalytic activity of anatases for the oxidative desulfuration of dibenzothiophenes under atmospheric pressure and mild temperatures. Specifically, for this study, we have taken advantage of the high stability of the (101) anatase surface to obtain a variety of uniform colloidal mesocrystals (approximately 50 nm) with adequate orientational order and good textural properties (pores around 3-4 nm and surface areas around 200 m2/g). Ultimately, this stability has allowed us to compare the catalytic activity of anatases that expose a high number of aligned single crystal-like surfaces while differing in controllable surface characteristics. Thus, we have established that the type of tetrahedral coordination observed in these anatase mesocrystals is not essential for oxidative desulfuration and that both elimination of sulfates and good textural properties significantly improve the catalytic activity. Furthermore, the most active mesocrystals have been used to model the catalytic reaction in three-(oil-solvent-catalyst) and two-phase (solvent-catalyst) systems. Thus, we have been able to observe that the transfer of DBT from the oil to the solvent phase partially limits the oxidative process and to estimate an apparent activation energy for the oxidative desulfuration reaction of approximately 40 kJ/mol in the two-phase system to avoid mass transfer limitations. Our results clearly establish that (101) anatase mesocrystals with excellent textural properties show adequate stability to withstand several post-treatments without losing their initial mesocrystalline character and therefore could serve as models for catalytic processes different from the one studied here.Fil: Rivoira, Lorena Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Falcon, Horacio. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Beltramone, Andrea Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Córdoba. Centro de Investigación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Campos-Martin, Jose M.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: García Fierro, José Luis. Instituto de Catalisis y Petroleoquimica-csic; EspañaFil: Tartaj, Pedro. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica; Españ

Rational Design and Synthesis of Efficient Sunscreens to Boost the Solar Protection Factor

Skin cancer incidence has been increasing in the last decades, but most of the commercial formulations used as sunscreens are designed to protect only against solar erythema. Many of the active components present in sunscreens show critical weaknesses, such as low stability and toxicity. Thus, the development of more efficient components is an urgent health necessity and an attractive industrial target. We have rationally designed core moieties with increased photoprotective capacities and a new energy dissipation mechanism. Using these scaffolds, we have synthesized a series of compounds with tunable properties suitable for their use in sunscreens, and enhanced properties in terms of stability, light energy dissipation, and toxicity. Moreover, some representative compounds were included in final sunscreen formulations and a relevant solar protection factor boost was measured

Tres semanas de docencia virtual en la Universidad de Murcia (II): Fisioterapia, Odontología, Cirugía y Fisiología.

Presentamos un resumen de las actividades que algunos de los profesores de la Facultad de Medicina de Murcia han llevado a cabo durante las 3 semanas previas a las vacaciones de primavera. En éstas, la docencia presencial tuvo que ser sustituída por actividades en línea o virtuales, a causa de la implantación del estado de alarma en España, que motivó el cierre completo de las Universidades desde el 13 de marzo de 2020. Las experiencias son de Fisioterapia, Odontología Pediátrica, Fundamentos de Cirugía y Fisiología

Reconstruction of global solar radiation time series from 1933 to 2013 at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory

This paper presents the reconstruction of the 80-year time series of daily global solar radiation (GSR) at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO) located in Tenerife (The Canary Islands, Spain). For this purpose, we combine GSR estimates from sunshine duration (SD) data using the Ångström–Prescott method over the 1933/1991 period, and GSR observations directly performed by pyranometers between 1992 and 2013. Since GSR measurements have been used as a reference, a strict quality control has been applied based on principles of physical limits and comparison with LibRadtran model. By comparing with high quality GSR measurements, the precision and consistency over time of GSR estimations from SD data have been successfully documented. We obtain an overall root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.2% and an agreement between the variances of GSR estimations and GSR measurements within 92%. Nonetheless, this agreement significantly increases when the GSR estimation is done considering different daily fractions of clear sky (FCS).Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) for projects CGL2011-23413, CGL2012-33576 and CGL2012-37505 is acknowledged

Long-term in global solar radiation at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory from 1933-2013

Póster elaborado para el 13th BSRN Scientific Review and Workshop celebrado en Bolonia del 9-12 de septiembre de 201

Long-term recovering of global solar radiation from 1993 to 2013 at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory [Póster]

Póster elaborado para el International Symposium CLIMA-ES 2015 celebrado en Tortosa, Spain, los días 11-13 March 2015.Solar radiation controls the energy radiative balance in the Earth and, thus, our weather and climate. For this reason, its study has been one of the main objectives of the research community during the last decades. Recently, the focus is on evaluating long-term trends of solar radiation reaching the Earth‟s surface as well as on identifying the variability driven by the climate change. Observational evidences of changes on global solar radiation (GSR) trends have already been reported at a global scale. In this context, the goal of this work is to perform a reconstruction of the GSR time series between 1933 and 2013 at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZA) located in Tenerife (28.3°N, 16.5°W, 2373 m a.s.l., Spain). For this purpose, we combine GSR estimates from sunshine duration (SD) data using the Ångström–Prescott method over the 1933/1991 period, and GSR observations directly performed by different pyranometers between 1992 and 2013.This work was developed under the Specific Agreement of Collaboration between the Meteorological State Agency (AEMET) of Spain and the University of Valladolid. Financial supports from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) for projects CGL2011-23413, CGL2012-33576 and CGL2012-37505 are gratefully acknowledged

Aerosol optical depth retrievals at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory from 1941 to 2013 by using artificial neural networks

This paper presents the reconstruction of a 73-year time series of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO) located in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). For this purpose, we have combined AOD estimates from artificial neural networks (ANNs) from 1941 to 2001 and AOD measurements directly obtained with a Precision Filter Radiometer (PFR) between 2003 and 2013. The analysis is limited to summer months (July–August–September), when the largest aerosol load is observed at IZO (Saharan mineral dust particles). The ANN AOD time series has been comprehensively validated against coincident AOD measurements performed with a solar spectrometer Mark-I (1984–2009) and AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) CIMEL photometers (2004–2009) at IZO, obtaining a rather good agreement on a daily basis: Pearson coefficient, R, of 0.97 between AERONET and ANN AOD, and 0.93 between Mark-I and ANN AOD estimates. In addition, we have analysed the long-term consistency between ANN AOD time series and long-term meteorological records identifying Saharan mineral dust events at IZO (synoptical observations and local wind records). Both analyses provide consistent results, with correlations  >  85 %. Therefore, we can conclude that the reconstructed AOD time series captures well the AOD variations and dust-laden Saharan air mass outbreaks on short-term and long-term timescales and, thus, it is suitable to be used in climate analysis.The AERONET Cimel sun photometer at Izaña has been calibrated by AERONET-EUROPE Calibration Service, financed by the Aerosol Cloud and TRace gas InfraStructure (ACTRIS) European Research Infrastructure Action (FP7/2007-2013 no. 262254). Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) for project CGL2012-33576 is gratefully acknowledged

Aerosol optical depth retrieval at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory from 1941 to 2013 by using artificial neural networks [Póster]

Póster elaborado para el International Symposium CLIMA-ES 2015, Tortosa, Spain, 11-13 March 2015.A 73-year time series of the daily aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm has been reconstructed from 1941 to 2013 at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW) Observatory (IZO) located in Tenerife Island (The Canary Islands, Spain ; 28º 18’ N, 16º 29’W, 2.367 ma.s.l) For this purpose, we have combined AOD estimates from Artificial Neuronal Networks (ANNs) from 1941 to 2001, and AOD measurements directly performed with Precision Filter Radiometer (PFR) between 2003 and 2013. Theanalysis is limited to cloud-free conditions (Oktas=0) and to the summer season (JAS), where the largest aerosol load is observed at IZO (Saharan mineral dust particles). In order to account for the observed AOD inter-annual/decadal variations, we have done a preliminary study about the relationship between AOD time series and the large-scale climatic indexes, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), obtaining a significant anti-correlation.This work was developed under the Specific Agreement of Collaboration between the Meteorological State Agency (AEMET)of Spain and the University of Valladolid. Financial supports from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO)and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER)forprojectsCGL2011-23413,CGL2012-33576andCGL2012-37505 are gratefully acknowledged

Aerosol optical depth retrievals at the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory from 1941 to 2013 by using artificial neural networks [Discussion paper]

This paper presents the reconstruction of a 73-year time series of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm at the subtropical high-mountain Izaña Atmospheric Observatory (IZO) located in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). For this purpose, we have combined AOD estimates from artificial neural networks (ANNs) from 1941 to 2001 and AOD measurements directly obtained with a Precision Filter Radiometer (PFR) between 2003 and 2013. The analysis is limited to summer months (July–August–September), when the largest aerosol load is observed at IZO (Saharan mineral dust particles). The ANN AOD time series has been comprehensively validated against coincident AOD measurements performed with a solar spectrometer Mark-I (1984–2009) and AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) CIMEL photometers (2004–2009) at IZO, obtaining a rather good agreement on a daily basis: Pearson coefficient, R, of 0.97 between AERONET and ANN AOD, and 0.93 between Mark-I and ANN AOD estimates. In addition, we have analysed the long-term consistency between ANN AOD time series and long-term meteorological records identifying Saharan mineral dust events at IZO (synoptical observations and local wind records). Both analyses provide consistent results, with correlations  >  85 %. Therefore, we can conclude that the reconstructed AOD time series captures well the AOD variations and dust-laden Saharan air mass outbreaks on short-term and long-term timescales and, thus, it is suitable to be used in climate analysis.The AERONET Cimel sun photometer at Izaña has been calibrated by AERONET-EUROPE Calibration Service, financed by the Aerosol Cloud and TRace gas InfraStructure (ACTRIS) European Research Infrastructure Action (FP7/2007-2013 no. 262254). Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) and from the “Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional” (FEDER) for project CGL2012-33576 is gratefully acknowledged