Development of nanostructured carbon-based catalysts for photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into added-value fuels

Nowadays, energy shortages, carbon resource shortages, and global warming are the major challengs. The usage of photocatalysis to realize the conversion of CO2 into added-value fuels can alleviate the above problems. As a visible light photocatalyst without metal components, g-C3N4 has unique electronic structure, high catalytic activity, good chemical and thermal stability, which has caused wide attention. This article mainly summarized the basic properties and structure of g-C3N4. Besides, we introduced the commonly used preparation methods and modification methods of g-C3N4, and prospects the application of g-C3N4.<br /

Promoure la sostenibilitat en l'educació a partir de l'aproximació interactiva al professorat. Un primer intent a la UPC

Els dos Plans de Medi Ambient desenvolupats a la UPC durant els darrers anys (1996-2001 i 2002-2005) han posat l’accent en l’ambientalització curricular de les assignatures i en la seva avaluació posterior. Amb l’aprovació del Pla UPC Sostenible 2015,el Centre per a la Sostenibilitat ha optat per incentivar el debat al si de la UPC, analitzar quins reptes per a la innovació planteja el DS i com aquests afecten les nostres disciplines.Peer Reviewe

Ordered mesoporous silica monoliths: synthesis, preparation and potential applications

The work carried out was focused on the preparation of rigid porous silica monoliths, in order to investigate applications as controlled drug release matrices. All work was based on the hexagonally-ordered mesoporous SBA-15 materials, and monoliths were obtained by gel-casting procedures. SBA-15 powder was successfully synthesized and characterized using SEM and TEM imaging, nitrogen adsorption and small-angle X-ray diffraction. Synthesis yielded fibrous SBA-15 particles with diameters between 4,5 and 7,5µm and lengths between 75 and 105µm, and highly ordered cylindrical pores arranged in a hexagonal fashion with a diameter between 5,6 and 6,9 nm. Functionalization of SBA-15 powder was carried out using (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane as a functionalizing agent, in order to test functionalization effects on drug release, and to prepare more stable monoliths. Monoliths were prepared using gel-casting procedures; a suspension of polyacrylamide precursors and powder SBA-15 was centrifuged in a glass mold, and polymer hardening and further removal of the polymer template yielded stable monoliths exhibiting a bimodal pore structure confirmed by intrusion characterization. Macroscopic dimensions of the monoliths were 3mm in diameter and approximately 6 mm in length, with macropores around 3 µm and the characteristic mesopores of SBA-15. Monoliths were also functionalized using (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. Drug loading for drug delivery experiments was carried out by placing as-synthesized and functionalized SBA-15 powders and monoliths in direct contact with a solution of a model antibiotic, namely cefuroxime sodium salt. Functionalized powders yielded the highest loads, followed by unmodified powders, modified monoliths and with as-synthesized monoliths exhibiting the lowest loads. Drug release experiments were focused on release of cefuroxime from as-synthesized and amino-functionalized SBA-15 powders and monoliths. Monoliths exhibit an initial burst release that was attributed to antibiotic loaded in the macroporous reservoirs, while a more controlled release was obtained from the powder counterparts

Materiales bidimensionales semiconductores: aplicaciones en fotocatálisis

En el siguiente Trabajo de fin de grado se han desarrollado materiales semiconductores con el objetivo de mejorar la actividad fotocatalítica. Esto se ha estudiado en la reacción de hidrogenación del disulfuro de molibdeno (MoS2), que previamente se sintetiza por un método hidrotermal. Además, se ha llevado a cabo el dopaje de dicho material con metales (níquel y cobalto) a diferentes ratios y la heterounión con otro semiconductor mediante molienda mecánica de alta energía (ball milling). Por último, combinando ambas partes, se ha elijdo el ratio de metales más adecuado y el porcentaje de MoS2 óptimo para la heterounión y se ha realizado un estudio de la reacción de hidrogenación analizando si se ha conseguido mejorar la respuesta fotocatalítica.<br /

Desarrollo de nuevos sistemas de captura y recuperación de aerosoles nanoparticulados presentes en ambientes ocupacionales

El presente Trabajo Fin de Grado se enfoca en el desarrollo de sistemas de captura y recuperación de aerosoles nanoparticulados basados en captadores húmedos empleando sistemas de retención de chorro de líquido (“jet mixer”) para obtener una suspensión líquida de las nanopartículas presentes en la fase aerosol. El postratamiento mediante diferentes métodos servirá para la eliminación sin riesgos de nanomateriales potencialmente dañinos. Asimismo, el sistema permitirá la recuperación y reciclado de nanopartículas de alto valor añadido mediante procedimientos de recogida y estabilización de las suspensiones acuosas producidas. Con este objetivo, se ha diseñado un sistema que permite la aerosolización de materiales nanoparticulados (SiO2, TiO2, ZnO y Fe3O4) y su posterior captura en fase líquida mediante sistemas que ponen en contacto ambas fases. Se ha estudiado la eficacia de captura en función de la naturaleza y características de los nanomateriales, de las condiciones de operación, de la concentración de la corriente de recirculación, de la disposición del sistema de captura y de los métodos utilizados para generar el aerosol. Además se ha monitorizado la calidad del aire a la salida de sistema midiendo la concentración de partículas y su distribución de tamaños en fase aerosol, así como el empleo de técnicas avanzadas de análisis de nanomateriales (por ejemplo, DLS y TEM) para la caracterización de las suspensiones de partida, de los aerosoles y de las nanopartículas capturadas

Evaluation of the Spanish population coverage of a prospective HLA haplobank of induced pluripotent stem cells

Background: iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) banks of iPSC lines with homozygous HLA (human leukocyte antigen) haplotypes (haplobanks) are proposed as an affordable and off-the-shelf approach to allogeneic transplantation of iPSC derived cell therapies. Cord blood banks offer an extensive source of HLA-typed cells suitable for reprogramming to iPSC. Several initiatives worldwide have been undertaken to create national and international iPSC haplobanks that match a significant part of a population. Methods: To create an iPSC haplobank that serves the Spanish population (IPS-PANIA), we have searched the Spanish Bone Marrow Donor Registry (REDMO) to identify the most frequently estimated haplotypes. From the top ten donors identified, we estimated the population coverage using the criteria of zero mismatches in HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 with different stringencies: high resolution, low resolution, and beneficial mismatch. Results: We have calculated that ten cord blood units from homozygous donors stored at the Spanish cord blood banks can provide HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 matching for 28.23% of the population. Conclusion: We confirm the feasibility of using banked cord blood units to create an iPSC haplobank that will cover a significant percentage of the Spanish and international population for future advanced therapy replacement strategies

Silica Materials for Medical Applications

The two main applications of silica-based materials in medicine and biotechnology, i.e. for bone-repairing devices and for drug delivery systems, are presented and discussed. The influence of the structure and chemical composition in the final characteristics and properties of every silica-based material is also shown as a function of the both applications presented. The adequate combination of the synthesis techniques, template systems and additives leads to the development of materials that merge the bioactive behavior with the drug carrier ability. These systems could be excellent candidates as materials for the development of devices for tissue engineering

Promoure la sostenibilitat en l'educació a partir de l'aproximació interactiva al professorat. Un primer intent a la UPC

Els dos Plans de Medi Ambient desenvolupats a la UPC durant els darrers anys (1996-2001 i 2002-2005) han posat l’accent en l’ambientalització curricular de les assignatures i en la seva avaluació posterior. Amb l’aprovació del Pla UPC Sostenible 2015,el Centre per a la Sostenibilitat ha optat per incentivar el debat al si de la UPC, analitzar quins reptes per a la innovació planteja el DS i com aquests afecten les nostres disciplines.Peer Reviewe