2018Health5
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| Supervisor name and surname: Antonio Gil | Supervisor mail: |
Title of the research project: | |
Description of the research project: It is expected that in the next years the main cause of death, surpassing those produced by cancer, will be the presence of multiresistant bacteria to several families of antibiotic molecules (AMR). The appearance of these bacteria will be produced by the selective pressure exerted by the excessive presence of antibiotic molecules in all microbial ecosystems. This situation has been generated by the abuse of antibiotics in human medicine and environmental pollution derived from agricultural and livestock production. Thus, the largest sources of antibiotics to the environment and those most responsible for exposures to resistant bacteria due to their presence in food, waste and water are livestock farms, one of the most important engines of economic development in the Middle Valley of the Ebro, direct geographical scope of Campus Iberus. To study and propose solutions to this serious global problem requires a multidisciplinary aggregation and coordination that guarantees and improves environmental, animal and human health. This is the general objective of the NANOBACT group, to propose technologies to minimize the use of antibiotics as bactericides in animal and human medicine. Inclusive to propose new purification systems (Advanced Oxidation Processes, POAs) to treat surface waters containing antibiotics or their transformation products, metabolites. The aim is to establish new strategies for their control in food products and waters through the development of innovative technologies based on nano-micro materials inert to the bactericidal effects. Previous studies conducted by several researchers have shown the presence in the Ebro basin of a large number of antibiotic molecules in various aqueous ecosystems. Chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, erythromycin, josamycin, and also several sulfonamides have been detected. A large number of drugs and products of their degradation must be included. The general objective of the project is to minimize the presence of antibiotic molecules and drugs in surface water through adsorption and photocatalytic processes. The specific objectives are several: apply the porous materials that result from the recovery of waste generated by the company IDALSA and that are already being used at the Public University of Navarra. Study the mechanism of degradation of the selected molecules and determine the new products that appear through photocatalysis, work to be done at the University of La Rioja. A stay in Brazil, could allow to compare the results obtained with other materials that are used in the University of Franca | |
| PHD Programme: Doctorate in synthetic and industrial chemistry | |
Supervisor short biography: Antonio Gil is Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Sciences Department at the Public University of Navarra, Spain. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain. He has coauthored more than 350 book chapters, journal and conference papers related to adsorption, environmental catalysis and environmental technologies. Research interests: Evaluation of the porous and surface properties of solids; Clays; Gas adsorption; Energy storage; Pollutants adsorption; Environmental technologies; Environmental management; Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity of metal supported nanocatalysts. Industrial waste management and valorization. Research projects: Participation in 50 national or international research projects. Representative project: High shear processing of recycled aluminium scrap for manufacturing high performance aluminium alloys (FP7-ENV-2013-603577). Publications summary: Refereed publications: 169; Book chapters: 21; Other publications: 25; Conference papers: 267; Patents: 6; Ph.D. advised: 7; Co-editor of the books: Recent Research Developments in Environmental Technology (Transworld Research Network, 2008); Pillared Clays and Related Catalysts (Springer, 2010); Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) in Drinking Water Treatment (Springer, 2019). | |
Gross annual salary: 22.000-26.000 € | |
Working hours: | Dedication: |