The Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of the University of Cantabria was present at the congress ILSEPT – 4th International Conference on Ionic Liquids in Separation and Purification Technology, celebrated in Sitges (Spain) last September 8-11, 2019. Inmaculada Ortiz delivered the keynote “Polymer/ionic liquid composite membranes for complex gas separations” and presented the work “New ionic liquid copolymer membranes based on [HSO3-BVIm][TfO] with methyl methacrylate and fluorinated monomers for fuel cell applications”. Gabriel Zarca presented the oral communication “Composite Polymer/Ionic Liquid Membranes for the Recovery of High Global Warming Potential Fluorinated Refrigerants”. Daniel Gorri presented the work “Addition of IL to pervaporation membranes for improving the recovery of butanol”.

Angélica Quintriqueo, coming from the University of Santiago de Chile is currently developing a research stay at the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of the UC with the supervision of Dr. Eugenio Bringas. During her stay, from September to December 2019, she will work in the design of separation processes for the recovery of rare earths.

Misaki Sawa, from Yamaguchi University (Japan) is currently developing a research stay at the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of UC, for performing the master’s internship. During her stay, from September 3 – December 7, 2019, she will work under the supervision of Dr. María José Rivero. This stay is funded  by the Erasmus+ K107 International Credit Mobility, Project 2018‐1‐ES01‐KA107‐049471, for PhD. students internships. Moreover, she will work in the research activities of the european project X-MEM (EIG-Concert Japan), financed by the Agencia Estatal de investigación through APCIN 2018, coordinated by UC, PI: Nazely Diban.

Víctor Manuel Ortiz, Juan de la Cierva Researcher in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of the University of Cantabria, is currently performing a research stay in the group “Microfluidics for Chemistry and Life Sciences” in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the University of Hull (UK). During this 3 months period, Víctor is working on lab-on-a-chip technology for electrochemically-assisted production of metabolites, under the supervision of Prof. Nicole Pamme. This stay is funded by the Mobility Program “José Castillejo” and takes place within the framework of the fellowship Juan de la Cierva supervised by Prof. Inmaculada Ortiz.

Several members of the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department attended the XXXVI Spanish Chemical Engineering meeting, held in Zaragoza in September 4-6, 2019. Prof. Raquel Ibáñez participated in the presentation of the meeting. Prof. Inmaculada Ortiz delivered the plenary lecture “Retos de los procesos de separación en la sociedad del siglo XXI. Cristina González presented the work “Molecular design of lipid A – LBP interactions as a tool for sepsis control” and Jose Manuel Vadillo presented the work “Novel CO2 regeneration system from room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) in chemical absorption processes using hollow fibre membrane contactor”. Moreover, Cristina González received the award to the best oral presentation.

Estefanía Alonso, Master in Chemical Engineering, has joined the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department of the University of Cantabria, to work in the project “Reutilización de componentes estratégicos en el proceso de producción de negro de carbono”, PI:  Prof. Ane Urtiaga.

María Yáñez, researcher of the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department and involved in the european project PEMFC_SUDOE participated in the initiative “Humans of SUDOE” by recording a video about her experience in the project.

Pedro Díaz defended his doctral thesis “New process for the biotechnological production of lactic acid: Integration on membranes filtration technologies”, developed in the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department under the supervision of Prof. Raquel Ibáñez and Dr. Jose Antonio Otero. The academic event took place on July 30th, 2019 at 12:00h in the ETSIIT of the University of Cantabria and the evaluation committed was formed by Prof. Antonio Hernández Giménez (University of Valladolid), Dr. María Fresnedo San Román San Emeterio (University of Cantabria) and Dr. Ana Rodríguez González (Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias, IPLA-CSIC).

The members of the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department spent the day in Ajo in order to welcome summer. The day started with a hiking trail along the coast of Ajo Cape and after that all the participants had lunch together.

On July 22nd, the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department celebrated the 8 births that took place during the current academic year in the Department. During the celebration the parents received a small present for the babies from their Department’s colleagues.