News

SEM Micrograph of UPRM-5

(Version Español)

La Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos (USPTO, por sus siglas en inglés) ha aprobado a los doctores Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado y José N. Primera-Pedrozo la patente 8,440,166 titulada Método para la Síntesis de un Innovador Material  Adsorbente de Silicato de Titanio (UPRM-5). La misma será publicada el 14 de mayo de 2013.

Esta patente presenta un método que utiliza un agente director de estructura como plantilla para la síntesis de un  adsorbente de silicato de titanio flexible, llamado orgullosamente UPRM-5. El área superficial de este material, al igual que las dimensiones de sus poros, puede ser ajustada a través de tratamientos termales. Posibles aplicaciones de estos materiales incluyen la separación de gases, sensores y catálisis.

El Catedrático Hernández-Maldonado es director del Laboratorio de Síntesis de Adsorbentes Nanoporosos y Adsorción en el Departamento de Ingeniería Química en la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez. Dentro de muchos de sus logros desde enero del 2005, cuando se unió a nuestro departamento, este ha publicado sobre 50 artículos en revistas arbitradas, ha graduado 6 estudiantes doctorales y ha sometido cuatro (4) solicitudes de patentes adicionales en el último año. José N. Primera-Pedrozo defendió su trabajo de disertación doctoral exitosamente el pasado 26 de abril de 2013.

(English Version)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) approved doctors’ Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado y José N. Primera-Pedrozo patent 8,440,166 titled Method of Synthesizing a Novel Adsorbent Titanosilicate Material (UPRM-5). This patent will be published on May 14, 2013.

This patent presents a method of synthesizing a flexible titanosilicate material, proudly called UPRM-5, using a structure directing agent as a template. The material surface area as well as pore dimensions can be adjusted via thermal treatment. Potential applications of the material include separation of gases, sensors and catalysis.

Professor Arturo J. Hernández-Maldonado is director of the Nanoporous Sorbents Synthesis and Adsorption Laboratory (NSSAL) at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Amongst his many successes since joining the department in January 2005, he has published over 50 articles in peer reviewed journals, graduated six (6) PhD students, and has submitted an additional four (4) patent applications. José N. Primera-Pedrozo successfully defended his doctoral dissertation work this past April 26, 2013.

El pasado 28 de abril de 2013 el Departamento de Ingeniería Química reconoció a setenta y cinco (75) estudiantes subgraduados de honor, con 3.30 ó más de promedio general, candidatos a graduación en los próximos meses. La actividad tuvo lugar en el Mezzanine del Complejo Deportivo de la Universidad.  Los homenajeados estuvieron acompañados de sus padres y familiares.

También contó con la participación de la doctora Darnyd Ortiz, Decana de Asuntos Académicos del Recinto, y el doctor Manuel Jiménez, Decano Asociado de Asuntos Académicos del Colegio de Ingeniería en representación del Rector y Decano de Ingeniería, respectivamente,  los cuales reconocieron emotivamente a los festejados, familiares y profesores.

El doctor Aldo Acevedo, Director del Departamento, presento brevemente los logros de los estudiantes homenajeados y sobre la importancia de los exalumnos en mantener una conexión activa con el  departamento. Fallas imprevistas no permitieron proyectar la presentación efectivamente, por lo que la hemos incluiremos aquí (Preview Here presentacion).

Los fondos utilizados provinieron de donativos discrecionales de las compañías AirProducts, BASF Agricultural (Manati), Exxon e Eastman. Las encargadas de la organización de la actividad fueron Lourdes Fábregas, Consejera Académica, y Nora Rodríguez, Secretaria Administrativa.

Roberto Olayo Valles

Consejero: Dr. Carlos Rinaldi

 “Influence of Interparticle Magnetic Interactions on Heat Dissipation of Magnetic Nanoparticles and Magnetomicelles”

25 de abril de 2013, 2:30 pm

Sala de Conferencias, Departamento de Ingeniería Química

Liliana Polo Corrales

Consejero: Dr. Carlos Rinaldi

 “Magnetically and Thermally Responsive Nanoparticles

for Biomedical Applications”

26 de abril de 2013, 8:00 am

IC-200, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil

José N. Primera Pedrozo

Consejero: Dr. Arturo Hernández

“Flexible Titanium Silicate Porous Materials for Selective Carbon Dioxide”

26 de abril de 2013, 10:30 am

Sala de Conferencias, Departamento de Ingeniería Química

Omar J. García Ricard

Consejero: Dr. Arturo Hernández

 “Pillared-Laver Structured Nanoporous Coordination Polymers

for Carbon Dioxide Adsorption-based Applications”

29 de abril de 2013, 10:30 am

Sala de Conferencias, Departamento de Ingeniería Química 

Research Interests: Synthesis And Characterization Of Nanoporous Materials; Separation Via Adsorption

Could you tell us about your education?

I obtained my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. My Ph.D. degree is from the University of Michigan.

Could you tell us about your PhD dissertation?

My Ph.D. work focused on the synthesis, characterization and performance testing of pi-complexation porous adsorbents for desulfurization and denitrogenation of fuels at ambient conditions.

How would you explain the broader significance of your research?

My current research focuses on the bottom-up design of porous (micro- and meso-) adsorbents for bulk and deep purification applications, including CO2 capture, natural gas processing and water treatment. The materials are designed to tackle challenges pertaining to life support systems in space missions, ultrapurification of gas energy sources and emissions, and removal of emerging contaminants from water.

What is the cutting edge in your field and how does your work extend it?

Adsorption, as a fundamental science, reached maturity a few decades ago. Today, the focus is how to make adsorbent materials with superior chemical and textural properties. During the last decade my group has (1) developed materials that synergistically exploit size-exclusion principles and a strong electrostatic surface potential to produce regenerable adsorbents that can remove CO2 to deep levels with minimal energy requirements, (2) synthesized materials that allow pore size tailoring without compromising working capacity and (3) studied third generation inorganic-organic frameworks for gas capture and storage. We are constantly aiming at changing the paradigms in adsorption-based applications.

What facilities do you have to carry out your research?

Our UPRM facilities are equipped the latest instrumentation for synthesis and characterization of nanoporous materials. This includes advanced microwave-assisted heating synthesis and several forced convection systems fitted with high-pressure vessels. Characterization of the materials is performed using, for example, a high performance X-ray diffractometer, a scanning X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, liquid nitrogen porosimetry and zeta potential. We also rely on existing collaborations with key laboratories in the mainland to perform tests that complement ours. Magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) measurements, for example, are carried out using the facilities of National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. Our research infrastructure allows us to pinpoint aspects of the materials at the atomic level, allowing us to observe and modify things at unprecedented levels.

In what journals do you publish your research?

Please visit: http://academic.uprm.edu/arturojh/Papers.html

Please list your top 3 publications.

Well, "top" is a relative thing. So I would prefer to leave that assessment to the reader!

How do you involve graduate or undergraduate students in your research?

My research grads and undergrads are at the heart of what we do. So the answer to this question is: they get involved in every aspect of my research work.

Contact info of Prof. Arturo Hernández

Email: arturoj.hernandez@upr.edu

Website: http://academic.uprm.edu/arturojh/