Person:
Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia

Birth Date

1979-02-18

ORCID

0000-0001-8278-5873

Scopus Author ID

57915653200

Afiliación

Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
Universidad de Cuenca, Departamento de Biociencias, Cuenca, Ecuador
Universidad de Cuenca, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Cuenca, Ecuador
Universidad de Cuenca, Departamento de Recursos Hídricos y Ciencias Ambientales, Cuenca, Ecuador

País

Ecuador

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Facultad de Ciencias Químicas

Fundada en 1955 como la Escuela de Química Industrial, la facultad ha sido un pilar fundamental en la formación de profesionales altamente capacitados, comprometidos con el desarrollo de la ciencia, la educación y el bienestar social. La Facultad de Ciencias Químicas pone a consideración su trabajo académico, investigativo y de vinculación con la sociedad, desarrollado a través de la práctica de una docencia de calidad, investigación e innovación en su área de estudio. Desde su oficio de conocimiento se permite contribuir a la sociedad con cuatro carreras: Bioquímica y Farmacia, Ingeniería Química, Ingeniería Ambiental e Ingeniería Industrial. Su carta de presentación en la Academia, la coloca como una dependencia dinámica, donde confluye la solidez de una trayectoria de más de sesenta años. Aquí se trabaja en una continua formación de pregrado y posgrado de la más alta calidad, mediante la mejora continua con la innovación y a la vanguardia de las ciencias químicas.

Job Title

Profesor (T)

Last Name

Pinos Vélez

First Name

Verónica Patricia

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 31

Design and development of a catalytic fixed-bed reactor for gasification of banana biomass in hydrogen production
(2022) Tacuri Sarmiento, Diego Mauricio; Andrade Herrera, Christian Javier; Álvarez Lloret, Edgar Paúl; Abril González, Mónica Fernanda; Salamea Piedra, Teresita Silvana; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Jara Cobos, Lourdes Elizabeth; Montero Izquierdo, Iván Andrés
Hydrogen produced from biomass is an alternative energy source to fossil fuels. In this study, hydrogen production by gasification of the banana plant is proposed. A fixed-bed catalytic reactor was designed considering fluidization conditions and a height/diameter ratio of 3/1. Experimentation was carried out under the following conditions: 368 °C, atmospheric pressure, 11.75 g of residual mass of the banana (pseudo-stem), an average particle diameter of 1.84 mm, and superheated water vapor as a gasifying agent. Gasification reactions were performed using a catalyzed and uncatalyzed medium to compare the effectiveness of each case. The catalyst was Ni/Al2O3, synthesized by coprecipitation. The gas mixture produced from the reaction was continuously condensed to form a two-phase liquid–gas system. The synthesis gas was passed through a silica gel filter and analyzed online by gas chromatography. To conclude, the results of this study show production of 178 mg of synthesis gas for every 1 g of biomass and the selectivity of hydrogen to be 51.8 mol% when a Ni 2.5% w/w catalyst was used. The amount of CO2 was halved, and CO was reduced from 3.87% to 0% in molar percentage. Lastly, a simulation of the distribution of temperatures inside the furnace was developed; the modeled behavior is in agreement with experimental observations.
Biodiesel Production by Transesterification of Recycled Oil Catalyzed with Zinc Oxide Prepared Starting from Used Batteries
(2023) Seminario Calle, Doménica Paulina; Álvarez Lloret, Edgar Paúl; Duque Sarango, Paola Jackeline; Cisneros Ramos, Juan Fernando; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Ortega Maldonado, Melissa Isabel; Echeverria Paredes, Paulina Alejandra; Montero Izquierdo, Iván Andrés
The consumption of batteries and cooking oil have been increasing. Most used batteries are disposed of incorrectly, leading to health and environmental problems because of their composition. In a similar form, cooking oil, once used, is often released by the discharge reaching the wastewater, polluting soil, and water, which affects its treatment. In Ecuador, these environmental passives are recollected and stored without further treatment, which is a temporary and unsustainable solution. To address this issue, the circular economy concept has gained increasing attention. In this study, zinc oxide was prepared from discarded batteries using the hydrometallurgical method to use as a catalyst; it achieved 98.49% purity and 56.20% yield and 20.92% of particles presented a particle size of 1–10 nm. Furthermore, the catalyst morphology was investigated in an SEM, which showed that particle size ranged from 155.69 up to 490.15 nm and spherical shapes. Due to its characteristics, the obtained catalyst can be used in the industry instead of the zinc oxide obtained by mining processes. These processes are known to produce heavy contamination in the ecosystems and human health. Additionally, a zinc oxide lifecycle in the environment was analyzed through a material flow analysis (MFA), taking into consideration two paths, one assuming the disposal of used batteries and the other assuming the recycling of zinc. Biodiesel was produced with a heterogeneous catalyst. This took place with a transesterification reaction with used cooking oil, ethanol, and zinc oxide (ZnO) as catalysts. The biodiesel obtained had the following characteristics: 37.55 kJg−1 of heating power, 0.892 gcm−3 of density, 4.189 mm2/s of viscosity, 0.001% of water content, and a 70.91% yield. Furthermore, the energy consumption in biodiesel production was quantified, giving a total of 37.15 kWh. This kind of initiative prevents that waste from becoming environmental pollutants and potential health risks by giving them a second use as a resource. Moreover, turning waste into a valuable product makes the processes self-sustaining and attractive to be implemented.
Experiences in the application of the flipped learning model in a music technology course
(2019) Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Quinde Herrera, Karina Sandra; Urgilés Cárdenas, José Eduardo; Carrión Andrade, Galo Bernardo; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia
The increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) modified many tasks and strongly altered our behaviors. Having this in mind, the Flipped Learning (FL) model provides a promising learning alternative that links the learning environment with the student’s behavior while altering the traditional instruction model. The FL model involves activities in which students individually review online materials and develop projects and assignments in groups and on-site. The objective of this study was to evaluate the flipped learning model in arts education, more precisely how the introduction of this model affects the learning of the students from the University of Cuenca attending the course of music technology. The findings of this study highlighted the benefits of active learning and the acceptance of the material developed for the implementation of the FL model. Notwithstanding, the overall positive evaluation of the FL approach, the authors suggest carrying out more studies, involving a larger student population, to better identify and remedy remaining obstacles, what will facilitate the use of the FL model in other courses.
Designing the pre-class and class to implement the flipped learning model in a research methodology course
(2020) Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Quinde Herrera, Karina Sandra; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Moscoso Orellana, Blasco Danilo; Carrión Álvarez, Galo Iván; Urgilés Cárdenas, José Eduardo; Carrión Andrade, Galo Bernardo
The use of new technologies in university education is indispensable for promoting the autonomous work and motivation of a new generation of students who use technology frequently and skillfully. For these reasons, integrated technology into teaching-learning processes is needed. Our study focused on the implementation of the Flipped Learning model (FL) in the Research Methodology course. The content and the activities for the pre-class and class were designed to develop the skills and competencies in the students and to propose a research design. For the first execution, open-access videos were used. After analyzing the first execution, the results showed the need to make personal videos, that include the exact content, making them more attractive for the students as well as to use strategies to ensure that the students prepare the pre-class appropriately. In conclusion, the model encourages students to include technologies as learning tools, adapt their schedules to take better advantage of classes, and apply the knowledge taught in videos to their classwork.
Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Regulatory Authorities, Parents, and School Canteen Owners in the South of Ecuador about the Challenges and Facilities Related to Compliance with the National Regulation for School Canteens
(2023) Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Cabrera Ledesma, María Belén
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Ecuadorian school population continues to increase. An important factor in children's nutrition is the food offered in school canteens. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of the challenges faced by and facilities of school canteens in the provinces of southern Ecuador in terms of complying with national regulations. For this qualitative descriptive study, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021 with six school canteen owners, six school directors, five health experts, and seven parents of children attending school from three provinces, Cañar, Azuay, and Morona Santiago, in Ecuador. The data were transcribed and subsequently analyzed in ATLAS ti. The participants indicated several challenges to comply with the regulations of school canteens, such as the expenses generated by them, the lack of control of street food vendors in the surroundings of the schools, and the lack of trained personnel. Regarding the facilities, they highlighted that the regulation for cleaning and hygiene are more easily fulfilled. Standards and control of the food stipend in school canteens are required to ensure a supply of healthy food for the children. Multiple challenges and strategies are proposed to improve the eating habits of the school population and to improve the nutrition of schoolchildren.
Pharmaceutical compounds in urban drinking waters of Ecuador
(2023) Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia
Introduction: Emerging contaminants (ECs) are substances with widely diverse chemical structures that may pose a risk to the environment and human beings. The limited scope of water treatment facilities, particularly in low and middle-income countries, allows ECs to be continuously introduced to the environment and become part of the cycle again for potabilization. In this work, we study for the first time the presence of these compounds in the drinking water of five Ecuadorian cities. Methods: The compounds of interest were mainly pharmaceutical substances commonly present in prescription and over-the-counter medicines, along with caffeine, a known coadjuvant in some of these preparations. Samples were collected from Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Ibarra, and Esmeraldas, considering each city’s distribution systems, and, after solid-phase extraction, analyzed by LC-MS/MS ESI+. Results and discussion: Results showed a high occurrence of caffeine, the only analyte present in all cities, with concentrations ranging from <6.35 to 201 ngL-1 and an occurrence from 11% in Quito to 77% in Cuenca. The highest median was found in Cuenca, followed by Esmeraldas. Our observations regarding concentrations are comparable to other studies around the globe. Although in other cities, some pharmaceuticals appeared at levels below our detection limits. These findings highlight the ubiquitous nature of emerging contaminants while pointing out the need for regulatory frameworks that facilitate the implementation of treatment technologies at the source and wastewater level. These actions will safeguard public and environmental health in the long term. Copyright © 2023 Jara-Negrete, Cipriani-Avila, Molinero, Pinos-Vélez, Acosta-López, Cabrera, Medina-Villamizar, Leiva-Andrade, Pozo, Martínez and Mogollón.
Adsorption of estradiol by natural clays and Daphnia magna as biological filter in an aqueous mixture with emerging contaminants
(2021) Cipriani Ávila, Eva Isabel; Capparelli, Mariana V.; Jara Negrete, Eliza Nuit; Alvarado Martínez, Andrés Omar; Cisneros Ramos, Juan Fernando; Tripaldi, Piercosimo; Perez Gonzalez, Bolivar Andres; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia
Among emerging pollutants, endocrine disruptors such as estradiol are of most concern. Conventional water treatment technologies are not capable of removing this compound from water. This study aims to assess a method that combines physicochemical and biological strategies to eliminate estradiol even when there are other compounds present in the water matrix. Na-montmorillonite, Ca-montmorillonite and zeolite were used to remove estradiol in a medium with sulfamethoxazole, triclosan, and nicotine using a Plackett–Burman experimental design; each treatment was followed by biological filtration with Daphnia magna. Results showed between 40 to 92% estradiol adsorption in clays; no other compounds present in the mixture were adsorbed. The most significant factors for estradiol adsorption were the presence of nicotine and triclosan which favored the adsorption, the use of Ca-montmorillonite, Zeolite, and time did not favor the adsorption of estradiol. After the physicochemical treatment, Daphnia magna was able to remove between 0–93% of the remaining estradiol. The combination of adsorption and biological filtration in optimal conditions allowed the removal of 98% of the initial estradiol concentration.
Microplastics in rivers and coastal waters of the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador
(2021) Capparelli, Mariana V; Molinero, Jon; Moulatlet, Gabriel M; Barrado, Miren; Prado Alcívar, Santiago; Cabrera, Marcela; Gimiliani, Giovana; Ñacato, Carolina; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Cipriani Ávila, Eva Isabel
This study represents the first assessment of microplastic (MP) contamination in the coastal area of the Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador. MPs were quantified in 14 coastal waters in beaches with different urbanization level and in 10 rivers. The most abundant MP types were transparent fibres, brown fragments, grey fragments, transparent fragments, and black fragments, which together represented 84% of the total count. Coastal waters presented significantly higher quantities of MP than rivers. No difference in microplastic abundance was detected between beaches with higher and lower urban occupation, nor between beaches facing North or West. Our results indicate that MP contamination is widespread, and most likely transported from multiple sources. Our results can serve as a baseline for future MP monitoring in the area.
Emerging contaminants in the northeast andean foothills of Amazonia: the case of study of the city of Tena, Napo, Ecuador
(2021) Pérez González, Andrés ; Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Molinero, Jon; Capparelli, Mariana V.; Cipriani Ávila, Eva Isabel; Jara Negrete, Eliza Nuit; Acosta López, Sofía Paola; Acosta, Byron
This work is a study on the occurrence of emerging pollutants in the northeast Ecuadorian Amazon. Emerging contaminants (ECs)—caffeine, triclosan, estradiol, acetaminophen, nicotine, and ibuprofen—were quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in rivers and streams of the Amazon basin near the city of Tena, Ecuador. For that, a total of 16 natural water samples were taken in 8 locations. Sampling sites included areas impacted by discharges from inefficient sewage networks in urban areas, wastes from fish farming and non-functional landfill, a stream with few threats, tap water, and treated sewage. Caffeine was found in the 38% of the samples studied while trimethoprim and acetaminophen had an occurrence of 13%. Caffeine was detected at two sites receiving untreated sewage and one site receiving treated sewage with mean concentrations that ranged between 19 and 31.5 μg L−1. Acetaminophen (50.4 μg L−1) and trimethoprim (2 μg L−1) were only detected in the river receiving treated sewage effluent. This is the first assessment of emerging contaminants in the upper Ecuadorian Amazon basin, and our observations highlight the need for better sewage treatment and water quality monitoring in Amazonian cities.
Chromium(VI) reduction in aqueous medium by means of catalytic membrane reactors
(2016) Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia
A novel method for catalytic reduction of chromium(VI) to chromium(III) in model and real water is proposed in this work. Hydrogen was used as a reducer. Three different catalytic membrane reactors were prepared and employed in the studied reaction. The catalytic membrane reactors were prepared using commercial corundum hollow fiber membranes. The active phases, palladium, cerium oxide, iron oxide or combinations of them, were incorporated by incipient wetness impregnation of the corresponding water-soluble salts followed by calcination and reduction. The catalytic tests were performed in semi-batch mode at ambient conditions. A mass flow controller was used to supply hydrogen to one end of the membrane whilst the other end was kept closed. The reactors were submerged into a vessel containing the chromate solution. The concentration of the chromate was continuously monitored following a standard analytical method. The initial chromate concentration was varied between 0.5 and 18 mg L−1. In order to completely reduce the Cr(VI) to Cr(III), it was necessary to decrease the pH of the solution to 3. In the end of the tests the final solutions were neutralized to pH 8 and filtered. The content of chromium in the final solutions and in the precipitates was determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technique. It was demonstrated that for the studied reaction the presence of palladium is essential. In all experiments, with synthetic and real water adjusted to pH 3, the catalytic membrane reactors containing palladium (0.3–0.9 w/w%) effectively reduced the chromium to levels below 0.03 mg L−1 without losing activity in repetitive runs. The results from ICP analyses demonstrated that the chromium can be completely eliminated from the water after neutralization and filtration.