Ciencias Exactas y Ciencias de la Salud

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Microalgae-based bioremediation of food and beverage processing wastewater: A sustainable approach toward a circular economy concept
(Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, 2025-12-03) Najar Almanzor, César Eduardo; Carrillo Nieves, Danay; mtyahinojosa, emipsanchez; Luzardo Ocampo, Iván Andres; Gutiérrez Uribe, Janet Alejandra; Chairez Oria, Jorge Isaac; Detrell, Gisela; Santaeufemia Sánchez, Sergio; Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias; Campus Guadalajara; García Cayuela, Tomás
Food and beverage production generates large volumes of nutrient-rich wastewaters that pose severe environmental challenges when discharged untreated. Effluents such as nejayote (from tortilla production), tequila vinasses (from tequila distillation), and cheese whey (from cheese production) contain high organic loads and extreme pH values that contribute to eutrophication and ecosystem disruption. Developing sustainable technologies that mitigate pollution while enabling resource recovery is therefore essential for advancing circular and cleaner production. This thesis evaluates microalgae-based bioremediation as an alternative for the treatment and valorization of these agro-industrial effluents. The work encompasses algae adaptation, process scale-up, biomass characterization, and environmental assessment. A UV-mutagenesis and gradual acclimatization strategy enabled Chlorella vulgaris, Haematococcus pluvialis, and Anabaena variabilis to grow in undiluted wastewater, achieving pollutant reductions of 87–99.9% in nejayote, 31–81% in vinasses, and 35–56% in whey. Although substantial, these results indicate that microalgae are best suited as components of a hybrid treatment systems rather than standalone technology. The technology’s scalability was validated through the cultivation of H. pluvialis in 100-L raceway pond, which maintained high remediation performance and biomass productivity despite minor declines associated with evaporation. The biomass showed significant protein and ash content, supporting potential use as biofertilizer, feed ingredient, or nutraceutical ingredient. Biochemical and functional characterization of biomass grown in nejayote and tequila vinasses revealed reduced pigment and phenolic content due to cultivation stress. However, extracts retained cytokine-modulating activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages, indicating potential for use as nutraceutical ingredient, animal feed, or biofertilizers following safety validation. Life Cycle Assessment comparing a microalgae-based vinasse treatment with the conventional industrial process showed similar overall environmental burdens but substantial reductions in terrestrial ecotoxicity and human carcinogenic toxicity. It also highlighted the need for optimization in coagulant sourcing and energy integration. Overall, this work demonstrates that microalgae-based treatment of agro-industrial effluents is technically viable, environmentally promising, and aligned with a circular bioeconomy, while identifying key challenges that must be addressed to enable industrial implementation.
Design and evaluation of sustainable biorefineries in Mexico: a modeling and experimental approach
(Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, 2024-02-08) Acevedo García, Berenice; Alvarez Guerra, Alejandro Juan; emimmayorquin; Parra Saldivar, Roberto; Manzano Camarillo, Mario Guadalupe Francisco; Santibañez Aguilar, José Ezequiel; Roldán Ahumada, Ma. Claudia; Escuela de ingeniería y ciencias; Campus Monterrey
Biorefineries are an alternative to replace crude oil refineries and reduce fossil fuels consumption worldwide. Mexico has a wide variety of renewable biomass resources with great potential for being used in a biorefinery for production of multiple high value products, as alternatives to crude oil-derived products. To make it work, biorefineries require simultaneous implementation of several conditions such as the use of abundant and renewable biomass feedstocks, production of multiple value-added bioproducts, lignin valorization, integral use of biomass, reuse of residues and byproducts, energy efficiency, to name the most important ones. However, sustainable biorefineries in Mexico require further investigation to determine its feasibility and sustainability. In this thesis, the aims were to develop sustainable designs of biorefineries, based on renewable and abundant biomass in the context of Mexico, for replacing the consumption of fossil resources for production of multiple high value products, such as biopharmaceutical products, chemicals, biofuels, energy, and so on. For doing this, sustainability evaluation, modeling, optimizations tools, and an experimental extraction process were performed. The main results are described as follows. First, the sustainable design of a castor oil-based biorefinery located in Michoacan State in Mexico was developed. Azelaic, sebacic, and undecylenic acids, as well as biodiesel, heat, and power were the major marketable products. An optimization assessment allowed to minimize the environmental impact and maximize the economic revenues. Second, the sustainable design of a biorefinery with lignin valorization that uses birch and pine wood as feedstock, located in Michoacan State, was performed. Ethylene and propylene, the two largest chemicals worldwide produced, were the main products. An energy optimization assessment allowed to reduce several environmental impacts related to the consumption of fuels and energy. Third, the extraction and evaluation of value-added compounds from birch leaves was done in order to determine how feasible is the integral valorization of the birch tree in a biorefinery. Finally, the economic and environmental evaluation of the production of neuroprotective orange residue extracts was done. In conclusion, the castor oil plant and lignin from birch and pine wood are promising alternatives as biorefinery feedstocks for bio-based chemical production that can replace important petrochemical products in Mexico. Furthermore, the optimal distribution of castor oil feedstock allows to upgrade the environmental and economic biorefinery’s performances. Moreover, energy optimization improves the lignin biorefinery's environmental performance and the impact can be measured using the LCA. Also, valorization of the birch leaves is a promising option for production of extracts with high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant capacity in a biorefinery based on the birch tree. Additionally, orange residue valorization for production of neuroprotective extracts is a promising approach that can be included in a biorefinery based on orange fruit. Finally, this work contributes to the development of sustainable biorefineries in Mexico using renewable an abundant biomass in Mexico, replacing the consumption of fossil resources.

Ciencias Exactas y Ciencias de la Salud

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results