Welcome to Our Center
The Center for Environmental Nanotechnology and Sustainability (CENS) is the results of an interdisciplinary and synergistic collaboration between the Chemistry Department, the Department of Engineering Science and Materials and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Crop Protection (Dr. Winston de la Torre) at UPRM. The research interests of the participating faculty include the use of novel bio-nanocomposites and polymeric fibers for environmental remediation (O.Perales-Perez, F.Roman and N.Rivera), the development of nano-sensors for the detection of organoarsenic pesticides ( Dr. Marco de Jesus), the study of the environmental impact of nanoparticles in plants ( Dr. M. Laura Lopez), the use of tropical plants for the phytoremediation of toxic metals from soils (Dr. Wisnton de la Torre), the development of nanocrystals for bio-meedical and cancer treatment applications (O. Perales-Perez), colloids and nanocrystals removal from dilute suspensions by electrostatics surface interactions (O. Perales-Perez, F. Roman), among other initiatives. Dr. Roman and Dr. Perales also work with the use of waste material (tires crumb rubber and dewatered sludges from water treatment facilities) to remove toxic metal and oxyanions from water streams. These projects are funded by federal (NSF, USDA, USGS) and governmental (Waste Solid Authority of Puerto Rico) agencies as well as private industry (REMA Inc.). An interdisciplinary group of graduate and undergraduate students from the departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Science and Materials, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Agriculture are involved in these projects.
The goals of the CENR are to:
-Synthesize new functionalized nanomaterials materials capable of removing toxic elements and carcinogenic species from soil, water and gas streams;
- Develop nanostructured sensors capable of detecting trace amounts of toxic species in water.
- Asses the environmental impact of natural and synthetic nanomaterials.
-The Center for Environmental Nanotechnology and Remediation is equipped with state of-the-art instrumentation which include instrumentation and materials processing facilities for the quantification of trace amounts of contaminants (Laboratory of Food Soils and Environmental Chemistry, ALFSEC, Q-209) and synthesis, processing and characterization of nanostructured materials (The NANOmaterials Processing Laboratory, NANOLAB) located in Stephanie 313/314.
-The Center Facilities also provide service for a fee to be used for equipment maintenance and training support for student and researchers (please refer to services)