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Dive into the research topics where María S. Álvarez is active.

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Featured researches published by María S. Álvarez.


Bioresource Technology | 2013

Novel physico-biological treatment for the remediation of textile dyes-containing industrial effluents

María S. Álvarez; F. Moscoso; Ana Rodríguez; M.A. Sanromán; Francisco J. Deive

In this work, a novel remediation strategy consisting of a sequential biological and physical process is proposed to remove dyes from a textile polluted effluent. The decolorization ability of Anoxybacillus flavithermus in an aqueous effluent containing two representative textile finishing dyes (Reactive Black 5 and Acid Black 48, as di-azo and antraquinone class, respectively) was proved. The decolorization efficiency for a mixture of both dyes reached almost 60% in less than 12h, which points out the suitability of the selected microorganism. In a sequential stage, an aqueous biphasic system consisting of non-ionic surfactants and a potassium-based organic salt, acting as the salting out agent, was investigated. The phase segregation potential of the selected salts was evaluated in the light of different thermodynamic models, and remediation levels higher than 99% were reached.


Bioresource Technology | 2014

Hybrid sequential treatment of aromatic hydrocarbon-polluted effluents using non-ionic surfactants as solubilizers and extractants.

María S. Álvarez; F. Moscoso; Ana Rodríguez; M.A. Sanromán; Francisco J. Deive

A treatment train combining a biological and a physical approach was investigated for the first time in order to remediate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-polluted effluents. Given the hydrophobic nature of these contaminants, the presence of non-ionic surfactants is compulsory to allow their bioavailability. The presence of these surfactants also entails an advantage in order to ease contaminant removal by the formation of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). The segregation ability of environmentally benign salts such as potassium tartrate, citrate, and oxalate was discussed for extracting phenanthrene (PHE), pyrene (PYR), and benzo[a]anthracene (BaA). The biological remediation efficiency reached circa 60% for PHE and PYR, and more than 80% for BaA. The coupling of ATPS subsequent stage by using potassium citrate allowed increasing the total PAH remediation yields higher than 97% of PAH removal. The viability of the proposed solution was investigated at industrial scale by using the software tool SuperPro Designer.


RSC Advances | 2015

Microbial adaptation to ionic liquids

María S. Álvarez; Ana Rodríguez; M.A. Sanromán; Francisco J. Deive

One out of 10 microorganisms from extreme locations was adapted to the presence of common families of ionic liquids, which have lately emerged as “contaminants on the horizon”. A 10-fold higher tolerance was concluded for the ionic liquid-resistant strain. A biopolymer was secreted as an adaptation response.


Bioresource Technology | 2017

Scaling-up and ionic liquid-based extraction of pectinases from Aspergillus flavipes cultures.

Vicente E. Wolf-Márquez; M. Aurora Martínez-Trujillo; Guillermo Aguilar Osorio; Faustino Patiño; María S. Álvarez; Ana Rodríguez; M. Ángeles Sanromán; Francisco J. Deive

The viability of the scaling-up of pectinases production by Aspergillus flavipes at 5L-bioreactor scale has been demonstrated by keeping constant the power input, and a drastic increase in the endo- and exopectinolytic enzyme production was recorded (7- and 40-fold, respectively). The main process variables were modelled by means of logistic and Gompertz equations. In order to overcome the limitations of the conventional downstream strategies, a novel extraction strategy was proposed on the basis of the adequate salting-out potential of two biocompatible cholinium-based ionic liquids (N1112OHCl and N1112OHH2PO4) in aqueous solutions of Tergitol, reaching more than 90% of extraction.


Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering | 2013

North Western Spain hot springs are a source of lipolytic enzyme-producing thermophilic microorganisms

Francisco J. Deive; María S. Álvarez; M. Ángeles Sanromán; M.A. Longo

Several hot springs in Galicia (North Western Spain) have been investigated as potential sources of lipolytic enzyme-producing thermophilic microorganisms. After isolating 12 esterase producing strains, 9 of them were assured to be true lipase producers, and consequently grown in submerged cultures, obtaining high extracellular activities by two of them. Furthermore, a preliminary partial characterization of the crude lipase, obtained by ultrafiltration of the cell-free culture supernatant, was carried out at several pH and temperature values. It is outstanding that several enzymes turned out to be multiextremozymes, since they had their optimum temperature and pH at typical values from thermoalkalophiles. The thermal stability in aqueous solution of the crude enzymes was also assayed, and the influence of some potential enzyme stabilizing compounds was tested. Finally, the viability of the selected microorganisms has been demonstrated at bioreactor scale.


Bioresource Technology | 2015

Simultaneous biotreatment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and dyes in a one-step bioreaction by an acclimated Pseudomonas strain

María S. Álvarez; Ana Rodríguez; Ma Ángeles Sanromán; Francisco J. Deive

A Pseudomonas stutzeri strain acclimated to the presence of neoteric contaminants has been proposed for simultaneously remediating an effluent polluted with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and a diazo dye. The pollutants chemical nature imposed a strict control of both the medium composition and the operating conditions. pH, temperature and agitation rates of 7.0, 37.5 and 146 rpm, respectively, led to optimum levels of contaminant removal (higher than 60%) after RSM optimization. The validity of these conditions was checked at flask and bioreactor scale and the kinetics of the biotreatment was elucidated. The simulation of this one-step process applied at larger scale for the remediation of a 200,000 m(3)/year-effluent from a leather factory was compared with a conventional two-steps option. Great reductions in treatment times and in investment and manufacturing costs were concluded, proving the promising potential of the proposed process.


Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering | 2012

A process for extracellular thermostable lipase production by a novel Bacillus thermoamylovorans strain

Francisco J. Deive; María S. Álvarez; Paloma Morán; M. Ángeles Sanromán; M.A. Longo


The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics | 2012

On the phase behaviour of polyethoxylated sorbitan (Tween) surfactants in the presence of potassium inorganic salts

María S. Álvarez; F. Moscoso; Francisco J. Deive; M. Ángeles Sanromán; Ana Rodríguez


The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics | 2012

Triton X surfactants to form aqueous biphasic systems: Experiment and correlation

María S. Álvarez; F. Moscoso; Ana Rodríguez; M.A. Sanromán; Francisco J. Deive


RSC Advances | 2014

Ionic liquids and non-ionic surfactants: a new marriage for aqueous segregation

María S. Álvarez; M.A. Rivas; Francisco J. Deive; M.A. Sanromán; Ana Rodríguez

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