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Nanomaterials Development for Purifying Water and Producing Hydrogen

Date: (27/11/2009)

Facultad de Ingeniería Civil

Dra. Leticia Myriam Torres Guerra has established and leaded seven scientific working teams, a research center, a Department and a Consolidated Group of Research Academicians.

UANL 2007 Research Award - Engineering and Technology Area. Dr. Arquimedes Cruz Lopez, Dra. Leticia Myriam Torres Guerra, M.I. Luis Manuel Aranda Maltez (UANL School of Civil Engineering Principal), Dra. Lorena Leticia Garza Tovar, Dr. Isaias Juarez Ramirez, M.C. Ma. Elena Meza de la Rosa

The Science Tour

From 1999 to 2003, Dra. Leticia Myriam Torres Guerra was National Network of Ceramics Coordinator, an appointment given by the National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT, Spanish abbreviation), which objective was carrying out scientific and interest technology research works for Mexico’s ceramic industry (ovenproofs, ceramics, cement and glass) through more than two national researching teams.

Furthermore, she is leading important technological projects with the most important industries of Nuevo Leon since 2002, related to functioning advanced materials which help to improve environment by creating processes and clean technologies.

In 1995, she established and founded the Center for Research and Ceramic Materials Development (CIDEMAC, Spanish abbreviation), which became auto funded. It was created for attending all necessities of one of the most important Mexico’s industrial institution such as no-metallic ceramic materials covering study areas: a) Synthesis and Portrayal of Ceramic Materials b) Solid-State Batteries and c) Vitreous Materials.

CIDEMAC had the objective of joining forces through the University-Enterprise synergy for solving problems which are strongly connected to our society and which main objectives were: educate high-level professionals for scientific and technological development in advanced and traditional ceramics (glass, cements, ovenproofs and civil ceramics).

Furthermore: to strengthen scientific research activities and technological development in UANL and local industry; providing productive sector with human and technological resources which help contributing new products and processes’ improvement and/or development as well as supporting industry competitiveness.

All this caused wealth generation through productive sector’s financing for technological projects which it is interested in. This income was used for high level human resources creation, infrastructure improvement and development of additional scientific researchers.

So, a balance between academic and industrial objectives was gotten, becoming this Center autofunded since 1995. CIDEMAC got strengthen in productive center through scientific and technological research projects which fill regional ceramic industry necessities (VITRO, CEMEX S.A, Peñoles, Cover, etc.).

In 2000, the Center was nominated for the National Award of Technology organized by the Secretariat of Commerce and Industrial Development (SECOFI, Spanish abbreviation) in small-sized enterprises; on the other hand, from 180 enterprises, the CIDEMA was one of the three research enterprises finalist for getting this award, an event that took place in los ‘Pinos’ on November, 2000.

The two main products of CIDEMAC are: a) Creation of high level Human Resources in ceramic materials and b) Development of technological projects for enterprises.

Dra. Torres Guerra also established Post-degree studies: Master’s Degree (1994) and Doctorate Degree (1997) of Sciences major in Ceramic Engineering in the UANL School of Chemistry and headed her join and stay in the National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT, Spanish abbreviation) Excellence Registry in 1996 and 1999.

More than 90 indexed articles were published, there was a group of 11 researches –who are experts in different ceramic science and technology areas- and 51 post-degree studies students graduated in a nine-year period.

The success in ceramic post-degree studies is reflected on the high terminal efficiency (more than 90%) and it represents 45% of all graduate students in other three School of Chemistry Programs in Sciences since more than 30 years ago.

Researcher took the Excellence Program as a basis and adapted a program of grant holders called ‘UNI-Empresa’ with ‘Cementos Mexicanos, S.A. and Cemex Central, S.A de C.V. companies. Technological projects of mutual interest (academic and industrial) were created through UNI-CEMEX.

A 100% terminal efficiency was gotten, besides of getting established 85% of studies that were carried out in company’s operation and 31% in industrial tests. In 1996 she adapted this program for ‘Vitro’ Team, so an agreement was signed with ‘Compañia Vitro Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. For giving Master’s Degree of Sciences Course major in Ceramic Engineering for Glass to 18 professionals who are this company’s employees.

Two patents were created, a company’s property. The terminal efficiency was 70%. The theses were protected –for five years- for being confidential in both programs, besides the secret industrials gotten.

A method for creating a sodium-calcium glass by using alternate raw material and was patented before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property through a one of doctorate’s degree student -who is working on her thesis- and Vitro Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. Company’s project.

In 2002, Dra. Leticia Myriam Torres Guerra also adapted the Master’s Degree major in Ceramic Engineering for Vitro Team with the objective of getting a Diploma Course and a Master’s Degree of Glass. The Diploma Course of Glass was given to -April and October, 2002- 15 employees.

We invite you to keep reading: Established Researches and International Acknowledgment.