Biography

Luis Alberto Calderon Salas was born in Ibarra, Ecuador. He obtained a B.S. degree in Petrochemical Engineering from the Yachay Experimental Technology Research University in 2021. His final degree project consisted of “Synthesis and characterization of chemically cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan composite hydrogels”, which he carried out the following physicochemical studies, morphological and thermal studies about the synthesized hydrogels. He established the chemical and physical characterization through the following techniques FTIR, DSC, XRD, NMR, and SEM.

Between 2019-2020 he worked as a teaching and research assistant in the Physical Chemistry subject in the development of equipment and activities laboratory, preparation of nanomaterials, report writing, and chemical characterization. He participated in the project “Preparation of functionalized metallic nanoparticles using biomolecules extracted from agricultural waste biomass”. He established the chemical characterization through of the following techniques HR-X-NT, FTIR and UV-vis.

He also participated in the “Postgraduate Course Characterization of Molecular Systems and Materials” offered by the Faculty of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, and by the Doctorate in Exact Sciences and Engineering of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology, of the University of Tucumán, Argentina.

Since, May of 2022, he is a Teaching Technician in the General Chemistry courses of Leveling and Laboratory belonging to the School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering of Yachay Tech University. Currently, He teaches courses related to general chemistry, participates in the development of new materials, and is part of the Master’s program in Chemical Sciences with a mention in Materials Science and Engineering.

Summary of interests

His research interests focus on the development of new materials based on green methodologies. His research has the purpose of discovering new materials that have potential applications in the following fields: adsorption of heavy metals, water remediation, biomaterials, composite materials, industrial processes and catalysis.

Current Research Projects

Development of new film and hydrogel materials for packaging applications and heavy metal adsorption.