Person:
Santos López, Aurora

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First Name
Aurora
Last Name
Santos López
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Ciencias Químicas
Department
Ingeniería Química y de Materiales
Area
Ingeniería Química
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Now showing 1 - 10 of 26
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    Comparison of real wastewater oxidation with Fenton/Fenton-like and persulfate activated by NaOH and Fe(II)
    (Journal of Environmental Management, 2020) Rodríguez Vega, Sergio; Lorenzo Fernández, David; Santos López, Aurora; Romero Salvador, Arturo
    Treatment of polluted wastewaters from industrial activities has become a source of major concern for the environment. In this work, real wastewater from a physico-chemical (WWFQ) treatment was tested through different oxidation technologies: Fenton and Fenton-like reagent and persulfate activated by NaOH and Fe(II). Oxidation reactions with Fenton's reagent were carried out in a 0.25 L batch reactor at 25 °C by adding either Fe(II) or Fe(III) and H2O2 to an aqueous solution of wastewater, whose pH was previously adjusted to 2 or 3. Iron concentration ranging from 25 to 100 mg/L and peroxide concentration from 2500 to 10000 mg/L were used. The total organic carbon slightly decreased when WWFQ was treated. Moreover, better results were obtained when Fe(II) was used than Fe(III). Both iron concentration and oxidant dosage had a positive influence on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, until an asymptotic value of 30% was obtained. Oxidation of pollutants contained in WWFQ was studied with persulfate (18.4–294 mM) activated with NaOH and Fe(II) (36.8–588 mM). Again, a positive influence of both persulfate and NaOH was observed, although a similar asymptotic COD value was observed. This parallelism between both technologies confirms recalcitrant compounds were obtained.
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    Remediation of real soils polluted with pesticides by activated persulfate and surfactant addition
    (Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2023) Checa Fernández, Cristina Alicia; Santos López, Aurora; Romero Salvador, Arturo; Domínguez Torre, Carmen María
    The existence of soils contaminated with organochlorine pesticides represents a serious environmental problem. In this work, a real soil contaminated with hexachlorocyclohexanes (ΣHCH = 373 mg kg−1), persistent organic pollutants included in the Stockholm Convention, was remediated. Surfactants were used to enhance the pollutants solubilization and activated persulfate (PS) oxidation to degrade the pollutants. Solubilization experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Emulse-3® (E3) and Tween-80® (T80)), pH, reagents addition order and concentration (Csurfactant = 0–10 g L−1, CNaOH = 0–13.5 g L−1). Surfactants selection was performed attending to their ability to solubilize chlorinated organic compounds (COCs). The use of surfactants improved COCs solubilization, especially at pH > 12; conditions at which HCHs hydrolyze to trichlorobenzenes (TCBs), with higher solubility. The higher the surfactant concentration, the higher the COCs concentration in the emulsion. COCs solubilization of 83 % and 89 % were achieved in three surfactant consecutive cycles at highly alkaline conditions using SDS and E3, respectively (T80 was unstable). The resulting emulsions were treated by PS activated by alkali and intensified by temperature. COCs conversion of 30 % and 96 % were achieved when treating E3 and SDS-emulsions (72 h), respectively, highlighting the suitability of SDS for the integrated process.
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    Abatement of chlorinated compounds in groundwater contaminated by HCH wastes using ISCO with alkali activated persulfate
    (Science of The Total Environment, 2018) Santos López, Aurora; Jesús Fernández; Rodríguez Vega, Sergio; Domínguez Torre, Carmen María; Miguel Ángel Lominchar; Lorenzo Fernández, David; Romero Salvador, Arturo
    In this work, in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) with alkali activated persulfate has been tested for the elimination of HCH isomers and other chlorinated compounds in groundwater from Sabiñanigo (Sardas landfill), which was contaminated by solid and liquid wastes illegally dumped in the area by a company producing lindane. Due to the site lithology and the type of pollutants found in groundwater (HCHs and chlorobenzenes) alkali (NaOH) activated persulfate (PS) was selected as oxidant. The influence of variables such as PS concentration (42–200 mM) and NaOH:PS molar ratio (2:1 to 4:1) on chlorinated compound abatement has been studied and a kinetic model to predict the composition of all chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) in the aqueous phase with time was obtained. It was found that a fast initial hydrodechlorination reaction took place in which HCH isomers reacted to trichlorobenzenes (mainly 1,2,4 TCB) at pH ≥ 12. Mono-, di-, tri and tetrachlorobenzenes remaining were oxidized without producing aromatic intermediates. At the condition tested a first order kinetic model for COCs and PS concentration was obtained. Zero order alkali concentration was obtained while pH was being kept at 12 for the whole reaction time.
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    Using Two Group-Contribution Methods to Calculate Properties of Liquid Compounds Involved in the Cyclohexanone Production Operations
    (liquids, 2022) Fernández, Luis; Ortega, Juan; Dominguez, Leandro; Lorenzo Fernández, David; Santos López, Aurora; Romero Salvador, Arturo
    A numerical application has been carried out to determine the thermophysical properties of more than fifty pure liquid compounds involved in the production process of cyclohexanone, whose real values are unknown, in many cases. Two group-contribution methods, the Joback and the Marrero–Gani methods, both used in the fields of physicochemistry and engineering, are employed. Both methods were implemented to evaluate critical properties, phase transition properties, and others, which are required for their use in industrial process simulation/design. The quality of the estimates is evaluated by comparing them with those from the literature, where available. In general, both models provide acceptable predictions, although each of them shows improvement for some of the properties considered, recommending their use, when required.
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    Selective removal of chlorinated organic compounds from soil flushing emulsions: Adsorbent regeneration with thermal-activated persulfate and surfactant recovery
    (Journal of Water Process Engineering, 0202) Sánchez Yepes, Andrés; Santos López, Aurora; Romero Salvador, Arturo; Lorenzo Fernández, David
    Hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) released into the environment can form nonaqueous phase liquids, contaminating soil and groundwater. Surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation, followed by extracting a highly contaminated emulsion comprising surfactants and contaminants, is a promising technology for remediating polluted sites. However, the sustainable treatment of the emulsion is crucial. This study presents a two-step method for treating emulsions containing HOCs and surfactants. Firstly, pollutants are selectively adsorbed onto granular activated carbon (GAC) in a column. Secondly, spent GAC is regenerated by oxidizing adsorbed pollutants using persulfate activated at 60 ◦C. The emulsion was obtained from surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation at a polluted site with lindane production waste, consisting of E-Mulse® 3 surfactant (12 g L− 1 ) and 28 chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) at a concentration of 9.1 gCOCs L− 1 . Selective adsorption of COCs was observed since the adsorption kinetic constant was much higher than the E3, being 31.60 and 1.76 gGAC− W⋅mg− 1 j ⋅ h− 1 respectively. The adsorption-regeneration cycle was repeated three times. It was found that the GAC adsorbed 90 mgCOCs⋅gGAC − 1 were constant after four cycles (70 % of the COCs adsorption capacity in the first step). The surfactant adsorption decreased by approximately 80 % from 108 to 26 mgE3 gGAC − 1 after the third cycle, enabling surfactant recovery from the emulsion. In addition, the remaining amount of persulfate increased from 24 to 39 %, reducing oxidant consumption. Finally, the water effluent obtained after regeneration showed reduced toxicity due to the generation of nontoxic by-products, such as short-chain acids and sulphates. The results obtained proved the GAC-based adsorption/regeneration process was effective and stable over multiple cycles.
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    Chlorinated organic compounds in liquid wastes (DNAPL) from lindane production dumped in landfills in Sabiñanigo (Spain)
    (Environmental Pollution, 2018) Santos López, Aurora; Jesús Fernández; Joaquín Guadaño; Lorenzo Fernández, David; Romero Salvador, Arturo
    α β and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) are persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants and they were included in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Old lindane factories generated high amounts of wastes with HCH and other Chlorinated Organic Compounds (COCS). These were often dumped in the surroundings of the production sites, polluting soil and groundwaters with the associated risk of surface pollution. This is the case of the Sardas and Bailin landfills, located in Sabiñánigo (Huesca, Spain). Among the waste from lindane production, a liquid residue was detected in the landfill subsurfaces, forming a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) composed of HCH isomers, benzene and chlorobenzenes, with a high impact on groundwater pollution. In this study, six DNAPL samples obtained from the Bailin and Sardas landfills were analyzed by GC/MSD and GC/FID/ECD. Compounds were identified using mass spectra and the retention index from pure standards and literature information. Pure positional isomers of dichlorobenzene (DCB), trichlorobenzene (TCB), tetrachlorobenzene (TetraCB), HCH and pentachlorocyclohexene (PentaCX) were distinguished and quantified. In addition, heptachlorocyclohexane (HeptaCH) isomers, precursors of hexacholorocylohexene (HexaCX), were also identified and quantified in the DNAPL samples, although the corresponding isomers could not be discriminated. Information about PentaCX, HexaCx and HeptaCH identification is very limited in the literature. HCH contents in the DNAPL ranged from 22% to 30% in weight, the major isomers being lindane and δ-HCH, followed by α-HCH. The β isomer was the least abundant. HeptaCH contents were present in the same order of magnitude as HCHs in the DNAPL. PentaCXs and HexaCXs could have appeared as dehydrochlorination derivatives of HCHs and HeptaCHs, respectively. Two of the DNAPLs analyzed showed a higher content of TCBs and TetraCBs, associated with lower HCH and HeptaCH contents. Variations of these compounds in the DNAPL could be related to an alkaline dehydrochlorination in the landfill conditions. Six DNAPL samples, as waste disposal from lindane production, obtained from Sabiñánigo landfills (Huesca, Spain) have been fully characterized, quantifying and identifying twenty-eight Chlorinated Organic Compounds, from chlorobenzene to heptachlorocyclohexane.
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    Kinetic of Alkali Catalyzed Self-Condensation of Cyclohexanone
    (Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2013) Lorenzo Fernández, David; Santos López, Aurora; Simón Camacho, Ernesto; Romero Salvador, Arturo
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    Partitioning of chlorinated organic compounds from dense non-aqueous phase liquids and contaminated soils from lindane production wastes to the aqueous phase
    (Chemosphere, 2019) Lorenzo Fernández, David; García Cervilla, Raúl; Santos López, Aurora; Romero Salvador, Arturo
    Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and mainly the g-HCH isomer, namely lindane, were extensively produced and used as pesticides. Huge amounts of wastes, solids and liquids, were disposed of in the surroundings of the production sites. The liquid residuum was a complex mixture of chlorinated organic compounds, COCs, from chlorobenzene to heptachlorocyclohexane. This Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid, DNAPL, migrated by density through the subsurface to greater depths, being trapped or adsorbed into the soil in this movement posing a significant risk to the groundwater. Knowledge of the partitioning in water of COCs in DNAPL is a key issue to determine its fate in the environment. However, there are no data in literature for the partitioning and/or solubility of many of the COCs in this DNAPL, such as pentachlorocyclohexene, hexachlorocyclohexene and heptachlorocyclohexane despite them constitute about 13e30% of the mole fraction of the DNAPLs. In this work, the partitioning to water of COCs in free and those adsorbed onto soil has been studied. In addition, measured and predicted aqueous concentrations of each COC in the DNAPL mixture have been compared. To do this, the solubility of a compound that is a solid crystal when pure at P ¼ 298 K and P ¼ 1 atm has been evaluated considering the approach of sub-cooled liquid state of solid organochlorines. Samples were obtained at Sabinanigo land ~ fills and soils used had several grain sizes. Transformation in alkaline media of COCs had a positive environmental impact
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    Methanol-enhanced degradation of carbon tetrachloride by alkaline activation of persulfate: kinetic model
    (Science of The Total Environment, 2019) Domínguez Torre, Carmen María; Rodriguez, Vanesa; Montero González, Esperanza; Romero Salvador, Arturo; Santos López, Aurora
    Carbon tetrachloride (CT), a chlorinated organic compound widely used in the chemical industry during the 20th century, is nowadays a ubiquitous contaminant in groundwater and in situ technologies for its destruction are required. In this work, the degradation of CT by the alkaline activation of persulfate (PS) has been studied. Among the pool of radical species generated (hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals and superoxide radicals), O2∙− resulted to be the only species responsible for CT abatement. It has been found that the presence of other solvents less polar than water (hydrogen peroxide, acetone, propanol and methanol) improves CT degradation. Among them, methanol was selected as the most adequate co-solvent, leading to the complete elimination of CT (100 mg L−1, 24 h) with a moderate unproductive consumption of the oxidant. The degradation of CT increased proportionally with the concentration of this solvent (from 0.1 to 10 g L−1). The ratio NaOH:PS (from 1 to 8) did not affect the degradation of CT when working with a constant concentration of PS and highly alkaline conditions were maintained. The removal rate of CT increased as the concentration of PS increased (from 20 to 60 g L−1), while the conversion of this pollutant did not depend on its initial concentration (from 10 to 100 mg L−1). A kinetic model that considers the concentration of PS, MeOH and CT and can predict the concentration of CT with reaction time at different operating conditions, has been developed from the experimental data.
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    Lindane degradation by electrooxidation process: Effect of electrode materials on oxidation and mineralization kinetics
    (Water Research, 2018) Domínguez Torre, Carmen María; Oturan, Nihal; Romero Salvador, Arturo; Santos López, Aurora; Oturan, Mehmet A.
    This study focuses on the effect of electrode materials on abatement of lindane (an organochlorine pesticide) by electrooxidation process. Comparative performances of different anodic (platinum (Pt), dimensionally stable anode (DSA) and boron-doped diamond (BDD)) and cathodic (carbon sponge (CS), carbon felt (CF) and stainless steel (SS)) materials on lindane electrooxidation and mineralization were investigated. Special attention was paid to determine the role of chlorine active species during the electrooxidation process. The results showed that better performances were obtained when using a BDD anode and CF cathode cell. The influence of the current density was assessed to optimize the oxidation of lindane and the mineralization of its aqueous solution. A quick (10 min) and complete oxidation of 10 mg L−1 lindane solution and relatively high mineralization degree (80% TOC removal) at 4 h electrolysis were achieved at 8.33 mA cm−2 current density. Lindane was quickly oxidized by in-situ generated hydroxyl radicals, (M(•OH)), formed from oxidation of water on the anode (M) surface following pseudo first-order reaction kinetics. Formation of chlorinated and hydroxylated intermediates and carboxylic acids during the treatment were identified and a plausible mineralization pathway of lindane by hydroxyl radicals was proposed.