The Eco-Chemistry area is mainly focused on two lines of research: 

 a) Environmental Chemistry: Which worries about chemical evaluation of the impact of pollutants 

  of natural and anthropogenic origin in the cryosphere and its associated systems. 

  b) Polar Biofuels: Its main objective is the generation of biofuels 

  of low freezing point from Patagonian and Antarctic endemic materials based on the 

  natural ability of these organisms to avoid freezing chemically with 

 low winter temperatures. Biofuels Polar: The main objective of this research is the generation of biofuels low freezing point from Patagonian and Antarctic endemic materials based on the natural ability of these organisms to chemically prevent freezing with low temperatures winter.    We study the generation biofuels from microorganisms Antarctic and sub-Antarctic to overcome the limitations in section mist existing biofuels.  Despite advances in alternative fuel production internationally, has not yet found biodiesel operate properly at temperatures below the frost line, found in several regions, such as the polar regions.  Thus the challenge of finding an alternative energy source suitable for cold regions still exists. Our research group at the University of Magallanes, has collected several species of microalgae from Antarctica, which have the potential to become suitable raw material for this purpose. 


 

Pamela Cardenas, Student Chemistry Civil Engineering thesis student, O'Higgins Base, Antarctic Peninsula, Campaign 2009.

Ice microalgae.

From left to right: Mr. Pamela Cardenas, Dr. Pedro Cid, Dr. Joel Cuello, Senior Fulbright Scholar, University of Arizona USA.

Carlos Cardenas C., student of Marine Biology, O'Higgins Base, Antarctic Peninsula, campaign 2011.

Dr. Pedro Cid-Aguero, Duse Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, campaign 2011.

Macarena Araya Penela, Environmental Chemical Engineering, King George Island, Antarctica, 2012 campaign.

Antarctic microalgae cultivation in the laboratory.

Contributors:

Umag:

- Eng Juan Carlos Moreno Diaz, Prof. Chemical Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. juan.moreno @ umag.cl .

- MSc. Juan Carlos Uribe Paredes, Researcher, Institute of Patagonia.

International:

- Dr. Joel Cuello, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, The University of Arizona, USA.

 - Dr.  Cristina Cid Sanchez, Center for Astrobiology (CSIC-INTA), Spain. 

  - Dr.  James Stuart, Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, USA. 

Participation Publications and Related Conferences

- Cid-Aguero P, P. O Cardenas, J. D. Moreno

Response of Antarc tic Snow Microalgae Culture to Effects of Temperature, Irradiance and Supporting Media.

Annals of the Institute of Patagonia, Accepted, 2012.

- Cid-Aguero P, P. O Cardenas, J. D. Moreno

In search for the optimal growing conditions in captivity for Antarctic snow microalgae. CAREX Conference on Life in Extreme Environments, Dublin, Ireland, October 18.20, 2011.

- Pedro Cid-Aguero, Pamela O. Cardenas, Juan Moreno D.

Effects of Temperature, Irradiance and Supporting Media on Antarctic Ice

Microalgae. International Polar Year, Oslo Science Conference, Oslo, Norway,

June 8 -12, 2010.

- Pamela Ojeda Cárdenas, Thesis: Starting from Microalgae Biodiesel Antarctic: Study

Growth Parameter s These. Civil Engineering Chemistry, University of

Magellan, 2010.

- Pedro Cid-Aguero. Biodiesel for Cold Regions.

Power and Energy Workshop: The Science Behind Energy Assurance, Valparaiso,

Chile, June 30-July 1, 2009.

- Pedro Cid-Aguero. Antarctic Biodiesel from Algae: A Clean Fuel for Cold Regions.

Cold Regions Science and Technology Seminar, Punta Arenas, Chile, April 28 to 29,

2009.

- Pedro Cid-Aguero. Biodiesel from algae, is the ideal fuel for

Antarctica?

Chilean Antarctic Bulletin, Vol 27 # 2, 6-7 December 2008.