Made in Chile: System that degrades pollutants in water was presented at COP29
The research is being conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Talca who are participating in this international conference organized by the United Nations.
The use of antibiotics in the salmon industry has been questioned worldwide, as these compounds, when poorly managed, can generate resistance to these medications in living beings, meaning they would not function properly when required.
Under this premise, a team of scientists from the University of Talca is developing a system that, through photocatalytic materials and microorganisms, allows the degradation of certain organic pollutants in water, such as residual antibiotics. This would help to improve the quality of this vital element and prevent these compounds from entering other living organisms.
In this project, which was introduced to the attendees at the COP29, the main global conference on climate change annually organized by the United Nations (UN) and which is being held this year in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
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The activity took place inside the space our country occupies in the Cryosphere Pavilion at this global meeting, which is shared by Chile and Iceland.
"This type of event allows us to go beyond what we do in our daily research. We can better understand how to build a better future for everyone," said John Amalraj, a scholar at the Institute of Natural Resource Chemistry at the University of Talca, who leads the project.
This is the first time that a team of scientists from a Chilean university officially forms part of the national delegation at this global summit which seeks to reach agreements to mitigate climate change.
The representation of UTalca in Baku is headed by the dean of the institution, Carlos Torres Fuchslocher, who noted that this institution is committed to these global goals and seeks to contribute to cutting-edge research.
"This event is essential for sharing this vision with other universities, countries, and organizations, as it also allows us to showcase our scientific and technological developments in this field. We believe that our role as a university transcends national borders and, in this sense, we strive to establish international links, but also to contribute to a global cause," he affirmed.
The university authority and Professor Amalraj are joined in the delegation by two students from the Doctorate in Science, Research and Development of Bioactive Products mention, Dailys Acosta and Jackson Espinosa.
"This experience is highly rewarding, as we can showcase what we are developing, and at the same time, establish connections and bonds with people who are working in similar fields with whom we can collaborate and continue with our idea," said Dailys Acosta.
It should be mentioned that, the UTalca project was chosen among ten others from the same university related to sustainability, which participated in an internal competition that determined the team that would travel to COP29.