The new oil could sprout from a tree that abounds in Spain and grows at high speed

2025-02-18 -

? Chopo is a tree that abounds on the banks and wet areas of Spain ? It is the largest renewable source of aromatic compounds that only leaves oil ? so that it could be an alternative to this source of resources

One of the dreams of man is to obtain oil in a sustainable, relatively cheap and uncompected way. Little by little, hopeful results that anticipate the arrival of a new revolution in energy matters are obtained. Among these advances, there is one of them that is still in a very initial stage and that is being promoted by researchers in Spain: the use of chopo as a source of renewable energy. Some components of the poplar can be used to generate by -products that have characteristics that only have oil. Chopo is a tree that abounds on the Spanish banks and other wet areas. In addition, it is one of the trees that has faster growth and reproduction. With this, the Degree in Chemistry Maitane Maisterra UDI has analyzed in her doctoral thesis, carried out at the INAMAT2 Institute of the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), the way to take advantage of the waste of the poplar (specifically, the cortex and the sawdust) to obtain chemicals of interest. The investigation has been directed by the professor of the Department of Sciences and Researcher at INAMAT2 Alfonso Cornejo Ibergallartu.According to explained the author of the thesis, the chopo is a rapid growth tree, so it is used a lot in the wood industry. It is in that use that the indicated waste, the sawdust and the cortex are generated. The first of them has three majority compounds, cellulose (which is used in the paper, the hemicellulose that are sugars and lignin, which is where the thesis focuses. It is a very large molecule, called Bio polymer. Development of biorefineriasya in 2022, CSIC researchers managed to develop processes that transformed the remains of agricultural and forestry industries to produce biofuels and sustainable chemicals. Renewable chemicals from plant waste, sustainably. The project is based on a novel method to treat plant waste, fraction their components and extract those that are most useful. This initiative aims to establish that multiple renewable materials and chemicals can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass in a sustainable way and at competitive prices, replacing many of the products we use today and that come from oil, such as drink bottles, plastics wrapping , paint solvents ..., explained David Martín Alonso, an ICP researcher. To achieve this, the fraction project will use an organosol process (biomass treatment that an organic compound uses as a solvent instead of water) in place of water) new and flexible lignocellulosics (pine, bold, bagasse, wavy cardboard, etc. A moderate temperature treatment of the lignocellulosic residue with an aqueous solution of? -Valerolactone, a natural solvent that is obtained from the biomass itself and that breaks and fractional lignocellulose in these components. These components can be used both for ethanol production, which can be used as biofuel, such as other raw materials, polymers and resins, solvents for paintings, surface coatings or to produce plastics for packaging or plastic bottles. However, the note published by the CSIC did not clarify which or what were the types of candidate trees to develop this type of processes. In spite of everything, it is likely that some candidates were the poplar or eucalyptus itself due Activity in two different viruses: Chikunguña (virus that is transmitted by the mosquito bite) and the simple type I.Maitane Maisterra has pointed out that in both cases good results have been obtained, since the saw can be obtained Compounds such as biofuels, different adhesives and high -value chemical products such as acetosatingone and prpenilsiringol. In the case of the cortex, positive results were obtained against the herpes simple type I.Maitane Maisterra has pointed out that in both cases good results have been obtained, since compounds such as biofuels, different adhesives and high chemical products have been obtained from the sawdust Value such as Acetosiringona and Prpenilsiringol. In the case of the cortex, positive results were obtained against the herpes simple type I.Maitane Maisterra UDI has a degree in Chemistry at the University of the Basque Country with a specialty in Chemistry and Pharmacy of Natural Products in an international masters degree in Usal University of Salamanca and IPB Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, as explained by the UPNA in a note.Su main line of research focuses on the study of natural products and the revaluation of industrial waste of plant origin. He has collaborated in several research projects financed by both the Government of Navarra and the State. These projects, together with the elaboration of the thesis, have given rise to several publications of articles in scientific journals. During their scientific career he has also carried out research stays in the Natural Product Research Group of the Francisco José de Caldas University, Bogotá Colombia, and at the Dr. José María Vanella Virology Institute belonging to the National University of Cordoba Argentina. Regarding teaching, he has directed two end -of -degree works during the elaboration of the thesis. She has also been a teacher in the subject of chemistry practices in three school courses. His interest in scientific dissemination has been shown in several participations such as Thesis in 3 minutes, a publicity campaign for the new capture of young women in degrees in science promoted by the Government of Navarra, and participation in the Women and Science Chair and Science of the UPNA through workshops in different institutes.