Academic Background

2009-2015: PhD

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Madrid (Spain)

Thesis Title: Bioremediation of polluted soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using spent mushroom substrate (Agaricus bisporus). [pdf]

Calification: Summa Cum Laude

Description: The PhD project will be focused on the reuse of spent mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) substrate to bioremediate contaminated soils. The spent A. bisporus substrate (SAS) is an agricultural waste produced at huge amount. Historically, the management of this waste was the disposal in dump. This practice produced environmental damages in the areas of mushroom production. First, we developed analytical procedures to extract heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from soil and compost. Then we assessed the effectivity of SAS to bioremediate contaminated soils with PAH and PAH+Pb. To this aim, we investigated the optimal application procedure of SAS and the rol of A. bisporus and the inherent bacterial population of SAS to biodegrade PAH. High molecular weight PAH were degradate by the ligninolytic activity of A. bisporus while low molecular weight PAH were degradate by the inherent bacterial population of SAS or soil. The optimal application method of SAS was the sterilization of SAS and inoculated again witht he fungus to assess its ability to act as a fungal carrier. This procedure assured the PAH contaminated soil colonization by A. bisporus even in the case of multi-contaminated soils with PAH and Pb. However the application of SAS without previous treatment was effective to bioremediate contaminated soils with PAH. In conclusion, the reutilization of spent A. bisporus substrate is feasible for bioremediation PAH contaminated soils.

2008 - 2009: Master Agricultural Chemistry

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Madrid (Spain)

Final Poject Title: Utilización de aguas regeneradas de la ciudad de Almería en fertirrigación de pimiento: Evaluación agronómica y ambiental

(Utilization of purified wastewater from Almería city in fertigation of pepper: Agronomic and environmental assessment)

Description: The final master project was an assessment of purified wastewater reutilization for fertigation of pepper. The wastewater This project was carried out at the department of Agricultural Chemistry (UAM) in collaboration with the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA, Almería). The effects, in greenhouse conditions, of Purified Urban Wastewater (PW) from Almería (Spain), in the fertigation of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) on sandy mulch soil, were evaluated. Primary, secondary (active sludges) and tertiary (Chlorination + ozonation) purification treatments were applied to wastewater. Irrigation treatments applied were PW, natural Ground Water (GW), Fertilizer PW (FPW) and Fertilizer GW (FGW). The vegetal biomass, yield and fruit quality were controlled. Heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cu and Zn), arsenic (As) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in water, soil, leaf, and fruit were analysed. The PW presented heavy metal, As and PAH contents acceptable for its use in drip irrigation. In the soil, fertigated with PW, the concentration of heavy metals and As did not increase, whilst the PAH concentration decreased. The PW treatment supplied enough nutrients to obtain yield and fruit quality equal to that of GW with fertilization. A significant saving on N, P and K fertilizers (37%, 66% and 12% respectively) was achieved by using PW. The Cd, Pb and As contents of the fruit did not show risk for human consump- tion. The total PAH concentrations in the fruit were low, the highest of which was phenathrene, with no carcinogenic signification.

2003 - 2008: Bachelor of Chemistry

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,

Madrid (Spain)