News

Recognition · 7 July 2026

Mariano Guajardo Jofré

We are proud to share that Mariano Guajardo Jofré received the Santander International Undergraduate Mobility Scholarship, which will take him to the University of Valladolid, Spain. A well-deserved recognition of the work and commitment of these years. Congratulations from the whole team!

Chemical Engineering student, environmental track.

Conference · 19–22 May 2026

Felipe A. Carreño López

Felipe A. Carreño López presented «Living porous media: uncovering the microbe–fluid–rock interactions that reshape subsurface transport» at the InterPore 2026, in the Université de Nantes, France. These are the occasions that keep the group connected to what is happening elsewhere.

Poster in collaboration with Dr. Verónica Morales' group at the University of California, Davis.

Thesis defence · May 2026

Josefina Viotti Marelli

Josefina Viotti Marelli successfully defended the thesis «H₂ and CH₄ production from wastewater: effect of pharmaceutical compounds on the process», supervised by Professors César Huiliñir and Alberto Vergara. The entire G-Tech team celebrates this milestone and wishes them all the best.

She earned top marks in the defence.

Thesis defence · 1 April 2026

Andrés Orellana Molnar

Congratulations, Andrés Orellana Molnar! The work «Modelling and simulation of an autotrophic denitrifying biofilm using elemental sulfur as electron donor», supervised by Professor Felipe Carreño, closes months of dedication in the lab. From G-Tech we wish you every success in your next challenges.

He earned the top mark and deepened his work on environmental process modelling with CFD and C++.

Thesis defence · 1 April 2026

Samuel Abogabir Schacht

A new defence in the group: Samuel Abogabir Schacht presented «Development and experimental validation of a three-dimensional CFD model of a fixed-bed reactor for sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification through residence time distribution analysis», supervised by Professors Felipe Carreño and César Huiliñir. Thank you for the commitment of these months; the team wishes you the best on your professional path.

Grant awarded · 2026

César Huiliñir

Awarded: César Huiliñir secured funding for an ANID Fondecyt Regular grant on treating groundwater contaminated with nitrate and micropollutants through elemental sulfur autotrophic denitrification. A new line of work for the group in the coming years.

The project also assesses how much nitrous oxide the process emits, an aspect on which very little scientific information exists.

Read the story on the Uandes site →

Recognition · 12 December 2025

César Huiliñir

Good news in the group: César Huiliñir received the Outstanding Research Professor Award from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Universidad de los Andes. We celebrate this recognition of sustained work over the years.

As he put it himself, the recognition is not individual: it reflects the work of the whole G-Tech team.

Recognition · 11 December 2025

Sofía Belén Hernández Honorato

Sofía Belén Hernández Honorato was awarded the Espíritu Universidad de los Andes award, at her graduation ceremony as an Environmental Engineer. From G-Tech we celebrate this recognition and wish them every success in what lies ahead.

She also graduated with two distinctions.

Conference · 3–5 November 2025

César Huiliñir

The group was present at the XXVI Chilean Congress of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, AIDIS, in Las Condes, Santiago: César Huiliñir presented «Multicomponent biological removal in sequencing reactors with zeolite support».

He opened the session presenting the thesis work of Amanda Espinosa.

Conference · 27–30 October 2025

Felipe A. Carreño López

Back from the XXII Chilean Congress of Chemical Engineering (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso), where Felipe A. Carreño López presented «CFD simulation of an elemental sulfur packed-bed biofilter applied to autotrophic denitrification». Thanks to everyone who stopped by to discuss the work.

Poster and oral presentation, drawing on the work of the group's undergraduate researchers.

Conference · 27–30 October 2025

Judith Quezada Cáceres

Judith Quezada Cáceres presented «Degradation of ibuprofen and diclofenac in a nitrifying moving-bed sequencing batch reactor» at the XXII Chilean Congress of Chemical Engineering, in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. These are the occasions that keep the group connected to what is happening elsewhere.

Her first presentation as a doctoral student at Universidad de los Andes, supported by a FAI conference grant.

Thesis defence · 2025

Amanda Espinosa Peña

As a group we congratulate Amanda Espinosa Peña on successfully defending the thesis «Effect of natural zeolite on heterotrophic denitrification, including the removal of pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen and diclofenac)», supervised by Professor César Huiliñir. The whole team wishes you every success in what comes next!

Thesis defence · 29 September 2025

Sofía Belén Hernández Honorato

Sofía Belén Hernández Honorato successfully defended the thesis «Simulation and modelling of a coupled Anammox–Feammox system in sequencing batch reactors», supervised by Professor César Huiliñir. The entire G-Tech team celebrates this milestone and wishes them all the best.

The work was part of Fondecyt Regular grant No. 1241833, led by Professor Eduardo Leiva.

Thesis defence · 22 September 2025

Valentina Guajardo Jofré

Congratulations, Valentina Guajardo Jofré! The work «Degradation of ibuprofen and diclofenac in nitrifying reactors in the presence of zeolite: contribution of nitrite-oxidising microorganisms to the process», supervised by Professor César Huiliñir, closes months of dedication in the lab. From G-Tech we wish you every success in your next challenges.

She was awarded her degree with highest distinction.

Graduation · 2025

Margarita María Fernanda Toro Gaete

We celebrate the graduation of Margarita María Fernanda Toro Gaete, who worked with Professor César Huiliñir on their thesis in the group. Every success in the stage ahead!

She received her degree in Environmental Engineering after passing her thesis defence.