The activity took place at Sucroal S.A. in Palmira, where students had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the citric acid production process and the wastewater treatment plant.

The research group and the Catalysis seedbed affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cauca conducted a technical visit to Sucroal S.A., located in Palmira (Valle del Cauca), to gain firsthand knowledge of the chemical and engineering processes taking place in the alcohol chemistry, citric acid production, and wastewater treatment plants.

“This type of activity allows students to relate the knowledge they acquire in their university studies to its direct application in the industry,” said Professor Johnny Vilard Fernando Gutiérrez Portilla, Director of the Catalysis Research Group.

Provided photo

It is worth noting that the Catalysis Research Group is composed of students from the Chemistry and Engineering programs in Physics, Environmental, and Agroindustrial Engineering. It has been distinguished in Category A by MinCiencias in its most recent update of recognition and classification of research groups, remaining one of the benchmarks for the quality of its research. This includes the use of artificial intelligence tools to explore new catalytic routes that allow for the systematization of better reaction conditions for the developed catalysts.

The research seedbed, officially established on November 17, 2017, has an open admission philosophy. Its activities include in-person meetings in the form of talks related to culture and science in general, technical visits to companies that use processes associated with catalysis, and currently, there is a focus on experimental work by conducting simple experiments to test basic concepts of catalysis.

In this way, the group and its seedbed fulfill their mission of directly connecting their members with business and/or industrial applications.

For more information:

Faculty of Natural, Exact, and Educational Sciences

Email: facned@unicauca.edu.co