Luisa Ramos, a graduate of the Chemistry program, has published two research papers, developed and written in collaboration with four co-authors, in two renowned scientific journals. Focused on contributing to environmental sustainability, the results obtained are cause for celebration.

More talented Unicaucans continue to hit it out of the park with their research! Today, we celebrate the achievements of Luisa Damaris Ramos Riascos, a chemistry graduate from our alma mater, who was a co-author of two scientific papers published in two accredited journals.

The first paper, titled Sulfonated Reduced Graphene Oxide: An Acid Catalyst that Efficiently Promotes the Esterification of Glycerol, published in 2022 in Topics in Catalysis, highlights the effectiveness of a graphite-derived catalyst in the acetylation reaction of glycerol. From this result, Luisa and her four co-authors aimed to develop similar materials, but from biomass, thus reducing the use of harmful reagents and creating valuable materials from waste. This led to the second article, Acidic Eco-Catalysts Derived from Coffee Husks in the Acetylation of Glycerol, published in 2025 in Tetrahedron Green Chem, which describes the feasibility of using coffee processing waste to obtain active, economical, and environmentally friendly catalysts. The co-authors of these brilliant papers are, in the case of the first article, Alfonso Enrique Ramírez Sanabria and Cristian David Miranda Muñoz, professors of the Chemistry program at Unicauca; Gerardo Andrés Torres Rodríguez, a professor in the Biology program of our alma mater; and Alexander Sachse. In the second article, professors Ramírez and Miranda also participated.

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“It was an enriching and very rewarding experience. Each stage, from the research to the writing, and the review process, was truly valuable. Discussing and defending the work with expert peers of international stature, and having it finally accepted, shows that at Unicauca we also conduct useful research. The learning that comes from the publication process is immense,” says Luisa Ramos.

She also emphasizes with certainty and determination that she intends to dedicate her life to science; however, beyond developing scientific papers, she aims to find ways to reach a non-specialized audience. “I believe that science is both social and political, so its dissemination is imperative,” she added.

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The mentioned research came from the Research Group in Catalysis at the University of Cauca, a knowledge hub where active work is being done to make chemistry more environmentally friendly. Within this group, to which Luisa belongs, the idea arose to use agro-industrial waste, such as coffee husks, as raw material for catalysts, with the additional goal of adding value to the biomass used. Upon learning of this initiative from Professor Alfonso Ramírez and with the intention of generating a positive impact on society, Luisa chose to base her thesis on this purpose and selected catalysis as the focus of her profession. Later, the Young Researchers and Innovators project became the perfect platform to continue with the research.

Such initiatives reaffirm the importance of scientific research and its potential to transform realities. The University of Cauca will always celebrate our graduates who continue their academic journeys, contribute with new ideas and projects, and demonstrate that the excellence and creativity of Unicauca can make history in science.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center