Browsing by Author "Cardenas Cardenas, Juan Diego"

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    Caracterización fitoquímica y evaluación del potencial remediador de baccharis latifolia frente a contaminantes metálicos en soluciones acuosas Salache Cotopaxi
    (Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC) Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales. Ambiental, 2026-10-15) Cardenas Cardenas, Juan Diego; Moreno Ávila, Andrés Sebastián
    The study evaluated the potential of biochars produced from the leaves and flowers of Baccharis latifolia to reduce Cu(II) in a synthetic aqueous solution, complementing the study with a phytochemical characterization of the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. The plant material was collected in the Salache area, Latacunga canton; it was dried at 80 °C for 24 hours and subjected to ethanol extraction to identify secondary metabolites using colorimetric and precipitation assays. Biochars were produced in a muffle furnace under oxygen-limited conditions at 350, 400, and 450 °C for 15 minutes. Their performance was evaluated against an initial concentration of 104 mg/L of Cu(II), considering contact times of 0, 10, 30, and 60 minutes. The residual concentration was determined using UV-visible spectrophotometry, and the removal percentage was calculated. The screening revealed differences among organs: phenolic compounds scored 5/5 in the stem, flower, and leaf; tannins scored 5/5 in the stem and flower, 4/5 in the leaf, and 3/5 in the root; the flower had the highest flavonoid content, at 4/5, and the leaf showed the strongest preliminary evidence of alkaloids. Biochar yields ranged from 33.39% to 57.65%. The most efficient treatments were leaves at 400 °C and flowers at 450 °C, both with 76.92% removal and a residual concentration of 24 mg/L at 60 minutes. The results demonstrated preliminary adsorbent potential; however, their interpretation was limited by the use of a synthetic solution, a single initial concentration, and the absence of independent replicates.