Journal Prospectiva

Study of the environmental impact of refining used lubricant oils using Life-cycle Assessment methodology as strategy

José Valencia Chavez — 2025-03-21

Used lubricating oil is an anthropogenic pollutant difficult to handle due to its toxicity and physical state. The re-refined process demanded less natural energy resources than non-refined option become it in a sustainable option to the recovery of used lubricating oil. In the present work, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out for the re-refining technology by thin layer distillation in a real process for using the OPENLCA software version 1.11 and the midpoint method of ReCiPe 2016 (H) V1.13. The inventory information was compiled from a real plant and, other part of the information was obtained in dialogue with experts in used oil treatment processes or consulted in specialized sources and extracted from the database Ecoinvent data 3.8. Results were obtained in 10 of the 12 impact categories under study and it was evident that the substitute process flow, to obtain lubricant base, positively impacts avoiding all the categories studied with values different from zero (results with negative values). The highest environmental impact was associated with the category of climate change with a value of 0.1232 kg CO2-Eq. Furthermore, the most relevant impact to be avoided by the re-refining process is human toxicity with a value of -0.0265 kg 1,4-DCB-Eq. Finally, the re-refined process contributes to preventing environmental impacts in the categories of freshwater ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication, marine ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity and human toxicity, the latter being the most relevant impact to be avoided.

Sostenibilidad ambiental de la minería de caliza en La Guajira, Colombia

Danny Daniel López Juvinao — 2025-03-21

The Currently, mining-industrial activities around limestone rock are growing continuously, however, their development generates environmental effects on ecosystems. The objective of this research is to examine environmental sustainability in companies producing limestone derivatives in the south of Guajiro territory to propose environmental management strategies. The methodology is a descriptive explanatory type and with a non-experimental approach, as a central tool an instrument composed of 2 dimensions and 8 indicators around the nominal variable sustainability is applied; complemented with technical visits and field observation to collect detailed information. As a result, it is found that there is a disarticulation of the productive phases to sustainability, because there are no viable actions that promote local development in environmental matters, which mainly affects the soil and air factors due to the magnitude of the exploitation and even impact human health. It was concluded that mining organizations are currently not associated with the demands of environmental planning instruments and there is a deficiency in the implementation of strategic plans focused on the proper use of natural resources, which interferes in the consolidation of an environmentally sustainable culture.

SYNTHESIS AND LYOPHILIZATION OF GRAPHENE OXIDE SHEETS WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF OXIDATION

Gian Camilo Bastidas — 2025-03-21

Graphene oxide (OG) with different degrees of oxidation was synthesized using the modified Hummers procedure. In addition, a freeze-drying drying procedure was carried out to obtain sheets with fewer impurities. The material obtained presented a wide band close to 3250 cm^-1 corresponding to the O-H stretch in its FTIR spectrum, in addition to the presence of bands between 1000 – 2000 cm^-1 corresponding to C=O (1720 cm^-1), O-C=O (1400 cm^-1) and C-O (1030 cm^-1) bonds of oxygenated groups. In the Raman spectrum, two bands were observed between 1000–2000 cm^-1, the D-band (1350 cm^-1) and the G-band (1600 cm^-1), and four wide bands between 2500–3500 cm^-1 corresponding to the G*, G', 2D' and D-G bands, generated by the fluorescence emitted by the graphitic skeleton of the material. Both results confirmed the presence of oxygenated groups in the structure of the OG samples. The lyophilized samples presented essential bands such as the O-H tension (3250 cm^-1), C=O tension (1720 cm^-1), and C=C tension (1625 cm^-1) of the FTIR spectrum and the D (1350 cm^-1) and G (1600 cm^-1) bands in the Raman spectrum, which allowed quantifying the effect of OG oxidation and fragmentation. Micrographs obtained by the AFM and SEM techniques confirmed that the sheets had up to 75 layers of graphene oxide. XPS spectroscopy was used for the OGm4 sample to verify the degree of oxidation, exhibiting an oxidation of 44.25%. The results obtained in this research demonstrate the possibility of preparing OG quickly and easily with different degrees of oxidation and lateral size of the sheets, which is fundamental in the biological applications of the material, such as bacterial inhibition and anti-cancer capacity

Composites of Polyvinyl Alcohol And Chitosan Reinforced With Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Regenerative Therapy

Carlos David Grande Tovar — 2025-03-21

Recently, the demand for alternative therapies for tissue restoration based on biomaterials that facilitate tissue restoration processes and avoid microbial infections has increased. In this work, we have synthesized four composite formulations based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (CS), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). The leading bands in the infrared spectrum of PVA and CS were evident, as well as the incorporation of NPs-ZnO. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that the interaction of the ZnO-NPs with the carbonyl group thermally destabilizes the composites. The morphological study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the composites incorporated with ZnO-NPs present an irregular and rough porous microstructure due to the evaporation of the solvent. Examination of the implanted composites by histological analysis demonstrated their biocompatibility and biodegradability 60 days after implantation. The simultaneous degradation and formation of type I collagen fibers, with increased blood vessels and inflammation, indicate a highly biocompatible and resorbable material, which could potentially revolutionize regenerative therapy

Caracterización del modo espacial de un láser λ=405 empleado en la detección de Huanglongbing por visión artificial

YAIR ENRIQUE GARCIA PACHECO — 2025-03-21

Huanglongbing of citrus fruits is a disease that especially attacks citrus fruits, generally produced by a bacteria called Candidatus Liberibacer asiaticus and transmitted by a vector, Diaphorina Citri, which transmit the disease quickly which causes asymmetrical fruits, small sizes, defoliation in the branches and progressive death of the plant. In this way, the detection of this disease is usually carried out using chemical methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which has a detection efficiency greater than 95%. However, it is a test that requires sample treatment and takes time. In this sense, this work aims to implement an artificial vision system for in situ detection of the disease. Currently, work has been done on the design and implementation of such a system. Consequently, this work presents the preliminary results of such a study, which includes the characterization of the spatial modes of a laser with a wavelength of 405 nm, in which its beam waist, its divergence and the factor of quality. In summary, once the study has been carried out, it is possible to conclude that the characterized laser is of adequate quality for the development of fluorescence-based devices

Patrimonio geológico del cabo de la vela: estrategia novedosa para el desarrollo socioeconómico y geoturístico (Colombia)

Juan Daniel Rojas Mejía — 2025-03-21

Colombia es un país geomegadiverso expresado por su litología, geoformas, cavidades subterráneas, yacimientos minerales, fósiles, aguas termales, entre otros. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo caracterizar el complejo máfico-ultramáfico del Cabo de la Vela (CMUCV), como patrimonio geológico de Colombia. Metodológicamente inicialmente se realizó revisión del estado del arte. Posteriormente, fases de campo para reconocimiento, inventario, toma de muestras y valoración propuestos. Se identificaron milonitas, cataclasitas y peridotitas asociadas a serpentinas perteneciente al CMUCV, parcial o totalmente serpentinizadas. Además, rocas máficas y ultramáficas fracturadas en zonas de falla y plegadas, gabros y peridotitas fracturadas presentando estructuras cataclástica y rocas sedimentarias asociadas a la Formación Castilletes compuestas por fragmentos de tamaño arena con minerales de cuarzo y carbonatos. El Complejo Máfico-Ultramáfico del Cabo de la Vela cumple con los requisitos para catalogarlo como patrimonio geológico de Colombia de acuerdo con los parámetros científicos, paisajísticos, didácticos y turístico-simbólicos.

Determinación de las diferencias en el dimensionamiento de los proyectos viales producto de la utilización del único origen nacional de coordenadas en Colombia: estudio de caso

Saieth Baudilio Chaves Pabón — 2025-03-21

This article is the result of the investigation "Determination of the differences in the dimensioning of road projects as a result of the correct use of the only coordinate origin", carrying out a technical comparison of the use of the usual six coordinate origins with the only origin proposed by resolution 471 of 2020, in a road project between the municipalities of Planadas Tolima and Palermo Huila. Collecting data in the field through GPS sessions of previously cast landmarks along the road, processing them in the two aforementioned sources, analyzing the results and presenting clear conclusions in order to meet the project objective.

ANALYSIS OF THE ISOLATION BETWEEN LAND MOBILE RADIOCOMMUNICATION SERVICES

Claudia Milena Hernández Bonilla — 2025-03-21

Land Mobile Service communication systems are widely used by different sectors of the industry in the country, however, the allocation of frequencies over the territory requires a precise management to avoid interference and make the best use of the scarce resource of the electromagnetic spectrum. This article numerically determines the distance separation that should exist between Land Mobile Service devices, operating in the band between 30 MHz and 470 MHz, to ensure that there is no interference. The Monte Carlo method was used to simulate the system, based on the interference probability, the effect of co-channel interference, adjacent channel and blocking was considered for different propagation models and different scenario sizes. The results indicate that according to the propagation model, the minimum separation distances can vary from 108 km between stations operating at the same frequency and increase as different aspects are considered in the system modeling.

Caracterización del material estéril de la minería de carbón a cielo abierto para usos viales: caso de estudio mina El Descanso, Colombia

D’lanys Soto Ortiz — 2025-03-21

La minería es una actividad que requiere del uso y manejo de diversos materiales para sus operaciones, destacando la construcción y mantenimiento de vías que contribuyen a la normal circulación de sus equipos, optimización de los procesos de acarreo y cuidado. El objetivo de esta investigación es caracterizar el material estéril de la minería de carbón a cielo abierto de los mantos 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 200, 250 y 260 para usos viales: caso de estudio mina El Descanso, Colombia. Metodológicamente se procedió inicialmente en una revisión documental en las diferentes bases de datos científicas; posteriormente se realizó una etapa observacional de campo complementada con toma de 150 muestras aleatorias en los frentes de explotación, aplicándoles ensayos de Slake Durability Test, intemperismo, compresión simple y carga puntual, apreciándose el comportamiento de cada tipo de material. La utilidad para las vías permanentes presenta un rango de durabilidad de 0,87-0,99 y porcentaje de disolución de 1%–13%, vías temporales presentan un rango de durabilidad de 0,68-0,84 y un porcentaje de disolución de 32-16%, y vías para botadero presentan un rango de durabilidad de 0,14-0,58 y un porcentaje de disolución de 42%-86%. En conclusión, los mantos 150, 200 y 260 presentaron características favorables para usos viales de tipo permanentes, con desgaste inferior al 9%, resistencia a intemperismo mayor a 15 días de exposición con pérdidas promedio inferior al 36% y resistencia en los laboratorios de carga puntual promedio de 6,3 MP.

Interpretation of normalized vegetation indices (NDVI) to estimate the density of vegetation cover present in a polyculture model, implemented in the municipality of Candelaria Atlántico, using multispectral images.

Oscar Eduardo Gualdron Guerrero — 2025-03-21

Multispectral surveys are tools that have allowed for the acquisition of information about productive soils through overflights with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), that integrate a camera with the capacity to acquire images in very narrow ranges of different visible and non-visible light spectra. The research presented in this article focuses on identifying the behavior of variables such as vegetation cover density, crop phytosanitary status, and water footprint presence, among others, with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) through the generation of an inspection and monitoring strategy that allows for rapid characterization of the studied soil and taking actions within agricultural activity. The strategy was implemented on a polyculture of beans, plantains, and cassava, on a particular property in the municipality of Candelaria Atlántico Colombia, conducting a multi-temporal analysis of multispectral surveys over a period of three months.

Curvas de operación de métricas Seis Sigma para evaluar la calidad de un proceso de producción paralelo convergente

Tomas Jose Fontalvo Herrera — 2025-03-21

The objective of this research is to evaluate the quality of a convergent parallel production process, through the operational curves generated by Six Sigma metrics. As a theoretical conception, the concepts of quality evaluation systems of a production system, Six Sigma metrics, parallel production system and operational curves were articulated. As a methodology, a heuristic, quantitative and factual analysis was carried out, which allowed the evaluation of the proposed process through the new operation curves generated by the Six Sigma metrics. As a finding, it can be evidenced that, the best level of the sigma production system (Z) of 5.30, achieves that the rate of defects per million opportunities (DPMO) is significantly reduced from 9892 to 68, allowing the yield to increase from 99% to 100%. This demonstrates that Six Sigma metric operating curves are a reliable tool for analysing process variability, which helps to improve the quality and efficiency of production systems.

Architectural Evolution at Netflix: A Case Study on Microservices and the Transformation from Monolithic to Scalable Systems.

Carlos Henríquez — 2025-03-21

This article examines how Netflix has evolved its technological infrastructure through the adoption of microservices architecture, which has enhanced its scalability, resilience, and overall performance. Various architectural styles implemented during different phases of Netflix's growth are reviewed, highlighting how these styles influenced the company’s ability to adapt to a significant increase in users and content demand. Key benefits and challenges faced during this transition are discussed, supported by analyses of academic literature and industry studies. Finally, the article evaluates the lessons learned and offers best practices for other organizations looking to adopt microservices. This exploration not only sheds light on Netflix's journey but also provides valuable insights into the broader implications of microservices architecture in modern software development.