Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína
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Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína
Official Name
Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína
Alternative Name
iniembro
Niembro-García, J.
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Scopus Author ID
57214691986
Researcher ID
FOO-8281-2022

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Evaluation of the Environmental Performance of Adsorbent Materials Prepared from Agave Bagasse for Water Remediation: Solid Waste Management Proposal of the Tequila Industry

2022 , Gómez-Navarro, Camila S. , Warren-Vega, Walter M. , Serna-Carrizales, Juan C. , Zárate-Guzmán, Ana I. , Ocampo-Pérez, Raúl , Carrasco-Marín, Francisco , Collins-Martínez, Virginia H. , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína , Romero-Cano, Luis A.

In the present research work, the use of agro-industrial waste such as agave bagasse from the tequila industry was carried out. The agave bagasse was treated to obtain biosorbent and hydrochar materials. Direct Blue 86 was used as an adsorbate model to evaluate the performance of both materials. The adsorption studies showed an adsorption capacity of 6.49 mg g−1 in static and 17.7 mg g−1 in dynamic, associated with a physisorption process between functional groups of the material and the dye. The characterization of the biosorbent showed that the material was mainly composed of macroporous fibers with a surface area <5.0 m2 g−1. Elemental analysis showed a majority composition of C (57.19 wt%) and O (37.49 wt%). FTIR and XPS analyses showed that the material had C-O, C=O, -OH, O-C=O, and -NH2 surface groups. RAMAN and TGA were used to evaluate the composition, being cellulose (40.94%), lignin (20.15%), and hemicellulose (3.35%). Finally, the life-cycle assessment at a laboratory scale showed that the proposed biosorbent presents a 17% reduction in several environmental aspects compared to hydrochar, showing promise as an eco-friendly and highly efficient method for the remediation of water contaminated with dye, as well as being a promising alternative for the responsible management of solid waste generated by the tequila industry.

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A systematic literature review of quantitative models for sustainable supply chain management

2021 , Flores-Sigüenza, Pablo , Marmolejo Saucedo, José Antonio , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína , Lopez-Sanchez, Victor Manuel

Supply chain management is the basis for the execution of operations, being considered as the core of the business function in the 21st century. On the other hand, at present, factors such as the reduction of natural resources, the search for competitive advantages, government laws and global agreements, have generated a greater interest in the sustainable development, which, in order to achieve it, industries need to rethink and plan their supply chain considering a path of sustainability. So sustainable supply chain management emerges as a means to integrate stakeholders' concern for profit and cost reduction with environmental and social requirements, attracting significant interest among managers, researchers and practitioners. The main objective of this study is to provide a synthesis of the key elements of the quantitative model offerings that use sustainability indicators in the design and management of forward supply chains. To achieve this objective, we developed a systematic literature review that includes seventy articles published during the last decade in peer-reviewed journals in English language. In addition a 4 Ws analysis (When, Who, What, and Where) is applied and three structural dimensions are defined and grouped by categories: Supply chain management, modeling and sustainability. As part of the results we evidenced a continuous growth in the scientific production of this type of articles, with a predominance of deterministic mathematical programming models with an environmental economic perspective. Finally, we identified research gaps, highlighting the lack of integral inclusion of a life cycle analysis in the design of supply chain networks. © 2021 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press.

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Exploring the Connection Between Digital Systems and Sustainability: Synergy for a Brighter Future

2024-01-01 , Paniagua, Karina Lucio , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína

This chapter delves into the pervasive integration of digital systems into daily life and their repercussions. It underscores the critical role of sustainable development across economic, societal, and environmental domains, endorsed by the UN’s ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. This exploration emphasizes the strategic potential within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the corporate sector. Additionally, it delves into the interconnectedness of digital systems with the environment, addressing their ecological footprint and advocating for sustainable remedies, considering both their positive contributions and negative impacts. This comprehensive review encompasses the evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions and the management of electronic waste, alongside creating eco-conscious digital systems using renewable materials and energies. The discourse extends to the efficacy of data management and cloud services, stressing the imperative shift towards eco-friendly practices, notably within energy-efficient data centers. Moreover, it scrutinizes how digital systems are leveraged to advance sustainability in society, notably in domains like intelligent transportation and the evolution of smart cities. Finally, it touches upon global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the Digital Green Deal, aimed at propelling the adoption of sustainable digital systems, encompassing both their beneficial aspects and adverse effects. ©Springer

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Robust Optimization Model for Sustainable Supply Chain Design Integrating LCA

2023 , Flores-Siguenza, Pablo , Marmolejo Saucedo, José Antonio , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína

Supply chain management is the basis for the operations in an organization. The development of realistic supply chain designs that work effectively in the presence of disturbances in a stochastic environment and incorporate sustainability factors, is a complex challenge being investigated in recent years. However, the inclusion of a methodological structured framework to evaluate environmental impacts constitutes a knowledge gap in the literature on supply chain design. This study developed a model for sustainable supply chain design, integrating Life Cycle Assessment and based on a robust optimization approach. The study follows a 4-stage methodology beginning with data collection and the execution of a Life Cycle Assessment. Then, the deterministic modeling is proposed, concluding with a robust model. A bi-objective model is proposed to maximize utility and minimize environmental impact based on demand scenarios. The model was validated with real data from a medium-sized enterprise that produces antibacterial gel, generating as a result, different configuration alternatives for the supply chain to transport the products and raw materials between its elements. The conclusions of this work highlight the importance of including sustainability factors during supply chain design, the consequences and costs of its inclusion, as well as the priority actions that promote sustainable designs.

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Life cycle cost and life cycle assessment: an approximation to understand the real impacts of the Electricity Supply Industry

2022 , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína , Alfaro-Martínez, Patricia , Marmolejo Saucedo, José Antonio

The real cost that consumers should pay for the use of electrical energy could be estimated using a life cycle approach (LCT). This approach is about visualizing not the traditional focus on the production site and manufacturing processes but the focus on environmental, social, and economic impacts of goods or services over its entire life cycle. The LCT is really a new thought form on which tools such as the life cycle assessment (LCA) and the life cycle cost (LCC) are based. The LCA applied to the Electricity Supply Industry includes the study of each and every one of the steps from the production and extraction of raw materials, processing, transportation, storage, distribution, and use. Each of these can have an impact on different dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. On the other hand, the LCC considers together the analysis of all the costs and the environmental repercussions throughout its life cycle. The costs of a product throughout its life cycle can be easily visible (direct costs of production) or they can have less visibility (indirect costs for the manufacturer, or costs for society). Electric power is a commodity; since it cannot differentiate, its profit margin is small. Some of its characteristics are (1) large variations in demand, so that the generation and transmission capacity necessary to guarantee the peak is not used at other times. This also implies variation in its price. (2) The demand must be solved almost instantaneously and there are limitations for its storage. (3) In order to lower the cost, a diversified portfolio is required. Electricity is a single, basic good, for which a balance between supply and demand must be guaranteed at all times. The grid operator decides which and for what time the generating plants must generate electricity in order to achieve a balance between supply and demand. Electricity rates or prices depend on several factors: quantity demanded, technology used in its generation, the capacity of the transmission and distribution lines, the location of the generating sources, and the fuels. In addition, similar to many other products, environmental costs are not considered. Different approaches are used to calculate supply and demand: cost recovery, long-term marginal cost, price dynamics, etc. In this chapter, different approaches to the supply and demand calculation problem are proposed and analyzed, and the perspective of LCT, LCA, and LCC is included. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Improving student retention and soft skills: Faculty experiences on transitioning to active learning approaches on first-year engineering programs at Universidad Panamericana

2019 , García Higuera, María del Carmen , Chávez Tellerias, Rocio , Alemán Juárez, Armando , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína

Motivation and problem background. This complete evidence-based practice paper describes the pedagogical redesign process of an introductory physics course for first-year engineering students at Universidad Panamericana, and the experience of professors that applied problem and project-based learning methodologies. Teaching and learning concepts and approaches in higher education are experiencing dramatic transformations due to contextual changes in recent years. Contemporary teaching models are student-centered, and based on active learning, technology, and social media integration. Engineering education research has grown exponentially and even though there is vast evidence of how different teaching practices can improve learning, professors still face a lot of barriers to include them in their practice. Adequate transfer of conceptual knowledge to problem solving requires appropriate pedagogies that ensure student engagement in the learning process. Quality of instruction and pre-college preparation are key for student success in STEM courses, and therefore, in the decision of students to stay in their programs (Chen & Soldner, 2013,). In Mexico, according to ANFEI (National Association of Colleges and Schools of Engineering), only 40% of engineering students graduate on time. First-year course are easy for some students, but represent a big challenge for others, who frequently do not succeed (Vargas Leyva & Jiménez Hernández, 2015). In addition, research has shown that student's prior mathematics and physics training, as well as their academic attitude, influence their decision to stay in STEM majors (Astin, 1993). Besides, since 2010, Universidad Panamericana has deployed a series of strategies to help students strengthen the professional skills. These strategies include skills ABET proposed for engineering graduates, such as multidisciplinary teamwork, critical thinking, and effective communication. Nevertheless, there is still a significant gap between the skills engineering graduates need to succeed in the workplace and those developed through college experience. To address the previous concerns, the Center for Innovation in Education was invited to collaborate with the College of Engineering at Universidad Panamericana to redesign an introductory physics course. Problem and Project-based Learning (PBL) methodologies were chosen to teach the course and strategies to develop students’ soft skills were included. The course was taught in the fall of 2017. This paper is divided into two parts. In the first part we describe the redesign process that the Center for Innovation in Education followed in collaboration with three engineering faculty members teaching the course. The second part we present the experiences of the eight professors that taught the redesigned course. ©2019 American Society for Engineering Education

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Structural dynamics of logistic networks: A sustainable approach

2019 , Marmolejo Saucedo, José Antonio , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína , Alva-Guerra, L. F.

This paper addresses the problem of designing logistics networks under a sustainability approach. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is used to assess the environmental burdens associated with goods or services. The goal of this LCA is to characterize the paths of the network in a study, to offer a new optimization parameter. The process is carried out by hybridizing the classical approach of network optimization and the LCA methodology. Finally, a real case study is presented with 4 plants and 50 clients where the proposed methodology is applied. Two real scenarios are compared. The results show that a crossdocking strategy obtains the least environmental impact in its operation.

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A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Antibacterial Gel Production

2021 , Enríquez-Martínez, Valeria , Niembro García, Isabel Joaquína , Marmolejo Saucedo, José Antonio

During the COVID-19 pandemic the antibacterial gel become an important prevention measures to stop the spread of the virus. In Mexico, the demand for preventive hygiene products and health supplies increased more than 50% at the beginning of the pandemic. With the concern of knowing the negative impacts that the high demands of this product can cause to the environment, we took on the task of looking for life cycle assessment (LCA) studies related to the production of antibacterial gel, it was unexpected not to find any scientific information reported about the subject. This paper takes as one of its main motivation the lack of information to accomplish an LCA which is used to evaluate the negative environmental impacts associated with the products or services. The aim of this paper is elaborate an LCA study of the antibacterial gel, a substance widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess the environmental impacts from its production. We focus on a case study involving the antibacterial gel from a company in Mexico. We completed the inventory analysis in collaboration with the company and compiled the impact assessments using the GaBi software and the ReCiPe method. The results shows that the principal impact categories of the antibacterial gel production are the Climate Change, Ozone Depletion, Fossil Depletion and Human Toxicity. © 2021, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

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