Berger, Pia
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Berger, Pia
Official Name
Berger, Pia
Alternative Name
pberger
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ORCID
Scopus Author ID
36871420600
Researcher ID
DTT-5414-2022

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Characterization and Determination of the Toxicological Risk of Biochar Using Invertebrate Toxicity Tests in the State of Aguascalientes, México

2019 , Felix Flesch , Berger, Pia , Daniel Robles-Vargas , Gustavo Emilio Santos-Medrano , Roberto Rico-Martínez

Following a quantitative analysis of adequate feedstock, comprising 11 woody biomass species, four biochars were generated using a Kon-Tiki flame curtain kiln in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico. Despite the high quality (certified by European Biochar Certificate), the biochars contain substantial quantities of hazardous substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, and heavy metals, which can induce adverse effects if wrongly applied to the environment. To assess the toxicity of biochars to non-target organisms, toxicity tests with four benthic and zooplanktonic invertebrate species, the ciliate Paramecium caudatum, the rotifer Lecane quadridentata, and the cladocerans Daphnia magna and Moina macrocopa were performed using biochar elutriates. In acute and chronic toxicity tests, no acute toxic effect to ciliates, but significant lethality to rotifers and cladocerans was detected. This lethal toxicity might be due to ingestion/digestion by enzymatic/mechanic processes of biochar by cladocerans and rotifers of toxic substances present in the biochar. No chronic toxicity was found where biochar elutriates were mixed with soil. These data indicate that it is instrumental to use toxicity tests to assess biochars’ toxicity to the environment, especially when applied close to sensitive habitats, and to stick closely to the quantitative set-point values.

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Sustainability of Urban Parks: Applicable Methodological Framework for a Simple Assessment

2023 , Teresa González-ramírez , Berger, Pia , Sánchez-Gómez, Claudia , Faezeh Mahichi

Urban parks are central to advancing urban sustainability and improving overall quality of life by providing green spaces that promote physical and mental well-being, mitigate environmental issues, and foster community cohesion. However, there is a lack of methodologies that measure these benefits and provide a sustainability rating. In this study, we propose a valuable tool for measuring the sustainability level of urban parks: low (0–50%), medium (51–79%), and high (80–100%). It employs effective and affordable measures for the daily management of urban parks. It is rooted in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic. We have defined 19 indicators (e.g., renewable energy and energy efficiency, environmental impact on society) and 50 criteria (e.g., clean energy generation, water workshops). A multi-criteria analysis facilitated the selection process for these indicators and criteria. This methodology is developed by characterizing and systematically documenting the park’s day-to-day operations. We present a case study of Cárcamos Park in Guanajuato, Mexico. Through this real-life scenario, we demonstrate our methodology’s high applicability and effectiveness. The sustainability assessment of Cárcamos Park reveals a level of 57%, with the environmental pillar at 47.7%, the economic pillar at 49%, and the social pillar at 75%. The adaptability of our methodology during the design phase of new parks plays a crucial role in shaping sustainable park layouts. Park managers can apply our procedure to any park, evaluate their sustainability status, and detect areas of opportunity.

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BIOPLASTIC MADE OF ORANGE PEELS

2022 , Domínguez-Soberanes, Julieta , Berger, Pia , HERNANDEZ LOZANO, LINDA CAROLINA , DENISE ORTEGA FRAUSTRO , MARIA FERNANDA MACIAS OCHOA , Cachutt-Alvarado, Crisdalith

This study uses orange peel waste to create a biopolymer that can be used for different purposes. In order to achieve this, we evaluated various technologies for the production of the biopolymer, and tried to design the most environmentally friendly process possible. One of the reasons why this bioplastic should be manufactured is to participate in the replacement of common environmental hazardous plastic, which has been banned in many places. On the other hand, using orange peel as the main ingredient is an alternative and gives value to an organic waste that has limited use in circular economy solutions. In this research we present a methodology to create a bioplastic of orange peels. As a result, we obtained a biodegradable, flexible and resistant material to be used in the manufacture of containers, utensils, etc. In addition, it is a material that, given the raw materials used, is considered GRAS (Generally Recognized As Save), implying a non-toxic product that is safe for the consumer.

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Biomass and biochar potential, a chance for semidesertic areas like Aguascalientes, Mexico

2017 , Berger, Pia , Flesch, F.

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Biodegradable Polymer Obtained from Orange Peels

2019 , Berger, Pia , Cachutt-Alvarado, Crisdalith , HERNANDEZ LOZANO, LINDA CAROLINA , Denise Fraustro-Ortega , Domínguez-Soberanes, Julieta , Maria-Fernanda Macias-Ochoa

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International circular economy strategies and their impacts on agricultural water use

2022 , Maurício Dziedzic , Priscila Rodrigues Gomes , Marco Angilella , Abdelghani El Asli , Berger, Pia , Adilia Januario Charmier , Ying-Chu Chen , Ranahansa Dasanayake , Rebecca Dziedzic , Filipa Ferro , Donald Huising , Michael Knaus , Faezeh Mahichi , Fouad Rachidi , Cândida Rocha , Kevin Smith , Shunso Tsukada

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Biopolymers obtained from orange waste based on a decision tree

2020 , Berger, Pia , Cachutt-Alvarado, Crisdalith , Domínguez-Soberanes, Julieta , HERNANDEZ LOZANO, LINDA CAROLINA , Denise Ortega-Fraustro , Maria Fernanda Macias-Ochoa , Samantha Licea-Dominguez

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