Iván Jalil Antón Carreño Márquez, Doctor en Ciencia y Tecnología Ambiental, realizó un estudio para determinar cómo conservar los cristales más grandes del mundo, ubicados en la mina de Naica en Chihuahua, con base los procesos fisicoquímicos ocurridos en la superficie.
Este científico mexicano, tiene 12 años de experiencia como investigador, ha publicado 10 artículos científicos en revistas arbitradas y es miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI) del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT), ha realizado ponencias en congresos naciones e internacionales y ha publicado también libros y capítulos de libros. Actualmente es profesor investigador en la Universidad Politécnica de Chihuahua e investigador en el Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (CIAD).
Iván Jalil, es Licenciado en Química y Maestro en Ciencias en Biotecnología por la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua y Doctor en Ciencia y Tecnología Ambiental por el Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados (CIMAV), quien se ha especializado en Química y Comunicación de la Ciencia.
Este científico mexicano, trabaja actualmente investigando los mecanismos de biomineralización de la brushita esférica a partir de un extracto acuoso de salvado de trigo, con la cual busca optimizar el proceso de síntesis de la brushita para proponer mecanismos de producción más eficientes y amigables con el medio ambiente.
Este proyecto lo desarrolla en el Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo en su sede de Hermosillo, Sonora, en el cual, la Universidad Politécnica de Chihuahua tiene colaboración.
Adicionalmente, también investiga y se especializa en comunicación de la ciencia. Busca comprender y encontrar las vías más adecuadas en los procesos de comunicación de la ciencia, determinar cuáles son las dinámicas internas y externas que limitan la profesionalización de la labor divulgativa.
Una de sus investigaciones concluidas más recientes es el estudio del deterioro de los cristales gigantes de selenita en Naica, Chihuahua, los cuales se degradan cuando se someten a condiciones diferentes a lo que propició su crecimiento. Al ser los cristales encontrados en Naica los más grandes del mundo, se vuelve importante trabajar en su conservación, lo cual pasa necesariamente por entender los procesos fisicoquímicos ocurridos en la superficie.
En esta investigación, determinó, cuales son las condiciones en las que cuales los cristales se degradan y, por ende, con sustento científico logró generar recomendaciones generales para la conservación de los cristales.
PARA CONOCER MÁS DEL TRABAJO DE IVÁN JALIL ANTÓN CARREÑO MÁRQUEZ, COMPARTIMOS ALGUNOS DE SUS ARTÍCULOS PUBLICADOS:
- Naicas Giant Crystals Deterioration Scenarios
- Gypsum crystals pollutants DFT and van der Waals interactions study on its surface deterioration
- Naica’s Giant Crytals Characrerization and Evolution of the Wall-Crystal Interface
- Experiencing science communication from a local perspective an analysis of the volunteer SciCom groups in Chihuahua, Mexico
- Evolution of the Astonishing Naica Giant Crystals in Chihuahua, Mexico
RESUMEN DE ALGUNOS DE SUS ARTÍCULOS CIENTÍFICOS:
Naicas Giant Crystals Deterioration Scenarios
The Cave of Giant Crystals of Naica (Chihuahua, Mexico) is a world geological treasure worth to
be preserved. These crystals of up to 12 m in length are made of selenite, the macrocrystalline variety of gypsum (CaSO4· 2H2O). They have grown for thousands of years until the cave was dried, which allowed the cave and the crystals to be accessible but exposed their surfaces in contact with air. Gypsum crystals are fragile because of their trend to dehydrate, the possible replacement to CaCO3 upon reactions with atmospheric CO2 as well as their intrinsic mechanical properties. Several laboratory experiments, designed to study the deterioration of selenite crystals under different artificial atmospheric conditions, are presented. Four atmospheric compositions rich in CO2, CH4, NOx, and air were tested for 1 year at temperatures of 25 and 60 °C and in either liquid or gaseous environments. The surface evolution was monitored by optical microscopy, infrared spectrometry, and grazing incidence X-ray. diffraction with two-dimensional detectors. Surface alteration and dissolution in a water environment were observed in short exposition times, as well as the formation of bassanite (CaSO4·1/2H2O). Neither anhydrite nor calcite was detected. The gaseous environment constituted the most detrimental conditions to the gypsum crystals integrity.
Gypsum crystals pollutants DFT and van der Waals interactions study on its surface deterioration
Naica’s gypsum crystals are a natural wonder thanks to their magnitude and diaphaneity, but they are susceptible to deterioration due to different climatic conditions. Through self-assembled hybrid systems, physical mechanisms for mineral growth and conservation were studied. Based on experimental data from gypsum crystals (CaSO4·2H2O) absorption models we created in the context of Density Functional Theory (DFT) in combination with PBE exchange-correlation functional. Van der Waals interactions, which had high relevance in
discovering the most stable geometric configuration, were included. Results involve a systematic approach to bulk, surface, and hybrid assemblies of crystals and common pollutant such as CO2, CH4 and NO2. The inclusion of van der Waals interactions made it possible to obtain molecule-substrate bonds to compare against atomic bonds involved in the growth of the crystalline substrate. Binding energy results were consistent with physisorption interactions and revealed the adverse environmental effects on gypsum and bassanite crystals.
Naica’s Giant Crytals Characrerization and Evolution of the Wall-Crystal Interface
Naica’s “Cueva de los Cristales” (Cave of the Crystals) has been compared to the most beautiful places of worship for the incredible display of columns that populate its vault. Said columns are giant gypsum crystals that have already been the subject of extensive studies. This paper contributes to these studies by focusing on the mineral aggregates found at the wall−selenite interface. A detailed chemical and structural characterization of representative samples has been performed using chemical, mineralogical, elemental, and phase analysis methods, with an emphasis on synchrotron micro-spectroscopic techniques. The following main phases were identified: calcite, silica, goethite, and several Pb-, Mn-, Cu-, and Zn-based aggregates. The role of the mineral aggregates, from their potential incorporation at the very beginning of the formation to the final steps of the crystals’ growth, is investigated. Particular attention is paid to their shapes and composition. The data obtained on the morphology of the wall−crystal interface and related phase composition, together with classical nucleation formalisms based on the slightly supersaturated solution, suggest that the nanocrystalline
monomers formed in solution undergo adsorption on the wall, which ultimately promotes mega crystal growth.
Experiencing science communication from a local perspective an analysis of the volunteer SciCom groups in Chihuahua, Mexico
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) ranks Mexico in one of the last places in science performance [OECD, 2019]. This has been a concern for some local science communication groups (SCGs) in small and medium-sized cities, whose mission is to fill this disparity by performing science communication (SciCom) activities. The SCGs were contacted via a survey to collect information about their dynamics and public reach. A descriptive analysis enabled the identification of the logistics and coordination issues found among SCGs.
Consequently, a local network of science communication groups is advised to reinforce their impact.
Evolution of the Astonishing Naica Giant Crystals in Chihuahua, Mexico
Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) is one of the most common evaporites found in the earth’s crust. It can be found as four main variations: gypsum (CaSO4_2H2O), bassanite (CaSO4_0.5H2O), soluble anhydrite, and insoluble anhydrite (CaSO4), being the key difference the hydration state of the sulfate mineral. Naica giant crystals’ growth starts from a supersaturated solution in a delicate thermodynamic balance close to equilibrium, where gypsum can form nanocrystals able to grow up to 11–12 m long. The growth rates are reported to be as slow as (1.4 _ 0.2) _ 105 nm/s, taking thousands of years to form crystals with a unique smoothness and diaphaneity, which may or may not include solid or liquid inclusions. Conservation efforts can be traced back to other gypsum structures found prior to Naica’s. Furthermore, in the last two decades, several authors have explored the unique requirements in which these crystals grow, the characterization of their environment and microclimatic conditions, and the prediction of deterioration scenarios. We present a state-of-the-art review on the mentioned topics. Beyond the findings on the origin, in this work we present the current state and the foreseeable future of these astounding crystals.
A CONTINUACIÓN ALGUNAS DE LAS LIGAS DE SUS PUBLICACIONES:
Experiencing science communication from a local perspective an analysis of the volunteer SciCom groups in Chihuahua, Mexico
Evolution of the Astonishing Naica Giant Crystals in Chihuahua, Mexico
PARTICIPACIÓN EN LIBROS:
Coautor en el libro:
Introducción a la Química Computacional: Notas de Clase
Esta obra, de forma accesible, integra las bases teóricas de la Modelación Molecular, Reactividad Química y principios de Simulación Computacional de Líquidos. El texto está escrito de manera que los conceptos y herramientas difíciles son ilustrados a través de ejemplos sencillos y argumentos cualitativos, después de las presentaciones formales. Sus ventajas principales se encuentran en la forma sencilla y didáctica en que se abordan todos los temas, haciendo énfasis en las aplicaciones. Este libro va dirigido a estudiantes de licenciatura y posgrado en las áreas de Química, Física, Ciencia de Materiales, Ingenierías, Biología, Matemática e Informática. Pueden hacer uso de ella igualmente maestros y profesionistas con interés en modelar y comprender el mundo microscópico, como son químicos, químico-biólogos, físicos, matemáticos, laboratoristas, investigadores, programadores, ingenieros, etc.
ALGUNAS DE LAS PONECIAS MÁS RECIENTES EN LAS QUE HA PARTICIPADO:
Human Proteome Congress World Congress (2022) Cancun, Mexico
“Exploring the role of proteins in brushite biomineralization using an extract f wheat bran as a scaffold: A proteomic approach”.
Public Communication of Science and Technology Network Conference (2023) Rotterdam, Holanda
“SciComm: My way or no way”
“Experiencing science communication from a midsize city in a low-income country: Reflections of the volunteer ecosystem”
VI Coloquio Nacional de Ciencia Recreativa (2021) Virtual
“El ecosistema de los grupos de divulgación de la ciencia en la ciudad de Chihuahua, México”.
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