1998 Université Montpellier II (UMII), France
/Universidad de Los Andes (ULA), Venezuela.
Ph.D. under the Cooperative Research Program on Surfactants with Prof. J-L. Salager.
1995 Université Montpellier II, France.
M.Sc. in "Polymers, Interfaces and Amorphous States" with Prof. N. Kamenka.
1994 B.S.in Chemistry/Biochemistry with special focus on physico-chemical formulation.
November 2001 - present Postdoctoral Researcher, North Carolina State University.
Supervisors: Profs. Keith Gubbins and Carol Hall.
Developed a fundamental molecular-level understanding of surfactants in supercritical CO2-based systems using Monte Carlo simulations.
Studying the influence of formulation (surfactant architecture and concentration, water-to-surfactant ratio and CO2 density) on phase separation, micellization, solubilization and partitioning in CO2/surfactant/water systems. Developed a model able to predict surfactant behaviors in such systems. Due to the opening up of new application areas of CO2 as a green solvent, and particularly water-in-CO2 microemulsion as "universal solvents", understanding the solution behavior of surfactants in CO2/surfactant/water systems is not only of fundamental interest but also important in many industrial applications (reactions, extractions, nanomaterial synthesis). Also presented a series of tutorials on "Surfactants in Binary and Ternary Solutions."
April - June 2001 Visiting Scientist, North Carolina State University.
Supervisor: Prof. Keith Gubbins. Determined the phase behavior and optimum formulation for water/surfactant/oil systems using Monte Carlo simulation.
Studied the partitioning of surfactants between water and oil phases, and determined the optimum formulation. Showed the structure of the water/oil interface at the optimum formulation where the interfacial tension is the lowest, the solubilization the highest, and the system forms a microemulsion. These structures are used in enhanced oil recovery and have many potential applications: detergency, food processing, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
1999 - 2001 Postdoctoral Researcher, Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela.
Supervisor: Prof. W. Olivares. Modeled ion-membrane exchange.
Modeled the ion exchange process at charged membranes and calculated the dissociation constant using statistical mechanics. Interest in this research stems from the importance of ionic interaction mechanisms in biological membranes as in nerve or muscle cells.
1995 - 1998 Ph.D. Candidate, F.I.R.P. Lab (ULA, Venezuela) - Institut Européen des Membranes (UMII, France).
Supervisor: Prof. Jean Louis Salager. Determined the influence of the physicochemical formulation of water/surfactant/oil systems on mass transfer in liquid membranes.
Explored the effect of formulation (surfactant type and architecture and salinity concentration) on interfacial crossing of phenol in water/heptane/surfactants multiple emulsions. Designed the experimental setup and formulated and characterized the initial and final systems using electric conductivity measurements, De Nouy ring and spinning drop tensiometers, and UV-VIS Spectrophotometer. The interfacial mass transfer rate was found to exhibit a strong maximum near the optimum formulation. The liquid emulsion membrane technique is an emerging separation technology with potential applications in biochemical, pharmaceutical and environmental engineering, hydrometallurgy and the food industry.
1995 M.Sc. Candidate, Université Montpellier II, France.
Supervisor: Prof. N. Kamenka. Measured how the interactions between neutral polymers and anionic surfactant change with temperature and polymer concentration.
Determined the interaction type and range between sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyethyleneoxide (PEO) and also between SDS and polyvynilpyrrolidone (PVP) at different polymer concentrations and temperatures using electric conductivity measurements. The surfactant/polymer interactions seemed to be dominated by the surfactant solubility rather than by the polymer hydrophobicity. Surfactant-polymer mixtures are used in industry to optimize system properties (polymerization in emulsion, oil recovery, formulation of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, detergents, pesticides and paints).
1994 B.S. Candidate, F.I.R.P. Lab (ULA, Venezuela).
Supervisor: Prof. Jean Louis Salager / INTEVEP (Venezuelan Petroleum Industry). Measured the influence of a low electrolyte concentration on the stability of water/oil/nonionic surfactant emulsions.
Explored the effect of the divalent cation concentration on the stability of water/kerosene/nonionic surfactant emulsions. Worked on all aspects of system formulation, from the stability measurements through the emulsification technique. The emulsion stability reaches a maximum at low electrolyte concentration. The factors contributing to the stability of emulsions is of great interest and economic importance in the petroleum industry.
August, 1997
"Membrane Separation Processes and Technologies." Presented by Dr. J.G. Sánchez, UMII, France.
January, 1994
"Formulation of emulsions". Presented by Dr. F. Tadros, ZENECA Agrochemicals-ICI Group, England.
September, 1993
"Formulation and emulsions". Presented by Dr. J-L. Salager, ULA, Venezuela.
April, 1993
"Surfactants in solution". Presented by Dr. J-L. Salager, ULA, Venezuela.
1989-1994 Bourses d'Etat (French government fellowship for undergraduate studies).
1994-1998 French-Venezuelan Postgraduate Cooperative Program (PCP) "Surfactants" (Graduate fellowship, joint from Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, France and CONICIT, Venezuela).
2001-2003 Researcher Level I in the SPI System of CONICIT (Venezuela's National Science and Technology Research Council).