Profile (CV) of the research teaching staff

Nerín de la Puerta, María Consolación Cristina
Department: Departamento de Química Analítica
Field: Química Analítica
Faculty: Escuela de Ingeniería y Arquitectura

Research Institute: INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACIÓN EN INGENIERÍA DE ARAGÓN (I3A)
Group: T53_23R: GUIA - Grupo Universitario de Investigación Analítica
Academic position: Prof. Emerito
Email: cnerin@unizar.es
ORCID number: 0000-0003-2685-5739

Research interests
  • Tecnología de alimentos
  • Conservación de alimentos
  • Contaminación

PhDs
  • Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Ciencias Químicas. Facultad de Ciencias. 1980

Download curriculum in PDF format Go to ORCID page

 
                 
Over the first 10 years after PhD, the research was mainly focused on environmental studies, developing the analytical procedures for sampling and analysis of pollutants in water, soil and the atmosphere. The sampling procedure developed using polyurethane foams was later adopted by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Heavy metals, organometallics in the atmosphere and polyaromatic hydrocarbons as well as pesticides were studied and monitored in real situations in new projects. Several BCR (EU) projects were also carried out in this period. In the later 80’s I started with the research on food packaging interactions. After a short training in the laboratory of MAFF in UK, I started with the migration problems from food contact materials. Since then (1990) this has been the main focus of my research: Migration studies, development of all analytical procedures required to study the different migrants in both food simulants and food, their origin in the packaging (inks, adhesives, materials, etc.) and the identification of all migrants. Advanced analytical techniques were required, studied in depth and optimized for identification of unknowns (included the Non Intentionally Added Substances, NIAS) and quantification of migrants from either virgin or recyced materials. GC-MS, ICP-MS and LC-MS, including HRMS, play an important role in this. In 2000 I started the research on new active materials (active packaging) to protect the food against oxidation and microbiological infection, to improve food safety and extend the shelf life of packaged food initially in joint research with an industrial partner (Artibal). New antioxidant and antimicrobial materials were developed, tested at laboratory and industrial scale and patented. Over the last 2o years other active packaging were developed, patented and lunched into the market. The research was carried out with Artibal, Repsol, GOGLIO (Multinational Company) and Samtack (Spain) using different technologies to incorporate the active agents in the material. I’m inventor in all patents (6) and all of them are in production and in the market. All the analytical work required to ensuring the safety in use of these new materials, to monitor their behaviour with time and their effects on food were developed in depth over the period.  I have published more than 440 scientific papers, including 13 book chapters, directed 42 PhD Thesis and I’m inventor in 7 patents. I have developed as Principal Investigator nearly 250 research projects, 20 International, and coordinator in two EU projects. I was invited to give 180 conferences around the world. I was awarded several times, being the most important ones the GOld Medal Basilio Paraiso (2023), MIA award(2024) for the research carrier and Transfer of Knowledge to industrial sector, 1st Award for Transfer of Knowledge to the Industrial Sector in 2009; The Award of Heroin (Defender) of Zaragoza in 2008 for the scientific career and the First Environmental Award in Aragón in 1990 and the Agrofood Research Prize in Aragón in 2017. I am a consultant member in international forums (official bodies, universities, etc.), expert member in EFSA (WG recycling) 2010-2018, member of the Scientific Committee of AESAN 2011-2015, reviewer of the main scientific journals in the area of Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Food Safety, Food Technology and Environment and evaluator of PhD Theses and Research Projects nationally and internationally.


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