Dra. Andreina García, one of the head investigators of the Water, Environment and Sustainability of the Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC), has explained in a dissemination activity to the TV-media, the economic impact of microbial adhesion in reverse osmosis technology for Chilean mining industry. Many of mining exploitation in Chile are located in highly water stressed areas with limited possibilities to extract or use the surface or underground water sources without inducing a high hydric impact on the surrounding environment. This scenario has promoted the mining industry to use seawater and reverse osmosis to desalinate it as more environmentally friendly approach to obtain water for ore extraction and processing. One of the research lines of Dra Andreina´s team studies the prevention of microbial adhesion to desalination membranes; an objective that would extend the life of polymer membranes reducing large economic costs and resources to the mining industry.

Dra. Andreina García´s Team participates in the INDESMOF-RISE H2020 consortium coordinated by the BCMaterials, and its expertise on antimicrobial fouling will impact on the development and functional characterization of the MOF-polymeric mixed matrix membranes that will be developed during the next year.