Dr. Hugo Valdes, Universidad Catolica del Maule, Chile
Dr. Hugo Valdés is a Process Engineering PhD graduate from Universidad de Santiago de Chile (2011) and a Professor Adjunto at Universidad Católica del Maule since 2011. He leads research in Sustainable Engineering Processes, focusing on membrane module fabrication, membrane distillation desalination, process modeling, and industrial energy efficiency ⚙️💧. Dr. Valdés has supervised over 75 undergraduate and graduate research projects 🎓, published 28 indexed articles 📚, and holds 5 patents 🧪. His funded projects include innovative membrane technologies with successful industrial applications, such as Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and sustainable juice concentration processes
Publication Profile
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🎓 Education & Qualifications
Dr. Hugo Valdés holds a PhD in Process Engineering Sciences from the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (2007–2011) 🧪🏗️. He also earned a Master’s in Food Technology (2005–2007) and a Bachelor’s in Chemical Civil Engineering (2000–2007) from the same institution 🧫👨🔧. Further enhancing his expertise, he completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Energy Systems at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2015–2016) ⚡🌍. His academic path reflects a deep commitment to innovation in chemical, energy, and food process engineering, supporting his leadership in sustainable and industrially relevant research
📌 Employment
Dr. Hugo Valdés Riquelme has been serving as an Academic at the Universidad Católica del Maule, located in Talca, Maule, Chile 🌎📍. He is affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering, specifically in the Department of Computing and Industries 💻🏭. His role includes teaching, mentoring students, and conducting advanced research in sustainable process engineering, membrane technologies, and industrial innovation 🔬⚙️. With over a decade of dedicated service, Dr. Valdés has made significant contributions to both academic development and applied engineering solutions within the university and broader research community
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Hugo Valdés Riquelme’s research lies at the intersection of sustainable process engineering, membrane technology, and environmental innovation. His work spans membrane distillation, water desalination, wastewater reuse, and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems 💦♻️. He also contributes to food concentration technologies, chemical extraction, renewable energy, and urban sustainability 🌍🍃. Notably, he integrates Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into water infrastructure and education reform 🌿🏫. With patents and applied projects, his work has high industrial and environmental relevance, placing him at the forefront of green industrial research and sustainable engineering
Publication Top Notes
📘 Avocado oil: Characteristics, properties, and applications – 220 citations, 2019 🍈🧪
📘 Concentration of noni juice by means of osmotic distillation – 99 citations, 2009 🍹💧
📘 Comparative Analysis of Conventional and Emerging Technologies for Seawater Desalination – 50 citations, 2021 🌊⚗️
📘 Chemical kinetics in membrane-based extraction of molybdenum(VI) – 48 citations, 2009 🧪⚙️
📘 Proposed model of sustainable construction skills for engineers in Chile – 38 citations, 2018 🏗️📚
📘 Artisan brick kilns: State-of-the-art and future trends – 36 citations, 2020 🧱🔥
📘 Reverse osmosis concentrate: environmental impact and technologies – 33 citations, 2021 💦🌱
📘 Engineering education for water infrastructure with Nature-Based Solutions – 32 citations, 2020 🌿🏙️
📘 M‐learning in kinematics education – 30 citations, 2021 📱🎓
📘 Chilean zeolite in wetlands for ammonium and phosphate removal – 20 citations, 2020 💧🪨
📘 Cu(II) extraction via hollow fiber contactor – 20 citations, 2013 🔬🧯
📘 Treated wastewater for irrigation in Chile – 18 citations, 2022 🚰🌾
📘 Low-carbon electrical network assessment in Chile – 17 citations, 2019 ⚡📉
📘 Cogeneration process in apartment buildings – Case Mexico – 17 citations, 2019 🏢🔁