Guanajuato, Gto., April 26, 2019.- Oil is a fundamental factor for the development of our country, however, in Mexico approximately 60% of the product has characteristics of heavy and extra-heavy crude, which complicates the processes of extraction, transport and processing.
Thus, in order to contribute to the solution of the technical problems facing the oil industry, academics of the University of Guanajuato (UG), led by Dr. Miguel Ángel Vázquez Guevara, work on the development of molecules that allow to reduce the viscosity of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil.
As a result of their research, they recently obtained from the Mexican Industrial Property Institute (IMPI) the patent "application of a chemical composition for the reduction of the viscosity of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil", as well as, the granting of the patent at the international level by the USPTO.
1) https://www.gob.mx/imp/articulos/se-desarrolla-tecnologia-para-reducir-viscosidad-de-crudos-pesados-y-facilitar-su-manejo?tab=
2) http://riiit.com.mx/article/3346.html
In this regard, Dr. Vázquez, member of the consolidated academic body of organic synthesis, attached to the Department of Chemistry of UG's Guanajuato Campus, explained that they have been working since 2013 in conjunction with the program of Molecular Engineering of the Mexican Institute of Petroleum in projects financed by the National Council of Science and Technology and the Secretariat of Energy (CONACytT-SENER), on the design, synthesis and evaluation of molecules with physicochemical properties that have an impact on the reduction of viscosity, as dehydrators and improvers of oil crude wettability.
Regarding the patents that were obtained in collaboration with the Mexican Institute of Petroleum, Dr. Vázquez commented that the next step is to look for the mechanisms and strategies to transfer the technology, since the field tests generated good results. The challenge, he emphasized, is to adapt this technology to the characteristics of each producer's field, the advantage that the research group has, lies in the knowledge acquired in this type of projects.
The scholar explained that at the University of Guanajuato there are various alternatives to support the development of inventions and the protection of these. Financing through the Directorate of Support for Research and Postgraduate (DAIP), or external organizations, such as CONACYT, or through the Secretariat of Energy. As well as, the support in the industrial protection through the ecosystem of liaison, innovation, development and application of the knowledge (VIDA UG), that besides to promote the inventions, it follows up the process that is followed in the IMPI to protect the developments Intellectual.
In addition, he commented that this type of work is developed through a multidisciplinary team. His research group has a constant interaction with colleagues within the academic body and with researchers from areas such as biology, optics, computational and pharmacy theoretical chemistry, internal and external, allowing the design, synthesis of molecules and Its evaluation/application in different areas of knowledge.
As a result of this collaboration, three other patents have been registered and awarded at the national level, one of them with possible application as molecules with antifungal activity because in preliminary tests these compounds have shown more potent activity than the fluconazole on various microorganisms of the genus Candida.
These works would not have been developed without the commitment and dedication of all the students of the research group, as well as the collaborations with the colleagues of the different areas. I am convinced that the quality and skills acquired and applied by undergraduate and graduate students give these results, says the researcher. These works are a challenge, not to patent and to comply administratively, but to follow up until we see a transfer, that is the real challenge.
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