Personal profile
Research Interests
Integrated investigations across materials science, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and marine bioresources reveal a cohesive focus on sustainable production, biostimulation, and contaminant management. The graphene synthesis from agricultural waste (rice husks) identifies optimal calcination ranges (450–600°C) and confirms graphene formation via XRD and Raman, highlighting scalable, eco-friendly graphene production. In precision farming and agroecology, artisanal bioles and plant-derived phytochemical stimulation show positive effects on banana seedling secondary metabolites, growth, and potential yield, supported by bibliometric and experimental evidence. Cocoa-based studies demonstrate mycorrhizal symbiosis as an effective strategy for phytostabilizing cadmium uptake, suggesting soil and soil-microbe interactions as a route to safer crops. A review on macroalgal bioactives discusses their potential to reduce reliance on synthetic agrochemicals and pesticides, with regional emphasis on Ecuador and key algae species. Additionally, heavy metal analysis in Anadara tuberculosa establishes baseline contamination assessments essential for public health compliance, underscoring environmental monitoring imperatives. Collectively, this body of work advances sustainable materials synthesis, bio-based agricultural inputs, mycorrhizal-assisted remediation, and ocean-algae–derived bioproducts, with robust methodological approaches (spectroscopy, ICP-OES, bibliometric analysis, greenhouse experiments) and clear implications for environmental health, crop quality, and circular economy benefits.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Development of Mobile Applications Based on Machine Learning for the Taxonomic Identification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and its Application in Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Management
Quiroz Martinez, M. A. (PI), Carrera Jimenez, J. A. (Col), Morales Carchi, K. L. (Student), Franco Ortega, R. S. (Student), Naranjo Moran, J. A. (Col), Cedeño Vinces, K. G. (Col), Ortiz Ortega, D. A. (Student), Guevara Salazar, A. D. (Student), Pacheco Flores De Valgaz, A. V. (Col), Contreras Freire, J. S. (Student), Aucaquizhpi Cajamarca, W. J. (Student), Ramos Jimenez, A. B. (Student), Chancay Rodriguez, O. E. (Student), Aguirre Mera, J. S. (Student), Parrales Villegas, O. I. (Student), Campoverde Torres, K. G. (Student), Sanin Cepeda, J. E. (Student), Barrera Rivera, D. A. (Student), Almeida Mosquera, I. M. (Student), Zambrano Ordoñez, D. D. (Student), Toro Luzardo, B. T. (Student), Garzon Salazar, G. (Student), Peñafiel Zambrano, G. P. (Student), Avila Calva, S. M. (Student) & Alava Reyes, A. J. (Student)
30/01/25 → …
Project: Research and Development
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Phytochemical Characterization using Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) of Representative Species in the Tropical Dry Forest Remnant of the María Auxiliadora Campus of the Salesian Polytechnic University, Guayaquil Campus (Phytochemistry)
Ballesteros Lara, J. L. (Col), Naranjo Moran, J. A. (PI), Cedeño Vinces, K. G. (Col), Pacheco Flores De Valgaz, A. V. (Col), Jaime Carvajal, J. J. (Col), Rodas Andrade, M. N. (Student), Chong Hermenegildo, E. C. (Student), Caraguay Carchi, N. S. (Student), Erazo Mendoza, V. A. (Student), Muñoz Ricaurte, G. P. (Student), Pin Cobos, C. S. (Student), Moran Cedeño, D. D. (Student), Ayala Paz, R. A. (Student), Villalta Villamar, D. P. (Student), Zaldivar Alejandro, P. A. (Student), Auria Yagual, M. O. (Student), Samaniego Negrete, B. D. (Student), Gallegos Giovannetti, S. S. (Student), Brito Jaya, A. D. (Student), Loor Pluas, S. L. (Student), Soledispa Arias, A. A. (Student), Cabezas Vasquez, N. J. (Student), Campos Ulli, C. V. (Student), Jacome Argoti, K. S. (Student), Sosa Triviño, M. K. (Student), Alvarez Diaz, A. D. (Student), Peña Paez, J. M. (Student), Burgos Banchon, B. J. (Student), Jarrin Rodriguez, P. D. (Student), Navas Sancan, N. A. (Student), Torres Solis, J. J. (Student), Baquero Gonzalez, J. D. (Student), Robles Caluña, D. K. (Student), Carrion Traverso, M. A. (Student), Pincay Orrala, Z. E. (Student), Navarrete Mite, S. T. (Student), Solorzano Proaño, A. G. (Student), Alvear Caguana, D. I. (Student), Soria Jima, S. S. (Student), Regalado Oviedo, M. F. (Student), Bodero Tello, E. E. (Student), Martinez Fierro, J. F. (Student), Drouet Alvarez, D. V. (Student) & Zea Castro, A. C. (Student)
7/11/23 → 3/03/26
Project: Research and Development
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Determination of Heavy Metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Anadara tuberculosa in the Sectors of the Gulf of Guayaquil using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
Hidalgo Ramirez, C. E. (Col), Ballesteros Lara, J. L. (Col), Naranjo Moran, J. A. (Col), Cedeño Vinces, K. G. (PI), Pacheco Flores De Valgaz, A. V. (Col), Loja Chalen, K. A. (Student), Arreaga Chalen, K. I. (Student), Arcos Aldaz, F. D. (Student), Kuontay Jaime, P. S. (Student), Castro Portilla, P. V. (Student), Goya Leon, J. A. (Student), Noles Piña, M. D. L. A. (Student), Muñoz Roca, R. M. (Student), Saa Rodriguez, J. E. (Student), Pazmiño Arroba, N. C. (Student), Quimis Gonzalez, N. A. (Student) & Maldonado Salas, D. C. (Student)
3/02/23 → 22/05/25
Project: Research and Development
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From Rice Husk to Graphene: Exploring the Effect of Calcination and Leaching
Pacheco Flores de Valgaz, A., Salcedo Cajas, G. & Rivas Fermín, A., 2025, Systems, Smart Technologies, and Innovation for Society - Proceedings of CITIS 2024. Inga Ortega, E. M., Robles-Bykbaev, V. E., García Herranz, N. & Gallego Diaz, E. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 271-281 11 p. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; vol. 1331 LNNS).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Phytochemical Stimulation Through the Use of Artisanal Biols in Banana Seedlings Musa Paradisiaca L. A Biblio-Metric and Experimental Review
Jaime-Carvajal, J., Naranjo-Moran, J., Flores de Valgaz, A. P. & Ballesteros-Lara, J. L., 2025, Systems, Smart Technologies, and Innovation for Society - Proceedings of CITIS 2024. Inga Ortega, E. M., Robles-Bykbaev, V. E., García Herranz, N. & Gallego Diaz, E. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 349-359 11 p. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; vol. 1331 LNNS).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review
Open Access -
Mitigation of Cadmium Uptake in Cocoa Seedlings (Theobroma Cacao L.) Through Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis of Contaminated Soils
Jaime Carvajal, J. J., Naranjo Moran, J. A. & Pacheco Flores De Valgaz, A. V., 12 Dec 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
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Quantification of Heavy Metal Content in Anadara tuberculosa from the Gulf of Guayaquil Using ICP-OES: Assessing Marine Contamination
Vinces, K. C., Pacheco Flores de Valgaz, A. & Ballesteros, J., Mar 2024, In: Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 14, 5, 1704.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Red macroalgae: an ecological alternative for sustainable agriculture in Ecuador
Flores-De-Valgaz, A. P., Choez, E. L., Naranjo-Morán, J. & Santana, P. M., 2024, In: Boletin de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. 53, 2, p. 143-168 26 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations