The Instituto de Estudios Riojanos (IER) has awarded its 2025 Research Prizes, recognizing excellence in Rioja’s cultural and scientific heritage.
Our colleagues Celia Sabando Fraile and Marina Corral Bobadilla won the under-35 category for “Reutilización de subproductos lignocelulósicos de Vitis vinifera como biosorbentes para el tratamiento sostenible de aguas residuales industriales contaminadas con Cd(II) y Zn(II).”
Their innovation transforms winery byproducts—vine shoots (sarmientos), grape stems (raspones), and exhausted pomace (orujo)—into chemical-free biosorbents. Just grinding achieves >90% cadmium removal and effective zinc extraction from industrial wastewater.