Jaime Plazas-Tuttle

@uniandes.edu.co

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Universidad de los Andes

Jaime Plazas-Tuttle


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https://researchid.co/jplazas

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Environmental Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering
20

Scopus Publications

Scopus Publications

  • Effects of Minimum Cost Optimization in Water Distribution Networks on Residual Chlorine and Trihalomethanes Dynamics
    Laura González, Sergio Serrano, Valeria Rodríguez, Daniel Álvarez, María Alejandra González, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Daniele B. Laucelli, Juan Saldarriaga
    Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 2026
    Water distribution networks (WDNs) are designed under parameters and restrictions that guarantee compliance with hydraulic and water quality conditions in the system. The optimized design of WDNs ensures a lower cost for the network, maintaining an adequate supply of the demand. The optimization process leads to the reduction of some diameters compared with those in nonoptimal networks, thus changing the hydraulic behavior and hence affecting the water quality performance. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between optimal and nonoptimal WDN designs concerning residual chlorine levels and the formation of disinfection byproducts, specifically total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). Seventeen networks were optimized using the optimal power use surface, and for each one of them four nonoptimal alternatives were generated using genetic algorithms. Residual chlorine and TTHM concentrations were analyzed in the different configurations of the networks according to their geometrical characteristics. Results indicate that optimized networks exhibit reduced chlorine consumption, consequently leading to lower TTHM formation. In particular, the optimized design achieved a reduction of up to 20.6% in chlorine consumption compared to the more expensive alternative. Future work will focus on evaluating water quality dynamics, considering event-based operational changes.
  • Water distribution systems: a review of water quality modeling for management and contamination warning systems
    Laura González, Carlos Montes, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Dominic L. Boccelli, Zoran Kapelan, Juan Saldarriaga
    Urban Water Journal, 2026
    Water quality modeling is essential for the management and operational control of water distribution systems (WDSs). The dynamic nature of these systems increases uncertainty about the permanent state of the network; therefore, conventional models are often insufficient to predict their behavior. In this study, a comprehensive literature review on water quality modeling in offline and online conditions, including classical models and real-time applications, is presented. The objective of this work is to classify and analyze these methodologies, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest directions for future research. The classification is divided into four categories: contaminant event detection, monitoring, contaminant source identification, and water quality simulation. The findings suggest that only approximately 20% of the articles analyzed address real-time applications. Consequently, there is a pressing need to strengthen the development of systems that integrate modeling, prediction, and control mechanisms to enhance water quality management.
  • Optimizing activated carbon production from chontaduro seeds via physical activation with steam for ibuprofen removal: A factorial design and multi-attribute utility theory approach
    L. Angel, A. Villot, M. Rodriguez Susa, J. Plazas-Tuttle, Y. Andres, C. Gerente
    Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2025
    The primary goal of this research is to optimally produce activated carbon (AC) from chontaduro seeds (CS) in a sustainable way and evaluate its effectiveness in removing ibuprofen (IBU) from water. Chontaduro is a fruit from tropical regions in the Americas, especially Colombia. This initiative addresses two existing challenges: the lack of circular economy strategies for CS in this country and the increasing contamination of surface waters with IBU. Direct physical activation with steam was chosen as activation method because it saves water, time, and energy; enables better development of specific surface area and reduces process costs and related pollutants. Four variables (holding time, maximum temperature, temperature ramp and steam flow) were selected to find out the optimal set of parameters to produce AC through a 2 k factorial experimental design, leading to an experiment with 16 runs. Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) was applied to optimize the production of AC by maximizing yield, surface area, mesopore volume and net energy ratio (NER). Optimized AC (AC11) exhibits a surface area of 1105 ± 12 m 2 ·g −1 with a mesopore volume of 0.180 ± 0.013 m 2 ·g −1 . AC11 was tested for IBU removal in deionized water (DIW) and soft synthetic water (SW), showing remarkable adsorption capacities of 204.8 mg·g −1 and 240.7 mg·g −1 , respectively, after a pseudo-equilibrium time of 3 days. AC11 performance was compared to four others ACs produced in the experimental design, confirming that AC11 is indeed the optimal choice and validating the power of factorial design and MAUT. No competition in the adsorption mechanism was observed between IBU and natural organic matter (NOM). CS demonstrated to be a remarkable precursor for the production of AC. • Activated carbon (AC) was produced from chontaduro seeds (CS), a promising precursor. • Factorial design and Multi-Attribute Utility Theory led to optimal activation of CS. • Optimized AC had a surface area of 1105 m 2 ·g −1 and mesopore volume of 0.180 m 3 ·g −1 . • Ibuprofen (IBU) adsorption on AC reached 240.7 mg·g −1 in soft synthetic water. • No competition between natural organic matter and IBU was observed on AC adsorption.
  • Examining green and chemical methods for zero-valent iron nanoparticle synthesis in heavy metal adsorption
    Juan Ferro-Falla, Lewis S. Rowles, Farith Diaz Arriaga, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle
    Water Cycle, 2025
    The increasing concern over heavy metal contamination in water has necessitated the development of sustainable and efficient treatment methods. This study compares two synthesis approaches for zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) for cadmium, chromium, and arsenic removal: chemical reduction using sodium borohydride and green synthesis utilizing cocoa husk extracts combined with hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Chemically synthesized nZVI exhibited high initial removal efficiencies (>98%), though desorption effects occurred over time due to particle aging. In contrast, green-synthesized nZVI, stabilized by a carbon matrix, maintained consistent removal efficiencies above 98% for 120 hours under acidic conditions, showcasing superior stability and reactivity. Characterization through SEM, EDS, and XRD confirmed the dual mechanisms of metal removal: reduction and adsorption facilitated by the Fe(0) core and oxide layers. While experimental conditions were optimized for each synthesis method, the findings highlight the promise of green-synthesized nZVI as a sustainable alternative for heavy metal remediation. Future studies should explore adsorption isotherms and long-term applications to further validate the scalability and efficacy of these materials.
  • Assessing the Relative Sustainability of Point-of-Use Water Disinfection Technologies for Off-Grid Communities
    Bright C. Elijah, Ali Ahmad, Yalin Li, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Lewis S. Rowles
    ACS Environmental Au, 2024
    High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection technologies can be adopted to provide access to safe drinking water by treating water at the household level; however, navigating various POU disinfection technologies can be difficult. While numerous conventional POU devices exist, emerging technologies using novel materials or advanced processes have been under development and claim to be of lower cost with higher treatment capacity. However, it is unclear if these claims are substantiated and how novel technologies compare to conventional ones in terms of cost and environmental impacts when providing the same service (i.e., achieving a necessary level of disinfection for safe drinking water). This research assessed the sustainability of four different POU technologies (chlorination using sodium hypochlorite, a silver-nanoparticle-enabled ceramic water filter, ultraviolet mercury lamps, and ultraviolet light-emitting diodes). Leveraging open-source Python packages (QSDsan and EXPOsan), the cost and environmental impacts of these POU technologies were assessed using techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment as per capita cost (USD·cap –1 ·yr –1 ) and global warming potential (kg CO 2 eq·cap –1 ·yr –1 ). Impacts of water quality parameters (e.g., turbidity, hardness) were quantified for both surface water and groundwater, and uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were used to identify which assumptions influence outcomes. All technologies were further evaluated across ranges of adoption times, and contextual analysis was performed to evaluate the implications of technology deployment across the world. Results of this study can potentially provide valuable insights for decision-makers, nonprofit organizations, and future researchers in developing sustainable approaches for ensuring access to safe drinking water through POU technologies.
  • Carbon Nanotubes: Sublethal Effects and Unique Mechanisms of Toxicity in Aquatic Species
    Tara Sabo‐Attwood, Christine Ngan, Candice Lavelle, Jaime Plazas‐Tuttle, Navid B. Saleh
    Toxicology of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials in Human Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems, 2021
    The high volume use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)in industrial, biomedical and consumer product sectors highlights the potential for environmental contamination and a need for generating reliable data on their fate, transport, and biotoxicity. Understanding such data is needed to better evaluate the environmental impacts and potential health effects of CNTs on relevant species. As aquatic systems are a reservoir for contaminants, assessing the potential adverse effects on aquatic organisms is of primaryconcern. CNT toxicity to aquatic species has mainly focused on outcomes that include mortality, growth, reproduction, and in some cases behavior with limited investigations that focus on mechanisms of action. While oxidativestress and genotoxicity are common mechanisms that have been probed, alternate and less traditional mechanisms have emerged. This chapter summarizes research studies that have explored the toxicity of CNTs to invertebrate and vertebrateaquatic species at various doses and through aqueous and dietary exposureroutes. A review of both traditional toxicity endpoints and unique mechanisms that include nutrient depletion, immune modulation, and a role for co-contaminants will be described, along with identified gaps and future perspectives. Finally, the development of new horizon nanomaterials, such as hybrids of carbon and metal nanoparticles, will be introduced, highlighting new mechanisticchallenges in understanding toxicity pathways in aquatic species.
  • Nano-enabled technologies for wastewater remediation
    Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Felipe Muñoz Giraldo, Alba Avila
    Nanomaterials for the Detection and Removal of Wastewater Pollutants, 2020
  • Harnessing the power of microwaves for inactivating: Pseudomonas aeruginosa with nanohybrids
    Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Dipesh Das, Indu V. Sabaraya, Navid B. Saleh
    Environmental Science Nano, 2018
    First report of a nano-enabled breakthrough that harnesses microwave energy for microbial inactivation.
  • Importance and challenges of environmental ligand binding and exchange: Introducing single molecule imaging as a model characterization technique
    Navid B. Saleh, Dipesh Das, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Darwin Yang, Jackson Travis Del Bonis-O'Donnell, Markita P. Landry
    Nanoimpact, 2017
  • An elegant method for large scale synthesis of metal oxide-carbon nanotube nanohybrids for nano-environmental application and implication studies
    Dipesh Das, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Indu Venu Sabaraya, Sneha S. Jain, Tara Sabo-Attwood, Navid B. Saleh
    Environmental Science Nano, 2017
    A facile synthesis technique to generate 100s of mg of nanohybrids with carbon nanotubes and metal oxide of choice.
  • Aggregation Kinetics and Fractal Dimensions of Nanomaterials in Environmental Systems
    Navid B. Saleh, A. R. M. Nabiul Afrooz, Nirupam Aich, Jaime Plazas‐Tuttle
    Engineered Nanoparticles and the Environment Biophysicochemical Processes and Toxicity, 2016
  • Fullerenes, Higher Fullerenes, and their Hybrids: Synthesis, Characterization, and Environmental Considerations
    Nirupam Aich, Jaime Plazas‐Tuttle, Navid B. Saleh
    Carbon Nanomaterials for Advanced Energy Systems Advances in Materials Synthesis and Device Applications, 2015
  • Dynamism of stimuli-responsive nanohybrids: Environmental implications
    Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Lewis Rowles, Hao Chen, Joseph Bisesi, Tara Sabo-Attwood, Navid Saleh
    Nanomaterials, 2015
  • Detection of crack formation and stress distribution for carbon fiber-reinforced polymer specimens through triboluminescent-based imaging
    Nirupam Aich, Eunho Kim, Mohamed ElBatanouny, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Jinkyu Yang, Paul Ziehl, Navid B Saleh
    Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 2015
  • Research strategy to determine when novel nanohybrids pose unique environmental risks
    Navid B. Saleh, Nirupam Aich, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Jamie R. Lead, Gregory V. Lowry
    Environmental Science Nano, 2015
  • Mechanistic lessons learned from studies of planktonic bacteria with metallic nanomaterials: Implications for interactions between nanomaterials and biofilm bacteria
    Navid B. Saleh, Bryant Chambers, Nirupam Aich, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Hanh N. Phung-Ngoc, Mary Jo Kirisits
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2015
  • Emergent properties and toxicological considerations for nanohybrid materials in aquatic systems
    Navid Saleh, A. Afrooz, Joseph Bisesi,, Nirupam Aich, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Tara Sabo-Attwood
    Nanomaterials, 2014
  • A critical review of nanohybrids: Synthesis, applications and environmental implications
    Nirupam Aich, Jaime Plazas-Tuttle, Jamie R. Lead, Navid B. Saleh
    Environmental Chemistry, 2014
  • A systemic framework to develop sustainable engineering solutions in rural communities in Colombia
    María Catalina Ramírez, Jaime Plazas, Camilo Torres, Juan Camilo Silva, Luis Camilo Caicedo, Miguel Angel González
    Systemic Practice and Action Research, 2012
  • Immersed Membrane BioReactor (IMBR) for treatment of combined domestic and dairy wastewater in an isolated farm: An exploratory case study implementing the Facet Analysis (FA)
    Amos Bick, Jaime G. Plazas T, Fei Yang, Adi Raveh, Josef Hagin, Gideon Oron
    Desalination, 2009