Myrna Cortés Morales: “Circular use of lubricants as an enabler for sustainable industry”

Myrna Cortés Morales is an Industrial doctoral student in Machine Elements, doing research on tribological performance of regenerated lubricants.

Myrna Cortés Morales is an Industrial doctoral student in Machine Elements, doing research on tribological performance of regenerated lubricants.

Where do you come from? Where have you been?

I come from the east coast of Mexico, where I grew up surrounded by my (quite big) family. Then, I moved to the smallest state in the country; Tlaxcala, which is a very calm and vibrant place, full of culture and history, hence why the nickname "birthplace of the nation". After travelling around the southern states of Mexico, I got motivated to work towards creating solutions to protect the beautiful nature surrounding us. With this in mind and inspired by a chemistry lecturer, I decided to pursuit a Bachelors in Nanotechnology, which only increased my interest on the impact new technologies can have on the environment.

What brought you to Luleå University of Technology?

After my bachelors, I wanted to learn more about nanomaterials and composites, so I applied for a joint masters programme in Advanced Materials Science, where Luleå University of Technology was one of the consortium partners. Little did I know that I would be staying in Luleå University of Technology for a while! After finishing the masters, I worked as a research engineer until the opportunity to apply for an industrial PhD in collaboration with Luleå University of Technology popped up. Since the project is closely related to the industry and sustainability, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to continue my professional development and make an impact that contributes to the preservation of the environment.

What is your research contribution to Creaternity?

I work with SKF RecondOil, who have developed a technology that allows to maximize the lifespan of lubricants, enabling the circular use of oil. Lubricants are the soul of machines, yet they come from non-renewable sources. Since lubricants are a cheap, disposable asset, many industries overlook how important and valuable they are, and simply dispose of them once their service life is reached. However, by implementing a process to regenerate lubricants and scaling up this technology, the potential impact and contribution to sustainability and circular economy within the industry could be huge, which also aligns with Creaternity's mission to integrate sustainability throughout the whole value chain.

Why is Creaternity important?

In order to advance as a society, we have to collaborate with each other. In this sense, Creaternity provides the space where researchers and industries come together, allowing for fruitful collaborations and expanding horizons. Through this dynamic interaction, all stakeholders contribute towards the common goal of sustainable development.

Where are you going?

Wherever life takes me! I have still some time to finish my PhD but afterwards I would like to keep contributing with my knowledge to create and promote the use of different sustainable solutions, mainly in the industry.

• Contact: Myrna Cortés Morales