As part of his studies, environmental engineering student Jorge Alonso Delgado Sáenz joined a field trip to a palm oil manufacturer in Ucayali, in Peru's remote east, in 2015. There, he and other students at the National University of Ucayali were shocked by the environmental cost of the palm oil industry. “I was struck by the devastating impact that poorly managed wastewater had on the environment,” he recalls.
Jorge began researching wastewater practices and was disheartened by what he found. “Over 290 million cubic meters of wastewater is generated in Latin America and the Caribbean every day, 80% of which is dumped without any treatment into the environment, damaging aquatic ecosystems and reducing the amount of accessible drinking water.” For Jorge, this was not acceptable: “That’s when I decided to do something about it.”
Biosorbent Wastewater Treatment Process
His search for a solution led him to a variety of technologies, including filtration and biodegradation. Developed over the course of two years of research, Jorge’s invention, STARI YAQUA, combines both technologies to transform wastewater into clean water, compost and protein-rich insect biomass.
Wastewater first passes through a biosorbent filter, which retains small solids, oils and grease. This residual organic is then broken down by a combination of bacteria, fungi, black soldier fly larvae and earthworms – a process that produces compost and insect biomass as valuable byproducts. The water, meanwhile, passes through a phytofilter, which uses plants to remove any remaining solids. The resulting clean water can then be reused in agriculture. Not only does this limit pollution, but it reduces the pressure on South America’s water reserves caused by a growing reliance on irrigation for farming.
Jorge knew his invention could make a real difference. But while he was still working on it, he discovered that other engineers were trying to steal his idea and profit from it. That's when he realized he needed to patent his STARI YAQUA.
When he looked into existing patents, he was relieved to find that no one had created a biosorbent filter using earthworms and black soldier fly larvae before. This meant he could file for a patent on his unique wastewater purification system in Peru.
Expert legal advice for patenting wastewater treatment technology
It was around this time that Jorge learned of WIPO’s Inventor Assistance Program (IAP). A partnership between WIPO and national patent offices, the IAP pairs inventors like Jorge with a volunteer patent attorney or agent, who provides free patent drafting and prosecution services. With its global network of volunteers, the IAP helps inventors in Peru and nine other participating countries – Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and South Africa – patent and commercialize their innovations both at home and internationally.
“The IAP is a very helpful program for anyone who is unfamiliar with the patent process,” says Jorge. “It provides support throughout the process, from searching for inventions similar to the technology or process you want to patent through to properly drafting the patent application and obtaining a granted patent. The program also provides support should there be any comments from the patent examiners.”
Jorge was paired with Gino Raphael Ramirez Vásquez, executive director at the law firm Estudio Del Pacífico and an expert in intellectual property (IP) law. “Being an IAP volunteer helps me to provide legal technical support to people who wish to protect their inventions,” shares Gino. “The program brings value to me as a professional patent specialist, as it allows me to help many people get their inventions filed. It is an honor to be part of the IAP.”
“Gino was very helpful in the patent process,” recalls Jorge. “He helped me to file national patent applications and an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), together with pro bono specialists from the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI)”. ASIPI is one of the IAP sponsors, and their specialists assisted Jorge in extending patent protection for his invention to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. The national phases of his PCT application in Colombia and Ecuador were supported by two other IAP volunteers – Luis Felipe Castillo Gibsone, Partner at Castillo Grau Abogados, and María Cecilia Romoleroux Armijos, Partner at CorralRosales.
Award-winning wastewater treatment solution
The successfulgrant of his patent had a transformative effect for Jorge’s company, Ecoproducts S.R.L. The patented wastewater treatment technology helped him win several awards, including the green patent category at the Twentieth National Invention Contest and the Eco-Reto 2023 Sustainability Award, as well as numerous competitive grants from StartUp Perú and the Inter-American Development Bank, among others. The patent also led Ecoproducts to be chosen to join the Climate Finance Accelerator Program Peru as well as several business incubators.
Thanks to these achievements and the competitive advantage provided by his patent, sales at Ecoproducts have doubled in recent years. Jorge and his team are now expanding their business, offering new services, entering new markets and validating technology in other relevant sectors. One thing remains unchanged: Jorge’s mission to transform wastewater management and reduce its environmental impacts. “The road is long and full of challenges that will make you doubt what you are working on,” he says. “But be patient and persevere toward all the goals you set for yourself. Conviction is key, as it will keep you moving forward. Never give up.”
