I have been a member of the Biohydrometallurgy Research Team TEP-189 since 1989. The main achievements of my research work are described below:
* Contributing to the development of the IBES and the BRISA processes for the bioleaching of mineral sulphides and concentrates, which consist of the leaching with ferric sulphate and the biological regeneration of the leaching agent. This technology is an alternative to traditional pyrometallurgical processes and has been operated at pilot and demonstration plant scale. In this line, the publications of my Doctoral Thesis on the recovery of gold from refractory ores stand out and currently considered reference documents in this field.
* The development of processes for the treatment of waste and industrial effluents with high metallic content, such as electric arc furnace dust, pyrite ash, copper smelting slag, copper smelting flue dust, and aluminium etching baths, among others. The application of hydrometallurgical processes allows the metal content to be recovered, the hazardous nature of the waste to be eliminated and the final waste to be minimised.
* The development of processes to treat acid mine drainage and to adjust the composition of mining process water. Effective treatment of mine water is achieved using high-performance bioreactors developed by the research group. In the case of acid mine drainage, the acidity of the water is eliminated, and the metal content is recovered. In the case of process water, our biotechnology makes it possible to recycle the water and minimise its final discharge. This technology has important economic and environmental implications, as it helps to improve the operation of flotation plants, to make better use of water and to eliminate the environmental impact of these effluents.
This work has been financed mainly by projects and collaboration agreements with companies (32 in total) and by public funding through 8 National and 3 European projects (one of which is ongoing).
Furthermore, my teaching activity is directly related to my research activity. I teach Waste Management in the Materials Engineering degree and in the double degrees of Chemistry and Materials Engineering and Physics and Materials Engineering. I also teach Environmental Engineering in the Master in Advanced Studies in Chemistry. This situation allows me to disseminate and share my scientific advances with students, resulting in a truly positive experience for both the students and the advancement of research. On the one hand, they show in evaluation surveys how their learning and interest in the subject improves when they study and participate in real cases. The interest aroused has resulted in the completion of 14 final degree projects and 6 final master's projects under my supervision, which have served as the seed for a new line of research I am leading on the treatment of electronic waste, which has resulted in the publication of 4 papers in journals, 2 oral communications and 1 poster at international meetings, as well as collaborations with professors from other universities. It should also be noted that 3 of the Master students have defended their PhD theses, and 2 are currently completing it under my supervision. My scientific production includes 2 inventions patents, industrial property rights, 34 presentations at international conferences and 42publications in highly prestigious international journals (citations: 587 SCOPUS, 480 WOS), where I was mostly involved as corresponding author. (AC). Number of six-year-term (CNEAI): 4. Last six-year-term date: 1/1/2019.
I have extensive experience as a reviewer of scientific papers in high impact journals such as Hydrometallurgy, Waste Management, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Journal of Cleaner Production, Minerals, and Journal of Environmental Management. I am a project evaluator for the "Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación de Chile".
Performance of the single-person position of responsibility in university management: Secretary of the Department of Chemical Engineering (2006-2011).
Coordinator of the Industrial Chemical Engineering degree (2010-17).
I have been a member of the Biohydrometallurgy Research Team TEP-189 since 1989. The main achievements of my research work are described below:
* Contributing to the development of the IBES and the BRISA processes for the bioleaching of mineral sulphides and concentrates, which consist of the leaching with ferric sulphate and the biological regeneration of the leaching agent. This technology is an alternative to traditional pyrometallurgical processes and has been operated at pilot and demonstration plant scale. In this line, the publications of my Doctoral Thesis on the recovery of gold from refractory ores stand out and currently considered reference documents in this field.
* The development of processes for the treatment of waste and industrial effluents with high metallic content, such as electric arc furnace dust, pyrite ash, copper smelting slag, copper smelting flue dust, and aluminium etching baths, among others. The application of hydrometallurgical processes allows the metal content to be recovered, the hazardous nature of the waste to be eliminated and the final waste to be minimised.
* The development of processes to treat acid mine drainage and to adjust the composition of mining process water. Effective treatment of mine water is achieved using high-performance bioreactors developed by the research group. In the case of acid mine drainage, the acidity of the water is eliminated, and the metal content is recovered. In the case of process water, our biotechnology makes it possible to recycle the water and minimise its final discharge. This technology has important economic and environmental implications, as it helps to improve the operation of flotation plants, to make better use of water and to eliminate the environmental impact of these effluents.
This work has been financed mainly by projects and collaboration agreements with companies (32 in total) and by public funding through 8 National and 3 European projects (one of which is ongoing).
Furthermore, my teaching activity is directly related to my research activity. I teach Waste Management in the Materials Engineering degree and in the double degrees of Chemistry and Materials Engineering and Physics and Materials Engineering. I also teach Environmental Engineering in the Master in Advanced Studies in Chemistry. This situation allows me to disseminate and share my scientific advances with students, resulting in a truly positive experience for both the students and the advancement of research. On the one hand, they show in evaluation surveys how their learning and interest in the subject improves when they study and participate in real cases. The interest aroused has resulted in the completion of 14 final degree projects and 6 final master's projects under my supervision, which have served as the seed for a new line of research I am leading on the treatment of electronic waste, which has resulted in the publication of 4 papers in journals, 2 oral communications and 1 poster at international meetings, as well as collaborations with professors from other universities. It should also be noted that 3 of the Master students have defended their PhD theses, and 2 are currently completing it under my supervision. My scientific production includes 2 inventions patents, industrial property rights, 34 presentations at international conferences and 42publications in highly prestigious international journals (citations: 587 SCOPUS, 480 WOS), where I was mostly involved as corresponding author. (AC). Number of six-year-term (CNEAI): 4. Last six-year-term date: 1/1/2019.
I have extensive experience as a reviewer of scientific papers in high impact journals such as Hydrometallurgy, Waste Management, International Journal of Mineral Processing, Journal of Cleaner Production, Minerals, and Journal of Environmental Management. I am a project evaluator for the "Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación de Chile".
Performance of the single-person position of responsibility in university management: Secretary of the Department of Chemical Engineering (2006-2011).
Coordinator of the Industrial Chemical Engineering degree (2010-17).
