METALLICO Young Researchers: Barbara del Pilar Ahumada Vargas

Recovering valuable raw materials, demonstrating sustainable production or developing innovative technologies: Many young researchers are doing their part to achieve the goals of the METALLICO project. They are highly motivated and passionate about their work. One of our "METALLICO Young Researchers" is Barbara del Pilar Ahumada Vargas. She is a project manager and researcher at Cetaqua. Currently, she is researching ways to treat acid mine drainage and recover valuable metals like cobalt in the Tailco and Purges processes, helping reduce environmental impact and support a circular economy. Read more about Barbara and her motivation.

What is your motivation and what excites you the most about your work?

As an environmental engineer, what really motivates me is knowing that I’m working to solve real environmental problems using science and technology.

What excites me most about this project is the chance to work with people who know more than I do and to learn from them. Also, seeing the progress we make and the results we achieve gives me satisfaction.

 

Which impact do you think your research will have on the future? What do you hope to achieve with your research?

I hope my participation helps develop this project and puts these technologies into practice for treating acid mine drainage, recovering critical resources, and reducing environmental pollution. I truly hope that in a few years, these solutions can be applied on a large scale, helping the mining industry transition toward a circular economy.

 

What opportunities does the research project METALLICO offer you as a young researcher in your early career?

The METALLICO project gives me the opportunity to work and collaborate with experts from different international fields, which has really helped me grow professionally. It also allows me to apply my knowledge in a real-world context, moving beyond the academic framework.

 

What is the best thing about your job as a scientist in the METALLICO project? 

The best part of my work is seeing how ideas that started out just as concepts turn into real solutions that can help the environment.

There are always cool moments in the lab when you are working on experimental processes. Many interesting and easy-to-see things happen, like when mining water passes through a membrane and you can see the difference in color. Or another example, cobalt sulfide is pink, so when you see that color, you know you are on the right track. So, honestly I think the most fun part is seeing how theory turns into practice.

Find Barbara on LinkedIn!