METALLICO Young Researchers: Luis Manuel Muñoz Cabello

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 Luis Manuel Muñoz Cabello. He works as a researcher for IDENER. Currently, he is involved in the modelling and optimisation of the processes developed. He also has engineering tasks in the development of the Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (PID) and Process Flow Diagram (PFD) for some of the processes.

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

My motivation is to contribute to a more sustainable, competitive and resilient Europe, where the energy transition and the circular economy are a daily reality. I am excited to work on solutions that reduce the use of resources, emissions and waste, and that strengthen strategic autonomy in critical raw materials. What excites me most is to see how the collaboration between academia, industry and SMEs converts knowledge into concrete improvements that reach society and generate real impact.

Which impact do you think your research will have on the future?

My goal is to reduce the risk of scaling for metal recovery from secondary streams. Combining rigorous material and energy balances with sensitivity analysis and optimization with constraints, I seek to define robust operating windows that improve performance and reduce consumption and emissions. Overall, I hope to contribute to more resilient and circular European value chains, where waste becomes a resource and sustainability goals are met without compromising performance.

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

METALLICO offers a rare combination of access to pilot data, exposure to industrial constraints, and inter-institutional mentorship. I benefit from shared datasets, joint experiments, and design reviews that hone both my technical depth and communication skills. The project also opens doors to conference presentations and short stays, helping me build a network in process engineering and critical raw materials, essential for forging a career at the intersection of research and industry.

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

It is best to see how small modeling findings translate into practical decisions on the floor.

Can you tell us an anecdote from your day-to-day research?

Sure! Recently, I wanted to leave the perfect presentation and I trusted the calendar thinking that the time was already "adapted" to the host country. I set my alarm clock for 5:00, logged in an hour early to prepare, and found that there were still two hours to go. I took the opportunity to rehearse and polish slides. Since then, I always check the time zone they indicate.

Find Luis on LinkedIn!