Departamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica

As the world's top copper producer, Chile's output is significant, reaching 5.3 million metric tons in 2024 and accounting for over 20% of global production in 2023, per Statista.

To sustain its leadership, the national mining industry faces the imperative of increasing copper sulfide and oxide concentrate production. This demands optimizing current mineral extraction and processing systems.

A new production matrix for copper concentrates would incur a significant increase in water consumption during flotation, the key mineral separation process.

From March to June, Luciano Figueroa Maturana is undertaking a research internship at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão-Monte Castelo Campus, in São Luís, Brazil. He is currently completing his master’s degree in Engineering Sciences, specializing in Extractive Metallurgy and Materials Science and Engineering, and simultaneously beginning his PhD in Engineering Sciences, specializing in Materials Science and Engineering.

From March to June, Luciano Figueroa Maturana is undertaking a research internship at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Maranhão-Monte Castelo Campus, in São Luís, Brazil. He is currently completing his master’s degree in Engineering Sciences, specializing in Extractive Metallurgy and Materials Science and Engineering, and simultaneously beginning his PhD in Engineering Sciences, specializing in Materials Science and Engineering.