Xanel Vecino

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Xanel Vecino’s research lies at the critical intersection of waste valorization, resource recovery, and sustainable materials management. Her most-cited work addresses a pressing environmental challenge: the management of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash. Vecino demonstrated that this abundant byproduct, generated at 0.2 tons per ton of waste, contains significant quantities of copper—a valuable metal that can be efficiently recovered via electrowinning. This contribution not only prevents the leaching of harmful metallic species into the environment but also transforms a waste stream into a secondary resource, aligning with circular economy principles. With 14 citations to her leading paper, Vecino’s work is gaining recognition for its practical impact on waste-to-energy plant operations and metal recovery industries. Her research exemplifies how electrochemical processes can be harnessed to close material loops, offering a scalable solution for reducing both environmental contamination and dependence on primary mining. Vecino’s achievements position her as a rising voice in sustainable resource engineering, where her insights are guiding the next generation of waste management strategies.