Research

Starting from pyrolysis...toward the tools for better future

Analytical Pyrolysis

Development of analytical pyrolysis as a tool for characterization of natural occurring compounds and materials from thermochemical decomposition/degradation. Application of small scale pyrolysis for screening of process conditions and catalyst for biomass and waste conversion.

Development of Analytical protocols for quantification of Microplastics in the environment

Microplastics are small, barely visible pieces of plastic that enter and pollute the environment. They enter natural ecosystems from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, cosmetics, clothing, and industrial processes. At now there is no standardized analytical method for determination of this pollutants. Aim of this research is to develop a fast and reliable tool for the study of presence and behavior of microplastics in the environment.

Biological thermochemical hybrid conversions and study of mixed "pyrotrophic" cultures

One possibility for the conversion of refractory materials is to couple thermochemical processes and biological fermentations. This alternative path is known as a thermochemical-biological hybrid treatment and potentially allows to obtain fuels and materials (e.g. polyhydroxyalkanoates) starting from substantially non-degradable substances (e.g. digestate or anaerobically digested sludges). The aim of the research is to study pyrolysis (or similar processes such as hydrothermal carbonization or gasification) as an alternative tool to hydrolysis to produce bioavailable substances, capable of being used by microorganisms or microbial consortia. These microbial consortia, which we call pyrotrophs, are able to live by using pyrolysis products as the only source of carbon.

Development of Power-To-X biological processes

Where the challenge of the present is represented by the circular economy of materials (the transformation of waste into a resource) and the need to reduce CO2 emissions, the near future (characterized by abundant renewable energy) will pose the challenge of designing Carbon Negative processes. able to transform energy peaks into high value added materials and chemicals. Several mature technologies make it possible to produce hydrogen and CO from the electrolysis of water and CO2, and various microorganisms are able to effectively convert these substrates into chemicals, materials and even food. The greatest challenge of biological processes is represented by the need to significantly increase the volumetric productivity through unconventional approaches. The aim of this research line is to optimize and demonstrate a complete system capable of converting electricity into bioplastics (e.g. PHA) with competitive costs. 

Characterization of biochar for environmental applications

Biochar is proposed as geo-engineering strategy for sequestering carbon and substituting part of fossil energy. Nevertheless, environmental effect of biochar is a complex function of mechanical and chemical properties, acid-base features and presence of contaminants which in turn are determined by the feedstock used and pyrolysis process. For this reason, the chemical characterization of this material is mandatory prior to soil application. The aim of the research line is to understand the relationships between production parameters and biochar quality in agriculture and other applications.

Thermochemical treatment for pyrochemicals

Bio-oil and, more in general oil from thermochemical treatment (e.g. bio-oil, gasification tars, hydrothermal liquefaction oils and hydrothermal gasification tars) is a feedstock for fuels and chemicals from renewables.  Understanding its chemical nature is important for both the optimization of the process and the design of upgrading strategies. Thermochemical derived materials are complex matrices, whose composition is strongly affected by the feedstock type and by the process parameters and requires an array of complementary techniques (e.g. silica gel chromatography, methanolysis, size exclusion chromatography, analytical pyrolysis, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric techniques) that must be coupled.

A main component of plant biomass, cellulose plays a key role in the route leading to viable chemicals from renewable resources. Pyrolysis is a thermal treatment that converts cellulose into a liquid material (bio-oil) containing dehydrated monomers. Catalytic pyrolysis  direct pyrolysis toward new compounds that are characterized by new useful chemical  structures which cannot be obtained easily from fossil resources. By using appropriate catalysts a multifunctional hydroxylactone (LAC) is the principal anhydromonosaccharide in cellulose pyrolysate. The significance of LAC as building block in organic synthesis was proved in collaborative studies that included the synthesis of polylactide copolymers and biomimetic compounds. Aim of the research is to increase selectivity of the conversion, improve isolation and subsequent utilization.