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Enviromental monitoring: BVOCs, Marine Sediments, and Posidonia Oceanica Analysis
Enviromental monitoring: BVOCs, Marine Sediments, and Posidonia Oceanica Analysis
Brief description
Environmental monitoring is essential for understanding the impact of human activities on ecosystems. This project focuses on the analysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), marine sediments, and Posidonia oceanica to assess air and water quality, pollution levels, and ecosystem health.
Using advanced analytical chemistry techniques, we identify and quantify BVOCs, which play a key role in atmospheric processes and climate change. At the same time, the study of marine sediments helps trace the presence of organic and metallic pollutants, providing crucial data for the protection of marine environments.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni, Silvia Zamponi, Martina Fattobene and Elisa Santoni
Recent articles:
Analysis of Posidonia Oceanica’s Stress Factors in the Marine Environment of Tremiti Islands, Italy (https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174197)
ON-SITE monitoring OF BVOCS emission in Tremiti island, Italy (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23822).
Data analysis: chemometrics
Data analysis: chemometrics
Brief description
Pattern recognition applied to typification of food products, fraud detection, multivariate modelling;
Methodology of experimental design for industrail process: screening designs, experimental optimization designs, custom designs, and designs for mixtures;
Construction of multivariate/multiway predictive models (regression techniques based on PARAFAC and PLS).
Development of chemometric strategies for the selection of informative variables and for data fusion from different analytical platforms (data fusion).
Application to PAT (Process Analytical Technology) and QbD (Quality by Design).
Contact person: Paolo Conti and Raffaele E. Russo
Reduction of environmental impact of waste waters: geopolymers
Reduction of environmental impact of waste waters: geopolymers
Brief description
Wastewater management is a critical challenge for environmental sustainability. This project explores the use of geopolymers as an innovative and eco-friendly solution for reducing the environmental impact of industrial and municipal wastewaters.
Geopolymers, synthesized from industrial by-products and alkaline activators, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional materials for wastewater treatment. Their high adsorption capacity allows for the efficient removal of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and other contaminants, making them a promising tool for water purification and resource recovery.
Through advanced analytical techniques, we evaluate the efficacy, durability, and environmental benefits of geopolymer-based treatments, aiming to develop cost-effective and scalable solutions for wastewater remediation. This research contributes to the advancement of circular economy principles, reducing waste generation and promoting sustainable water management practices.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni,Silvia Zamponi, Elisa Santoni, and Raffaele E. Russo
Recent articles:
Efficient chemical stabilization of tannery wastewater pollutants in a single step process: Geopolymerization (https://doi.org/10.1186/s42834-021-00106-7)
The coordination core and charge of chromium in Metakaolin-geopolymers as revealed by X-Ray absorption spectroscopy (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2020.127741)
Recovery of heavy and criticals metals
Recovery of heavy and criticals metals
Brief description
The demand for heavy and critical metals is rising due to their essential role in modern technologies, from electronics to renewable energy systems. However, their extraction and disposal pose significant environmental and economic challenges.
This project focuses on the development of innovative recovery methods to extract valuable metals from industrial waste, mining residues, and electronic scrap. Using advanced separation techniques, adsorption materials, and chemical processes, we aim to create efficient and sustainable solutions for metal recovery and reuse. By reducing dependency on primary raw materials and minimizing environmental impact, this research contributes to the circular economy, promoting resource conservation and responsible metal management.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni, Raffaele E. Russo and Muhammad Awais
Recent articles:
Hydrometallurgical Molybdenum Recovery from Spent Catalyst Using Tartaric Acid Derived from Agrifood Waste (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c04318)
Silver recovery from silicon solar cells waste by hydrometallurgical and electrochemical technique (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2024.103803)
Closed-Loop Lithium Recovery from LiFePO4 Batteries Using Tartaric Acid Leaching (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00499?goto=supporting-info)
Hexacyanometallates: powerfull compounds
Hexacyanometallates: powerfull compounds
Brief description
Hexacyanometallates (HCMs) are a fascinating class of coordination compounds with unique structural and electronic properties. Their versatility makes them valuable in various fields, including energy storage, catalysis, and environmental remediation.
These compounds exhibit remarkable stability and tunability, enabling their use in batteries, electrochemical sensors, and ion-exchange materials. Their ability to selectively capture metal ions also makes them promising candidates for applications in water purification and heavy metal recovery.
This project explores the synthesis, characterization, and functional applications of hexacyanometallates, aiming to harness their potential for sustainable and high-performance technological solutions.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni and Silvia Zamponi
Recent articles:
An Overview on the Facile and Reversible Cations Intercalation in Nickel-Hexacyanoferrate Open Framework (https://doi.org/10.20964/2018.06.37)
Synthesis and antibacterial activity of iron-hexacyanocobaltate nanoparticles (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-018-1544-x)
Deposition and characterization of a CoHCF nanorod array in a templated ormosil film on an electrode and application to electrocatalysis (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-016-3123-9)
Cultural Heritage
Cultural Heritage
Brief description
Cultural heritage diagnostics is essential for the preservation, restoration, and study of historical artifacts and artworks. This project focuses on the application of advanced analytical techniques to investigate the composition, deterioration processes, and environmental impact on cultural heritage materials.
Using non-destructive and micro-destructive methods we analyze the chemical and physical properties of artifacts to assess their condition and guide conservation strategies. These techniques allow for the identification of original materials, detection of alterations or forgeries, and evaluation of the effects of environmental factors over time.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni and Silvia Zamponi
Recent articles:
Newly discovered orichalcum ingots from Mediterranean sea: Further investigation (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102901)
A multivariate approach to the study of orichalcum ingots from the underwater Gela's archaeological site (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2017.09.003)
First discovery of orichalcum ingots from the remains of a 6th century bc shipwreck near gela (sicily) seabed (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.581716)
Dechlorination of iron artefacts: A novel approach (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2023.133968)
Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials for Catalytic Processes
Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials for Catalytic Processes
Ammonia production
Ammonia production
Brief description
Ammonia production plays a vital role in the chemical industry, serving as a fundamental building block for fertilizers, explosives, and a wide range of chemical products. Despite the effectiveness of the traditional Haber-Bosch process, it remains highly energy-intensive and relies on iron-based catalysts that present limitations in terms of efficiency and sustainability. For this reason, our research aims to develop and characterize innovative catalysts for ammonia synthesis. These new materials will also be evaluated in other reactions and tested using a pilot plant, enabling a detailed investigation of their kinetic and thermodynamic behavior.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni and Giacomo Seccacini
Construction and Mechanistic Study of Photothermal Catalytic Systems for CO₂ Reduction
Construction and Mechanistic Study of Photothermal Catalytic Systems for CO₂ Reduction
Brief description
Addressing the urgent need for carbon neutrality and efficient greenhouse gas mitigation, this project investigates advanced catalytic systems for CO₂ reduction driven by photothermal energy. The study is centered on the development of MXene-based composite materials, which serve as versatile platforms due to their high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and tunable surface chemistry.
By incorporating metal nanoparticles such as Pt and Ag, the MXene matrix is modified to enhance localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), photothermal conversion efficiency, and carrier transport dynamics. The core objective is to construct low-temperature catalytic systems capable of converting CO₂ in simulated industrial flue gas—without the need for external heating—into valuable chemical products such as CO and CH₄ with high selectivity.
Through combined experimental investigations and DFT simulations, the project also aims to elucidate the detailed reaction mechanisms and thermodynamic pathways. Ultimately, this research contributes to the design of next-generation catalysts for energy-efficient CO₂ utilization and sustainable industrial development.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni, SIlvia Zamponi e Yang Meng
Recent articles:
Pt/MXene-enabled industrial flue gas waste heat-driven, dual-product selective photothermal catalytic reduction of CO2 with high efficiency (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.137405)
Zr-MOF/MXene composite for enhanced photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction in atmospheric and industrial flue gas streams (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccst.2024.100274)
Efficient solar-driven: Photothermal catalytic reduction of atmospheric CO2 at the gas-solid interface by CuTCPP/MXene/TiO2 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2024.08.018)
Development of pH-Responsive SA/PEGDA/AS-POSS Hydrogels via Michael Addition for Controlled Drug Release and Enhanced Mechanical Properties (https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202404538)
Exploring drug release performance of hollow-structured CS/SA/POSS composite gel spheres employing hydrophilic polymerizable AS-POSS as crosslinker (https://doi.org/10.1002/app.55692)
Hydrogen production
Hydrogen production
Brief description
development and characterization of innovative catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production — a clean energy source essential for the energy transition. By combining experimental and theoretical approaches, we aim to improve the efficiency, selectivity, and stability of catalytic materials, contributing to the advancement of next-generation energy technologies.
Contact person: Mario Berrettoni and Zeeshan Mujtaba
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