Research activity:
The research activity is dedicated to the development of processes for the treatment and valorization of by-products and wastes using methodologies and technologies based on both chemical and biological phenomena. Process development for systems of chemical nature is based on the study of the properties of matter in relation to metal adsorption phenomena on biological matrices, metal leaching, electrodeposition of metal nanoparticles, and electrochemical phenomena in energy storage devices. Process development in biotechnology is based on the study of the growth kinetics of mixed biological systems in relation to phenomena of metal bioprecipitation, metal bioleaching, and biotransformation of organic compounds. The detailed characterization of the properties of the systems is accompanied by the modeling of the chemical-physical and biological phenomena involved. Particular attention is paid to the use of information derived from experimental characterizations and data modeling for process and product optimization and technology transfer on a prototype scale.