His scientific
activity is focused on soil chemistry and biochemistry and mainly
includes research on the aspects of the characterization of the
soil's humic and humic-like substances, of organic fertilizers,
compost and of the waste biomasses with both agronomical and
environmental implications. The main objective is to increase
structural and functional knowledge on the organic matter because
it plays a key role in supplying plant nutrition, on adsorption of
heavy metals and xenobiotics. Researches are carried out using
chromatographic (IEF, SEC-Page), potentiometric, termogravimetric
(TG), differential thermal analysis DTA), spectroscopic techniques
DRIFT, 1H-, 13C-NMR, Raman-SERS, and elemental analyzer (CHN)
equipped with isotopic 15N and 13C.
Prof. Ciavatta is author of more than 200 publications most of
which published in international and peer-reviewed
journals.