Davide Pinelli

ARGUMENTS FOR INTERNATE THESIS

General overview:

Many organic waste (organic fraction from the collection of solid urban waste FORSU, the agri-food industry and from agricultural and livestock activities) can be used as sources of energy for the production of biofuels and as raw material for the production of organic compounds for the chemical industry and for the extraction and recovery through separation processes of biochemicals that can be used in various industrial sectors (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.).

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TOPIC: Recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from municipal wastewater

The research activity focuses on the adsorption and ion exchange processes.

Research objectives: 1) development of innovative adsorbent materials; 2) development and optimization of the process on a pilot scale.


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TOPIC: Bioproduction of biochemicals from agro-zootechnical waste

The research activity focuses on the bioproduction of: succinic acid, 2,3-butanediol, volatile fatty acids (VFA), polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Objectives of the research activity: 1) evaluation of the usability of "innovative" organic waste; 2) development of effective microbial consortia on the matrices identified in point 1) and their characterization with PCR-TRFPL and / or PCR-DGGE analysis; 3) the identification of the optimal operating conditions for each process; 4) the development of innovative bioreactors (eg, adherent biomass bioreactors).

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TOPIC: Recovery of biochemicals from liquid streams and organic waste

The research activity focuses on the recovery of phenolic compounds from vegetation waters produced by the production of olive oil, from pomace, grape seeds from wine production or other waste matrices from the agro-food industry.

Objectives of the research activity: 1) evaluation of the usability of "innovative" organic waste; 2) development of separation processes on the matrices identified in point 1), 3) identification of the optimal operating conditions for each process; 4) development of innovative separation / purification plants.

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TOPIC: Bioproduction of hydrogen and methane from urban and agro-zootechnical waste

The research activity focuses on the enhancement of these matrices for the bioproduction of biogas (hydrogen or methane).

Objectives of the research activity: 1) evaluation of the usability of "innovative" organic waste; 2) development of effective microbial consortia on the matrices identified in point 1) and their characterization with PCR-TRFPL and / or PCR-DGGE analyzes; 3) identification of the optimal operating conditions for each process (T, pH, degree of mixing, possible addition of nutrients); 4) development of innovative bioreactors (eg, adherent biomass bioreactors); 5) development of chemical or enzymatic pre-treatments for matrices with significant ligno-cellulosic content.

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Equipment and Methodologies:

Trials will initially be conducted in laboratory-scale facilities and small vessels. In a second phase, pilot plants with a useful volume of 5-30 L will be used, available in the laboratories of the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM).

The performance of the plant will be studied through chemical and microbiological analyzes. The production data of the compound of interest will be interpreted by developing a kinetic model. Process optimization will be studied through a process / plant model and simulation of management methods.

Other information:

OFFICE OF THE INTERNSHIP: Laboratory of the Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering (DICAM), via Terracini 28-34, Bologna.

PERIOD: any.

NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 5.

REQUIREMENTS REQUIRED FROM THE STUDENT: strong motivation; aptitude to work in a team.