My research activity lies in the field of environmental physics and systems analysis, with a particular focus on carbon and resource flows across environmental, industrial and territorial systems. I use experimental and modelling approaches to investigate how residual biomass, soils, materials and CO₂ streams can contribute to climate change mitigation, resource recovery and the transition towards more circular production systems.
Biomass carbon removal and iBCRS
A central research line concerns Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and, in particular, Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS). Biomass is considered not only as an energy source or feedstock, but also as atmospheric carbon already captured through photosynthesis. I therefore investigate the technical, environmental and economic conditions under which this carbon can be transferred to more durable storage in soils, stable carbon materials, products or through the storage of biogenic CO₂.
Within this field, we are developing the concept of Integrated Biomass Carbonization and Removal Systems (iBCRS), in which residual biomass conversion can jointly produce stable carbon materials, bio-intermediates, gases and separable CO₂ streams. The Horizon Europe NET-Fuels [https://netfuelsproject.org/] project provides one of the main applied contexts in which these configurations are investigated.
Second-generation carbons, resource recovery and circular economy
I investigate the development and application of second-generation carbons (2G-C): carbon-based materials obtained from biogenic, residual or circular feedstocks and designed by controlling feedstock, processing conditions, structure, properties and function. Applications include biochar, activated and functionalised carbons, carbon-mineral systems and materials for nutrient and raw-material recovery, contaminant removal and resource regeneration.
These activities are also developed within the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform FIP-WE@UNIBO [https://site.unibo.it/environmental-management-research-group/en/vision-e-mission/fip-we-unibo], in cooperation with Fraunhofer UMSICHT, and extend to urban mining and material recovery through collaboration with the Urban Mining Institute at Bochum University of Applied Sciences [https://www.hochschule-bochum.de/en/fbb/einrichtungen/labore/urban-mining-institut/start/] .
Soils, biochar, carbon farming and carbon dynamics
A long-standing research line concerns the role of soils as carbon stocks and potential carbon sinks. Through experiments and modelling, we investigate soil organic carbon dynamics, the persistence of pyrogenic carbon and the effects of biochar and other amendments on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils.
This work includes the development and application of soil carbon models, monitoring and carbon-accounting protocols, and long-term field experiments collected within the Long Term Experiment Platform – LTEP-BIOCHAR [https://site.unibo.it/environmental-management-research-group/en/activities/long-term-platform] . The aim is to understand under which conditions soil-management and carbon-farming practices can provide measurable and durable carbon storage together with other verifiable environmental and agronomic effects.
Systems analysis, LCA and integrated sustainability assessment
A cross-cutting component of my research concerns the representation and assessment of complex systems. I use Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), prospective and dynamic LCA, system dynamics, systems analysis, input-output tables and carbon-accounting approaches to analyse emerging technologies and value chains, considering not only direct performance but also life-cycle effects, economic interdependencies and scale-up dynamics.
These methods are also applied to learning curves, carbon-removal costs, biomass availability, territorial impacts and the conditions influencing technology diffusion, attractiveness and bankability. This methodological work is connected to the research group's Environmental Sustainability Assessment (ESA) [https://site.unibo.it/environmental-management-research-group/en/activities/environmantal-sustainability-assessment-esa] research line.
CO₂ routes, mineral materials and carbon-flow transition
I also investigate the infrastructures and strategies required to manage CO₂ and carbon flows within industrial and territorial systems. The Horizon Europe COREu – CO₂ Routes Across Europe [https://fisica-astronomia.unibo.it/it/ricerca/esplora-la-ricerca/progetti-europei-e-internazionali/co2-routes-across-europe] project provides a framework for studying CO₂ capture, transport and storage value chains and their relationships with industrial systems.
The EIC Pathfinder MOJITO [https://fisica-astronomia.unibo.it/it/ricerca/esplora-la-ricerca/progetti-europei-e-internazionali/decarbonized-lime-production-through-enhanced-joint-dielectric-heating-and-waste-carbonaceous-material-addition] project extends this research to process electrification in lime production, carbonaceous materials and interactions between CO₂ and mineral materials.
At the territorial scale, I am interested in developing the concept of carbon-flow planning, complementing energy planning with the representation of biomass, biogenic carbon, CO₂, material flows and potential sinks. Ravenna provides a particularly relevant case study for investigating interactions among its port and industrial system, agro-industry, residual biomass, energy infrastructures and emerging CO₂ routes.
Teaching, education and public engagement
Research and education are closely interconnected. Part of my work concerns the development of tools for representing complex systems, stocks, flows, feedbacks and scenarios in forms suitable for university teaching, thesis projects and public-engagement activities. In this context, I also explore the informed use of generative artificial intelligence as a support for analysis, modelling and learning, with particular attention to information verification and the critical assessment of results.
