Research

Research Framework led by Gioele Foltran at the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", this project pioneers agro-industrial waste valorisation. Within the National PhD in DeMIT, the research addresses circular economy needs by transforming Brewer’s Spent Grain (BSG)fractions into high-value bio-additives. This effort bridges the gap between ecological sustainability and industrial excellence.
Objectives and methodology: these bio-additives are integrated into Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) to create advanced biocomposites. Technical results demonstrate that a 6 wt% concentration of these additives significantly enhances interfacial adhesion, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. Furthermore, specific chemical modifications impart pronounced hydrophobicity, ideal for moisture-sensitive industrial uses.
Industrial impact and LIFE RESTART: by replacing petroleum-based chemicals with waste-derived alternatives, the project promotes high-performance biodegradable materials. This approach directly supports the chemistry, textiles, and packaging sectors. Crucially, the study is actively implemented within the framework of the LIFE RESTART project, contributing to the development of industrial-scale circular bio-based solutions for a more sustainable future.

The growing global production of plastics, estimated at approximately 450 million tons annually, has made the transition to a Circular Economy model crucial. In this context, fossil-based plastics represent a complex and hardly biodegradable waste, with high potential environmental impact if not managed correctly.
Biocomposite materials emerge as a promising replacement for fossil-based materials, especially if based on biodegradable polymer matrices such as polybutylene succinate (PBS), whose thermomechanical properties are comparable to polypropylene and whose monomers can be bio-based. The addition of natural fillers, derived from waste biomass, can reduce costs, polymer content and modifying the final material's properties. Notably, algae that accumulate as waste along marine coastlines represent a sustainable biomass source to be used as filler. Their growth does not compete with the food supply chain, and their use contributes to the reduction of eutrophication phenomena, while also helping to clean up beach environments.
The addition of a bio-based additive was evaluated to enhance the compatibility between the filler and the polymer matrix.
The biocomposites were characterized using DSC, TGA, ATR-FTIR, SEM, and tensile tests. Finally, we also evaluated their biodegradability in soil.

The objective of the PhD project is the synthesis of new multifunctional compounds to be used as flame retardants and luminescent sources for bio-based polymers or paper coating. The experimental investigation will focus on organophosphorus compounds (OPC). The presence of flame retardants into polymeric matrices and coatings allows to slow down the combustion process through several mechanisms, acting both in condensed and gas phases. The phosphorus-based flame retardants are therefore among the most studied halogen-free alternatives, with tunable activity and reactivity depending on OPC structure and the choice of the substituents. Another field of research concerning organophosphorus compounds focuses on the photophysical properties exhibited, such as fluorescence and phosphorescence, making them suitable for anticounterfeiting applications, as for example traceability of material, and optical applications, e.g. whitening agents. Several examples of doping of fossil-based polymers with multifunctional OPC are present in the recent literature. On the other hand, the functionalization of bio-based polymeric materials or paper coatings with multifunctional OPC is still scarcely investigated. 
Alongside, other organophosphorus compounds are investigated: exploring the synergism of the P-N bond in multiple 9,10-diidro-9-ossa-10-fosfafenantren-10-ossido derivatives (DOPO).

The overall objective of the MICRO-ALPS project is to raise awareness among local communities and companies about one of the emerging problems of the 21st century, microplastics, with a special focus on Alpine areas, where this pollutant is still little studied. Microplastics are generated by the process of degrading or processing plastics and can have very different sizes, as defined by the UNEP classification. This will be possible by taking one part of the eyewear industry as a reference point and example, the lens cutting and grinding workshops that produce high quantities of microplastics during lens processing.
As part of the project, we are investigating which possible solutions can be adopted to recover microplastics and test their recyclability to produce new and innovative 3D-printed objects, which is the first study of the kind. We are mixing the microplastics with different bio-compatible polymers (ie PLA or PBS) in different amounts, using the extrusion process. The materials obtained is employed in the 3D printing process at the Carinthia University in Villach.
Microplastics and the relative mixture developed are in depth characterized by thermal and physical-chemical analysis.
All experimental work and the information collected on the nature and production of microplastics will be used to transfer knowledge to people in the programme area in order to prevent the production of microplastics and their release into the environment.

To reduce the environmental impact of plastics deriving from fossil fuels resources, the European Green Deal has recently emphasized the importance of the development and applicability of natural biopolymers. The global market for sustainable packaging is estimated to reach $ 51.2 billion in 2023. In this context, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) play a primary role in the design of new biomaterials for packaging. Thus, new formulations for eco-sustainable films based on CMC and CS were developed, which guarantee the obtainment of materials suitable for packaging. These new biomaterials have shown good mechanical properties and excellent barrier properties to water vapor and UV rays. Biodegradability tests showed complete degradation of all films in a time ranging from 15 to 21 days. All these characteristics make these bio-based films excellent candidates for applicability in the highly biodegradable packaging sector.
Further studies are underway to increase the performance of food packaging materials by anchoring antimicrobial molecules to CMC and CS. The improvement of the chemical-physical properties of the packaging and the increase of shelf life of the food will be verified. 

The leather industry is an example of a circular economy: an unwanted putrescible byproduct of the meat industry can be transformed into a high added-value, stable product. To do so, hide collagen fibers need to be chemically stabilized by a tanning agent, but this process employs a huge amount of water and chemicals (some of them hazardous) and generates a considerable quantity of solid, liquid sludge and volatile emissions. Most of the leather produced today is tanned with chromium (III) salts, and various alternatives to chrome tanning, such as aldehydes and phenol-based synthetic tannins, are suffering from REACH restrictions due to their toxicity. Thus, the scientific research is focused on the development of innovative and more sustainable tanning agents. Triazine derivatives are examples of alternative and sustainable tanning agents being extensively explored by the research group since 2014. The use of polysaccharides such as sodium alginate or cellulose derivatives is known in the literature, but the study for their industrial application is still a topic of great relevance today. In fact, the research group aims to expand it by chemically modifying these polymers to enhance their performance for further applications and tests. 
To minimize the use of hazardous substances and reduce industrial waste, the industrial application of an innovative zero-length cross-linking tanning agent, previously patented by Professor Beghetto’s research group, has been studied. The main goal was to develop a sustainable tanning and post-tanning protocol specifically designed for the automotive and upholstery industries. The tanning tests were performed using the zero-length cross-linking agent, and the retanning, dyeing, and fatliquoring tests were carried out using standard formulations for footwear and for the automotive and upholstery sectors. The resulting crust leathers obtained were characterised by measurement of the shrinkage temperature, physical-mechanical tests, thermal stability tests, colour fastness, and impermeability tests, and then compared to glutaraldehyde-tanned leather. Finally, to evaluate the effectiveness of this new technology, the obtained leathers were compared to glutaraldehyde-tanned leather, the current industry standard. This comparison highlights the potential of the new agent to provide high-performance results within an eco-friendlier framework.
The possible development at an industrial scale of biobased renewable biopolymers from polysaccharides has been carried out also thanks to the "REWASTER" project, supporting the transition toward more sustainable industrial tanning processes, funded by PR Veneto FESR 2021-2027.

Agro-industrial residues such as beer spent grain (BSG), olive pomace (OP), and coffee silver skin (CSS) represent abundant lignocellulosic by-products with significant potential for valorisation in sustainable polymer systems. Within the framework of the LIFE RESTART project and the BeSoGreat initiative, these residues are incorporated into biodegradable polymer matrices to develop innovative biocomposites aligned with circular bioeconomy principles.
The resulting biocomposite granules are produced via melt compounding and subsequently processed and later analysed for biodegradation tests.
In particular, aerobic soil biodegradation tests are conducted according to ISO 17556 and ASTM D5988, enabling the quantification of mineralization kinetics through CO₂ evolution measurements. In parallel, disintegration assays are performed to assess physical fragmentation and mass loss during soil exposure, providing insight into structural breakdown mechanisms. Furthermore, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) were applied to investigate the influence of different fillers on crystallization behaviour, melting transitions, and thermal stability.
This activity has been carried out with the contribution of LIFE RESTART, Food4LIFE [ITA], and RixAA [ITA] projects supporting the transition toward more sustainable industrial tanning processes, funded by PR Veneto FESR 2021–2027.

The hospitality sector, one of the fastest-growing global industries, significantly contributes to economic development but is simultaneously responsible for substantial environmental impacts, particularly waste generation. Waste cooking oil (WCO) emerges as a critical environmental and economic issue within this industry, presenting challenges and opportunities. Our work explores the transformative role of circular economy principles in hospitality through the reutilization of WCO, showcasing its conversion from an environmental burden into valuable industrial resources, such as biofuels, polymers, and industrial additives. It further examines regulatory frameworks, innovative recycling pathways, and sustainable business models that leverage WCO within regional hospitality contexts.
The work has been financed also with the fundings of i-Nest PNRR project.

In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward sustainability and the transition from linear “take-make-dispose” production models to circular economy systems that promote resource efficiency, material regeneration, and waste valorisation. Within this framework, the agri-food sector plays a central role, as it generates large quantities of organic residues that can be converted into high-value products.
In Italy, fruit and vegetable processing produces substantial amounts of waste biomass, particularly citrus residues, which are rich in structurally and functionally valuable biopolymers such as pectin. Orange peel waste represents a promising resource to produce sustainable materials through multiple valorisation pathways.
In this work, orange peel residues were exploited through two complementary strategies. First, powdered orange peel was incorporated as a filler into poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) matrices to produce biodegradable biocomposites suitable for industrial applications. The resulting materials exhibited improved functional properties while maintaining biodegradability. Second, pectin was extracted from orange peel powder and employed in the formulation of polymeric nanoparticles for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive compounds. These nanoparticle systems demonstrated good stability, controlled size distribution, and potential suitability for biomedical applications.
The combined use of agri-food waste in biocomposite engineering and nanostructured delivery systems highlights the versatility of citrus biomass as a sustainable raw material. By integrating waste valorisation with functional polymer design, this approach enables the development of multifunctional materials for biodegradable packaging, antibacterial coatings, and drug delivery platforms. Overall, the results underline the potential of orange peel waste as a key resource for advancing circular economy strategies while delivering both environmental and technological benefits.

Our research group has developed stable, sustainable triazine-derived bis-quaternary ammonium salts (bis-TQAS) as highly efficient alternatives to traditional disinfectants. Unlike earlier triazine-based compounds like DMTMM, which were unstable and decomposed rapidly in solution, these new variants utilize a 1,3,5-triazine core reacted with either N-alkylmorpholines or imidazolium groups to achieve long-term stability. The synthetic methods prioritize environmental safety by avoiding toxic alkyl halides and utilizing atom-efficient processes at room temperature. Notably, the imidazolium-based synthesis has proven industrial viability, having been successfully scaled up to batches exceeding 500 grams.
The antimicrobial effectiveness of these salts is primarily governed by their alkyl chain length, with optimal inhibition of pathogens like S. aureus and E. coli consistently observed in compounds with 12 to 14 carbon atoms. Imidazolium-based versions reached remarkable potency with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) below 10 mg/L, while morpholine derivatives achieved total disinfection against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains at low concentrations. Crucially, these derivatives exhibit a superior safety profile, with significantly lower cytotoxicity toward human cells than traditional agents like benzalkonium chloride.