Contacts:
Supervisor(s):
Prof. Anna Maria Raspolli Galletti and Prof. Luca Rosi
Title of the PhD project:
Thermochemical and catalytic processes for the sustainable production of biofuels through biomass conversion.
Abstract of the PhD project:
The depletion of fossil fuel resources and their adverse environmental impacts have increased the international efforts to increase the use of more sustainable energy sources. In this context, the conversion of biomass into biofuels has paid better attention. Lignocellulosic biomass is considered the most biorenewable material on earth and the most promising raw material for biofuel production. In particular, biomass from industrial wastes or natural residues have paid more attraction as low-cost feedstock.
The composition of lignocellulose depends on the nature of biomass, however, it can be divided into three main components: cellulose (38-50%), hemicellulose (23-32%), and lignin (15-25%). These fractions can be exploited as starting materials for the production of biofuels through chemical conversion and thermochemical treatments. This PhD project aims to the valorization of low-value biomasses for the production of biofuels. This will be achieved through the chemical conversion of lignocellulose under catalytic conditions and with thermochemical processes, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and catalytic hydrothermal or solvothermal treatment. The obtained compounds will be characterized by analytical, spectroscopic, and spectrometric techniques. Engine experimental activity will be also performed to evaluate the influence of biofuels produced on engine performances.
Publications:
Internship period for the Master's degree:
• L. Bonaldi, M. Bortoluzzi, S. Zacchini, G. Pampaloni, F. Marchetti and L. Biancalana; Triazine Chalcogenones from Thiocyanate or Selenocyanate Addition to Tetrazine Ligands in Ruthenium Arene Complexes Addition to Tetrazine Ligands in Ruthenium Arene Complexes. Inorg. Chem. 2023, 62, 7814-7833.
PhD publications:
• S. Fulignati, C. Antonetti, A. M. Raspolli Galletti, L. Bonaldi, E. Ribechini, M. Mattonai, D. Licursi and N. Di Fidio; In-Depth Investigation of the Reaction Parameters Tuning the Ethyl Levulinate Synthesis from Fructose and Inulin. ChemCatChem, 2024, 1-15.
• L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, R. Lorè, C. Antonetti, G. Flori, S. Frigo, and A. M. Raspolli Galletti; A novel and valuable strategy for sustainable energy production through the gasification of pulp and paper mill sludge. European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings, 2024.
• S. Fulignati, L. Bonaldi, F. Barsotti, D. Licursi, N. Di Fidio, V. Menicagli, E. Balestri, C. Antonetti, A. M. Raspolli Galletti; Exploitation of the marine waste Posidonia Oceanica egagropiles to biofuel. European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings, 2024.
• L. Bonaldi, C. Antonetti, D. Licursi , R. Lorè , N. Di Fidio, S. Fulignati and A. M. Raspolli Galletti; Multivariate approach for the optimization of sucrose ethanolysis: Paving the way to the exploitation of sucrose-rich by-products. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2025, 203, 108344.
• S. Frigo, M. Francesconi, L. Miglino, L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati and A. M. Raspolli Galletti; Synthesis of Ethyl Levulinate from Bread Waste and its Application as a Versatile Bio-additive for Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2025, 119985.
• L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, M. Francesconi, S. Frigo, and A. M. Raspolli Galletti; From waste biomass to bio-fuel: an innovative and sustainable approach to ethyl levulinate production. European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings, 2025.
Oral communications at conferences
• L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, C. Antonetti, D. Licursi, L. Rosi, S. Frigo, A. M. Raspolli Galletti. “Thermochemical and catalytic processes for the sustainable production of biofuels through biomass conversion”. Chemistry For the Future (CFF2025), Pisa, 7-9 July 2025, Keynote Lecture.
• L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, M. Francesconi, S. Frigo, and A. M. Raspolli Galletti; “From waste biomass to bio-fuel: an innovative and sustainable approach to ethyl levulinate production”. 33rd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE), Valencia, 9-12 June 2025, Oral presentation.
• L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, A. M. Raspolli Galletti, S. Tin. “Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural with Ethanol: Rediscovering the Role of Homogeneous Zr- and Al-Based Catalysts”. XXIII Convegno Nazionale della Divisione di Chimica Industriale, Pisa, 10-11 November 2025, Oral presentation.
Poster communications at conferences:
• “Integrated valorization of marine residue Posidonia Oceanica balls for the production of value added chemicals”, L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, F. Barsotti, N. Di Fidio, C. Antonetti, D. Licursi, C. Lardicci, E. Balestri, A. M. Raspolli Galletti. CFF 2023- Chemistry for the Future, Pisa, 28/06/2023-30/06/2023.
• “Gasification of paper mill waste: a low-value feedstock for sustainable energy production”, L. Bonaldi, R. Lorè, S. Fulignati, G. Flori, S. Frigo, C. Antonetti, A. M. Raspolli Galletti. X Workshop GC-CS, Firenze, 06/10/2023.
• “Chemical and thermochemical approaches for sustainable energy production starting from waste biomasses”, L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, R. Lorè, G. Flori, S. Frigo, C. Antonetti, A. M. Raspolli Galletti. MYCS23- Merck Young Chemist Symposium, Rimini, 13/11/2023-15/11/2023.
• “Ethyl-Levulinate: a Flexible Bio-Fuel for Internal Combustion Engines”. A.M. Raspolli Galletti, L. Bonaldi, S. Frigo, M. Francesconi. IConBM2024, International Conference on BIOMASS, Palermo, 19/05/24-22/05/24.
• “A novel and valuable strategy for sustainable energy production through the gasification of pulp and paper mill sludge”. L. Bonaldi, S. Fulignati, R. Lorè, C. Antonetti, G. Flori, S. Frigo, A.M. Raspolli Galletti. 32nd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE), Marseille, 24/06/24-27/06/24.
• “Integrated valorization of paper mill wastes for the sustainable production of chemicals and energy”. A.M. Raspolli Galletti, L.Bonaldi, R. Lorè, D. Licursi, S. Fulignati, N. Di Fidio, C. Antonetti, S. Frigo. XXVIII Congresso Nazionale della Società Chimica Italiana, Milano, 26/08/24-30/08/24.
• “From models to real waste biomass: a novel and sustainable strategy for ethyl levulinate production”. L. Bonaldi, C. Antonetti, D. Licursi, N. Di Fidio, A.M. Raspolli Galletti, S. Fulignati. GIC-EFCATS 2025 PhD Winter School, Aquila, 27/01/25-31/01/25.
Other achievements:
• Winner ‘Premio Studio alla memoria del Prof. Glauco Sbrana’ (Pisa, 2024).
• Poster award in the category 'Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy' at the 32nd “European Biomass Conference & Exhibition (EUBCE)” (Marseille, 24-27 July 2024).
