The PhD course in Chemical Processes for Industry and Environment belonging to the Doctoral School in Science and Technologies for the Industrial Innovation - has been designed by the Chemical Engineering Materials Environment Department and by the Chemistry Department for the high education of young engineers, chemists and industrial chemists to face all the problems related with the research activities of chemical and process industries.
The topics of interest of the PhD in Chemical Processes for Industry and the Environment deals with the fundamentals of chemical engineering and industrial chemistry, with particular reference to process transformations in the petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, energy (traditional and renewable sources), purification and enhancement processes, environmental remediation and recovery, the production of innovative materials and renewable resources, industrial and environmental biotechnologies, as well as industrial safety. Suggested research projects for the application to PhD course are below reported.
• Microfluidic applications for separations, pharmaceutical productions, analytical chemical, biochemical and biomedical methods
• Influence of transport phenomena on chemical, biochemical, electrochemical, photochemical processes and reactors.
• Dynamic analysis, optimization and intensification of chemical, biochemical, biotechnological processes
• Development of biotechnological processes for the valorisation of agro-industrial waste and by-products.
• Development of innovative processes for the recovery of products with high added value from technological waste
• Recovery of high value added compounds from agricultural and industrial residues
• Development of innovative biotechnological processes for the production of value-added compounds (e.g., biodegradable polymers or gaseous biofuels) from wastewaters and agro-industrial wastes
• Study and development of sustainable processes for the remediation of contaminated sites by anthropogenic activities
• Development and optimisation, also through lab-scale experimentation, of a chemical or biological process for the removal of hydrocarbons from contaminated water or soil
• Wastewater treatment by biosorbents, nanoparticles and magnetic biosorbents
• Advanced materials for enhancing the performances of bioelectrochemical processes for the treatment of food processing wastewater
• Bio-refining of microbial and lignocellulosic matrices
• Development, characterisation and improvement of bioreactors
• Bio-fractionation of microalgal and vegetal biomass extracts and bio-encapsulation by means of eutectic and switchable solvents (DES and SS)
• Use of "Green Solvents" (supercritical fluids) for the selective extraction of bioactive molecules and biopolymers from plant matrices and microbial cells
• Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Performance of Essential Oils and natural extracts and their Incorporation in Biowaste derived materials functionalized with cyclodextrins for industrial applications
• Novel strategies for enzyme-polymer nanohybrids fabrication for industrial applications
• Innovative processes and reactors for the sustainable hydrogen production.
• Production of bio-Fuel and valuable compounds from wastes, biomass and plastics through thermochemical processes
• Clean/renewable hydrogen production.
• Green Hydrogen production from natural gas reconversion by waveguide systems
The aim of the PhD course is to train the candidates to carry out and coordinate research activities, to transfer the results from laboratory to industrial scale, to develop new processes and to optimize the existing ones. The candidate's training program is focused on the development of an original research project, in which the candidate is supported by a supervisor.
The training program is completed by the participation in tailored courses offered by the Doctoral School (22 credits), seminars (4 credits) and other educational activities approved by the board, such as the participation in National PhD Schools (4 credits).
The courses offered by the Doctoral School have two main aims. The first is to obtain more in-depth knowledge of the basic aspects of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry, such as research methodologies (data analysis, experimental planning and scheduling, technology transfer, fund raising). The second aim is to offer more practical insight on the numerous research areas towards which it is currently possible to extend Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry skills. The courses is organized in modules and their content is decided, on an annual basis, by the Doctoral School board.
Students are encouraged to carry out part of their activity in foreign universities or research centers. In general, any exchange or contact with organizations different from the home university is favored, in view of obtaining increasing knowledge and specialization in one’s field of research.
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