Affiliation: Landmark University Omu-Aran (Nigeria)
Scientific Representative at DCCI: Marco Taddei
Visiting Period: 03.09 / 26.11 – 2021

Activity:
- Biocompatible Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Nutrient Uptake;
- developing biodegradable and biocompatible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as matrices for controlled release of nutrients in soil;
- Literature review and choice of target MOFs;
- Contribution to the synthesis and characterization of a series of ZrIV-based MOFs for an ongoing project in collaboration with Prof. Ciancaleoni, aimed at developing a method for the determination of the chemical composition of MOFs based on quantitative NMR analysis.
- Publication of the paper on “Water-based synthesis and nitrate release properties of a ZrIV-based metal-organic framework derived from L-aspartic acid”, Dalton Transactions, Issue 18, 2023.

Web Page:
https://lmu.edu.ng/

Affiliation: University of Plymouth (UK)
Scientific Representative at DCCI: Francesca Modugno and Ilaria Degano
Visiting Period: 27.09 / 26.10 – 2021

Activity:
- “Py-GC/MS for the characterization of microplastics”;
- EGA-MS analysis of biodegradable polymer and mulch film samples; Chemical characterization of the biodegradable polymers, fishing gears, and mulch films by single- and multi-shot Py-GC/MS; EGA-MS analysis of fishing gears, wet-wipes, and TWP samples; Chemical characterization of the wet-wipe and TWP samples by single- and multi-shot Py-GC/MS. Analysis of the volatile compounds emitted from wet-wipes and artificial ageing of mulch film samples.
- Preparation of a paper on the Thermoanalytical characterization of biodegradable polymers by means of EGA-MS, Py-GC/MS and TGA/DSC-MS, published on the Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis: De Falco F., Nacci T., Durndell L., Thompson R.C., Degano I., Modugno F., A thermoanalytical insight into the composition of biodegradable polymers and commercial products by EGA-MS and Py-GC-MS
(2023) Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 171, 105937, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2023.105937
- Preparation of a paper dedicated to the biodegradation phenomena undergone by the mulch films during degradation in natural soil and water, whose contents have already been presented at national and international conferences in the following years: T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Burgevin, W. Courtene-Jones, A. Buchard, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Studying the fate of biodegradable mulch films in the environment, AGRIFOODPLAST, Piacenza, 10 – 12 September 2023; T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Burgevin, W. Courtene-Jones, A. Buchard, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Assessment of biodegradable plastic fate in the environment: investigating biodegradable mulch films, XXX Congresso della Divisione di Chimica Analitica della Società Chimica Italiana, Vasto, 17 – 21 September 2023 (poster presentation);
- Starting of a joint project between the university of Pisa and Plymouth on the behaviour of wet wipes in the environment, that led to a bachelor thesis and a master thesis at UniPi; moreover, the DSCM student Tommaso Nacci spent 3 months in Plymouth in the framework of the joint research. Up to now, the collaboration on this topic has also led to presentations at national and international conferences: T. Nacci, J. Gambetta Vianna, F. De Falco, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Life cycle assessment of wet wipes by means of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, XX Congresso della Divisione di Chimica Ambientale e dei Beni Culturali della Società Chimica Italiana, Ischia, 28 September – 1 October 2023; J. Gambetta Vianna, T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Modugno and I. Degano, Degradation processes and leaching of wet wipes by means of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, Chemistry for the Future 2023, Pisa, 28 – 30 June 2023 (poster presentation). Joint publications are in progress.

Web Page:
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/francesca-de-falco

Affiliation: Universität Zürich (Switzerland)
Scientific Representative at DCCI: Maurizio Persico
Visiting Period: 14.06 / 31.07 – 2021

Activity:
- “Nonadiabatic dynamics in functionalized hexagonal boron nitride”;
- Investigation of the adsorption of organic dopants on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with potential applications in optoelectronics, carried out by quantum chemistry computational methods;
- benchmark calculations for the validation of a reliable computational protocol.

Web Page:
http://www.iccom.cnr.it/it/single-profile-iccom/?uid=239

Affiliation: Iowa State University, Ames IA (USA)
Scientific Representative at DCCI: Guido Pampaloni
Visiting Period: 02.09 / 28.12 – 2021

Activity:
- “Sustainable Plastics by Catalytic Upcycling”;
- Synthesis, structural characterization and electrochemical studies of organo-ruthenium complexes for homogenous catalysis;
- Seminar on “Sustainability in catalytic chemistry and Polymers;

Web Page:
https://www.chem.iastate.edu/people/aaron-sadow