Sara Fulignati

• PhD
• Junior Researcher at University of Pisa

The depletion of fossil resources and their environmental issues make the transition toward alternative feedstock even more urgent [...]

Alkyl levulinates (ALs) are strategic compounds for the development of sustainable energy transition. In this regard, the direct alcoholysis of fructose and inulin for the selective ethyl levulinate (EL) production was investigated with a One‐Factor‐At‐a‐Time (OFAT) approach employing diluted H2SO4 as catalyst to clarify the role of the main reacti...

Diphenolic acid, or 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoic acid, represents one of the potentially most interesting bio-products obtainable from the levulinic acid supply-chain. It represents a valuable candidate for the replacement of bisphenol A, which is strongly questioned for its toxicological issues. Diphenolic acid synthesis involves the condensa...

The production of oxygenated bio-additives for traditional fuels represents a key challenge due to their depletion in the near-future and their positive contribution to the reduction in environmental pollution. The present study considers the synthesis of 1-hexanol/hexyl hexanoate mixtures, two oxygenated Diesel bio-additives produced through the h...

The production of oxygenated bio-additives for traditional fuels represents a key challenge due to the depletion of fossil fuels in the next future and their contribution to environmental pollu-tion. In this context, the present study considers the synthesis of different mixtures of 1-hexanol/hexyl hexanoate produced through the catalytic hydrogena...

Levulinic acid production by acid-catalyzed hydrothermal conversion of (ligno)cellulosic biomass generates significant amounts of carbonaceous hydrochar, which is currently considered a final waste. In this work, the hydrochar recovered after the levulinic acid production, was subjected to cascade pyrolysis and chemical activation treatments (by H3...

Starting from bioethanol it is possible, by using an appropriate catalyst, to produce ethyl acetate in a single reaction step and pure hydrogen as a by-product. Two molecules of hydrogen can be obtained for each molecule of ethyl acetate produced. The mentioned reaction is reversible, therefore, it is possible to hydrogenate ethyl acetate to reobta...

The depletion of fossil resources makes the transition towards renewable ones more urgent. For this purpose, the synthesis of strategic platform-chemicals, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), represents a fundamental challenge for the development of a feasible bio-refinery. HMF perfectly deals with this necessity, because it can be obtained from...

The transition from fossil resources to renewable ones represents a pressing need. The acidogenic fermentation of biomass-derived ethanol to carboxylic acids represents a novel and smart possibility, opening the way for the production of further value-added bio-products through cascade chemical approaches. In this work, the hydrogenation of commerc...

Pollution associated to marine plastic litter is raising increasing concerns due to its potential harmful effects on human health, biota, and coastal ecosystems. However, limited information is available on the degradation behavior of plastics, especially biodegradable ones, in dune habitats. Moreover, the effects of plastics on dune plant growth a...

Commercial niobium and synthesized zirconium phosphates were tested as water-tolerant heterogeneous acid catalysts in the hydrothermal conversion of different bio-based substrates. Different acid-catalyzed reactions were performed using biomass-derived model compounds and more complex real lignocellulosic biomasses as the substrate. The conversion...

This work investigated the catalytic high‐pressure CO2 pretreatment of giant reed. CO2 is a renewable resource; its use does not generate chemical wastes and it can be easily removed and recycled. The effect of the addition of low concentrations of FeCl3 (0.16 wt %) and PEG 400 (1.0 wt %) on the hemicellulose hydrolysis to xylose and xylo‐oligosacc...

The cover feature image represents the role of carbon dioxide in the proposed biorefinery scheme based on CO2 capture by lignocellulosic biomass and the use of supercritical CO2 for the efficient pretreatment of giant reed under sustainable reaction conditions. The synergistic combination of supercritical CO2, FeCl3 and surfactant PEG400 allowed to...

The depletion of fossil resources is driving the research towards alternative renewable ones. Under this perspective, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) represents a key molecule deriving from biomass characterized by remarkable potential as platform chemical. In this work, for the first time, the hydrogenation of HMF in ethanol was selectively addresse...

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), accessible from various feedstocks, represents an important renewable platform-chemical, precursor for valuable biofuels and bio-based chemicals. In this work, the continuous hydrogenation of an aqueous solution of HMF to give strategic monomers, 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan(BHMF) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofu...

Alkyl levulinates (ALs) represent outstanding bio-fuels and strategic bio-products within the context of the marketing of levulinic acid derivatives. However, their synthesis by acid-catalyzed esterification of pure levulinic acid, or by acid-catalyzed alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol, although relatively simple, is still economically disadvantageou...

A two-step exploitation of the giant reed cellulose to glucose and levulinic acid, after the complete removal of the hemicellulose fraction, was investigated using FeCl3 as catalyst. In the first step, the microwave-assisted hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose was optimised by response surface methodology analysis, considering the effect of temperat...

Lignocellulosic biomass represents one of the most important feedstocks for future biorefineries, being a precursor of valuable bio-products, obtainable through both chemical and biological conversion routes. Lignocellulosic biomass has a complex matrix, which requires the careful development of multi-step approaches for its complete exploitation t...

Following the “Letter to the Editor regarding the article “Evaluation of the phytotoxicity of conventional and biodegradable plastic bags using seed germination tests” by Balestri et al. (2019) published on Ecological Indicators 102(2019):569–580” by Degli-Innocenti et al. (2019), we replied to the concerns expressed by Degli Innocenti and co-autho...

Lignocellulosic biomass conversion to sugars represents the basis of future biorefineries, because sugars can be converted to valuable products through chemical or fermentative routes. In order to guarantee a sustainable bio-based economy, a multi-stage fractionation/conversion of biomass feedstock should be developed, in this way maximizing sugars...

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is one of the most important renewable platform-chemicals, a very valuable precursor for the synthesis of bio-fuels and bio-products. In this work, the hydrogenation of HMF to two furan diols, 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (BHMTHF), both promising renewable monomers, was i...

5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde is one of the top 12 bio-based chemicals, precursor of renewable monomers and biofuels. This key molecule can be obtained from the dehydration of monosaccharides and polysaccharides. In this work, the synthesis of HMF from fructose and inulin was investigated in the presence of a wide range of metal salts adopting a tr...

A large fraction of plastic litter found in natural environments is constituted by conventional not biodegradable plastic bags, and their adverse effects via ingestion or entanglement on terrestrial and marine organisms are largely documented. Biodegradable and compostable shoppers have been recently developed as alternative to traditional ones. Th...

The ruthenium compounds [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(κ2N-(HCNR)2)]NO3 (R = 4-C6H4Me, [1]NO3; 4-C6H4OH, [2]NO3; C6H11 = Cy, [3]NO3; 4-C6H10OH, [4]NO3; tBu, [5]NO3) were prepared in high yields from [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2, AgNO3 and the appropriate α-diimine. Compounds [2]PF6 and [4]PF6 were obtained by straightforward reaction of [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(MeCN)0.66]PF6,...

A cascade strategy for the catalytic valorization of aqueous solutions of levulinic acid as well as of γ-valerolactone to 2-methyltetrahydrofuran or to monoalcohols, 2-butanol and 2-pentanol, has been studied and optimized. Only commercial catalytic systems have been employed, adopting sustainable reaction conditions. For the first time, the combin...

Nowadays, the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into added-value products such as reducing sugars is attracting great attention. Pentose and hexose sugars are very important industrial intermediates because they represent a versatile platform for the synthesis of several valuable compounds through chemical or biotechnological approaches. Th...

In recent years, the replacement of fossil resources with renewable ones has focused great interest, expecially as regards the production of new valuable bio-products and bio-fuels, in progressive replacement of the traditional petroleum-based ones.The Waste Management Policy strongly encourages the valorization of waste biomasses into added-value...

For the first time, the exploitation of hazelnut shells for the combined production of levulinic acid (LA) and hydrochar was investigated. The optimization of the catalytic hydrothermal treatment was performed both in autoclave and microwave reactor, approaching a maximum LA yield of∼9-12 wt%. Hydrochars recovered with high yield (∼43-47 wt%) were...

5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) is a biomass-derived intermediate for the sustainable production of monomers and biofuels. However, most of its syntheses are performed under not environmentally and/or economically green conditions. In this work, the dehydration of fructose/inulin to HMF was optimized, employing aqueous medium, high substrate co...

5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) is a key bio-based platform for the production of renewable monomers and bio-fuels. However, most of its syntheses are carried out under not sustainable conditions. In this work, the production of HMF from fructose and inulin was investigated following the Green Chemistry principles, adopting aqueous medium, appr...

Levulinic acid (LA) is one of the top bio-based platform molecules that can be converted into many valuable chemicals. It can be produced by acid catalysis from renewable resources, such as sugars, lignocellulosic biomass and waste materials, attractive candidates due to their abundance and environmentally benign nature. The LA transition from nich...

Today, the sustainable growth of the chemical and energy industries has become an indispensable benchmark of our society and the current development of the industrial sector based on fossil resources must be replaced by an alternative one, linked to renewable resources. By 2030, 30 % of the chemicals and materials production in Europe will be bio-...

La sostituzione delle materie prime fossili con quelle rinnovabili rappresenta una necessità sempre più stringente sia in ambito energetico sia della chimica degli intermedi e dei materiali. Si stima infatti che nel 2030 il 30 % della produzione di composti chimici sarà bio-based. La conversione catalitica dei rinnovabili è un argomento estremament...