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Author

Matteo Francavilla

Other affiliations: National Research Council
Bio: Matteo Francavilla is an academic researcher from University of Foggia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Digestate & Biochar. The author has an hindex of 17, co-authored 40 publications receiving 923 citations. Previous affiliations of Matteo Francavilla include National Research Council.
Topics: Digestate, Biochar, Soil water, Biogas, Loam

Papers
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TL;DR: The possibility of using Gracilaria gracilis as a multi products source for biotechnological, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications is pointed out even although more investigations are required for separating, purifying and characterizing these bioactive compounds.
Abstract: In recent years seaweeds have increasingly attracted interest in the search for new drugs and have been shown to be a primary source of bioactive natural compounds and biomaterials. In the present investigation, the biochemical composition of the red seaweed Gracilaria gracilis, collected seasonally in the Lesina Lagoon (Southern Adriatic Sea, Lesina, Italy), was assayed by means of advanced analytical techniques, such as gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and spectrophotometric tests. In particular, analysis of lipids, fatty acids, sterols, proteins, phycobiliproteins and carbohydrates as well as phenolic content, antioxidant and radical scavenging activity were performed. In winter extracts of G. gracilis, a high content of R-phycoerythrin together with other valuable products such as arachidonic acid (PUFA ω-6), proteins and carbohydrates was observed. High antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were also detected in summer extracts of the seaweed together with a high content of total phenols. In conclusion, this study points out the possibility of using Gracilaria gracilis as a multi products source for biotechnological, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications even although more investigations are required for separating, purifying and characterizing these bioactive compounds.

178 citations

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TL;DR: In this article, a detailed screening of the physical and chemical properties of both solid-digestate and pyrochar was performed, inferring their effects on soil quality, and the results showed that while P and K are enriched in pyrochamber, total N showed no significant differences.

141 citations

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TL;DR: The effect of salt concentration on sterols yields has been studied varying the quantities of NaCl into culture medium, with good yields of total sterols achieved at lower salt concentration, while an increase in salt concentration resulted in a significant decrease in total sterol yield.

116 citations

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TL;DR: In this paper, the solid residue of microalga D. tertiolecta was evaluated and its potential use as biofuel or sorbent for soil remediation was discussed.
Abstract: The present study aims to valorise, through fast pyrolysis, the solid residue of microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta , after extraction of added-value compounds (β-carotene, phytosterols and fatty acids), which are included in the total lipid fraction, following the “ Biorefinery Approach ”. This study targets biooil and/or char as pyrolysis end-products. At pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C, biooil yield was maximized (45.13 wt.%), while char reached 29.34 wt.%. Biooil quality was assessed and its potential use as biofuel discussed. In addition, assessment of char composition and properties, either as fertilizer or sorbent for soil remediation, was also discussed. Finally, microalga D. tertiolecta can produce high amounts of lipids which have a high potential application and also renewable fuel/soil amendment by fast pyrolysis of its residue.

71 citations

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TL;DR: Results showed that the bio-oil yield is high at pyrolysis temperature ∼500 °C, but its high content in nitrogenous compounds prevents its use as a biofuel, unless some further de-nitrogenation takes place.

70 citations


Cited by
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1,610 citations

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TL;DR: This paper briefly reviews the main existing and potential high-value products which can be derived from microalgae and considers their commercial development with a particular focus on the various aspects which need to be considered on the path to commercialisation.
Abstract: Microalgae (including the cyanobacteria) are established commercial sources of high-value chemicals such as β-carotene, astaxanthin, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosahexaenoic acid, phycobilin pigments and algal extracts for use in cosmetics. Microalgae are also increasingly playing a role in cosmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and functional foods. In the last few years, there has been renewed interest in microalgae as commercial sources of these and other high-value compounds, driven in part by the attempts to develop commercially viable biofuels from microalgae. This paper briefly reviews the main existing and potential high-value products which can be derived from microalgae and considers their commercial development with a particular focus on the various aspects which need to be considered on the path to commercialisation, using the experience gained in the commercialisation of existing algae products. These considerations include the existing and potential market size and market characteristics of the product, competition by chemically synthesised products or by ‘natural’ compounds from other organisms such as fungi, bacteria, higher plants, etc., product quality requirements and assurance, and the legal and regulatory environment.

1,193 citations

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TL;DR: A systematic literature review exploring the state-of-the-art of academic research on circular economy (CE) is presented in this paper, where the authors examine the CE body of literature with a systematic approach, to provide an exhaustive analysis of the phenomenon with rigorous and reproducible research criteria.

698 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the fate of BC applied to a savanna Oxisol in Colombia at rates of 0, 11.6, 23.2 and 116.1 t BC ha -1, as well as its effect on non-BC soil organic C.
Abstract: Black carbon (BC) is an important pool of the global C cycle, because it cycles much more slowly than others and may even be managed for C sequestration. Using stable isotope techniques, we investigated the fate of BC applied to a savanna Oxisol in Colombia at rates of 0, 11.6, 23.2 and 116.1 t BC ha -1 , as well as its effect on non-BC soil organic C. During the rainy seasons of 2005 and 2006, soil respiration was measured using soda lime traps, particulate and dissolved organic C (POC and DOC) moving by saturated flow was sampled continuously at 0.15 and 0.3 m, and soil was sampled to 2.0 m. Black C was found below the application depth of 0-0.1 m in the 0.15-0.3 m depth interval, with migration rates of 52.4 ± 14.5, 51.8 ± 18.5 and 378.7 ± 196.9 kg C ha -1 yr -1 (± SE) where 11.6, 23.2 and 116.1 t BC ha -1 , respectively, had been applied. Over 2 years after application, 2.2% of BC applied at 23.2 t BCha -1 was lost by respiration, and an even smaller fraction of 1% was mobilized by percolating water. Carbon from BC moved to a greater extent as DOC than POC. The largest flux of BC from the field (20-53% of applied BC) was not accounted for by our measurements and is assumed to have occurred by surface runoff during intense rain events. Black C caused a 189% increase in aboveground biomass production measured 5 months after application (2.4-4.5 additional dry biomass ha -1 where BC was applied), and this resulted in greater amounts of non-BC being respired, leached and found in soil for the duration of the experiment. These increases can be quantitatively explained by estimates of greater belowground net primary productivity with BC addition.

622 citations

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TL;DR: The present review targets the comparative biogenic synthesis and mechanisms of nanoparticles using algae and waste materials (agro waste in the presence of biomolecules) and some of the applications of the biosynthesized nanoparticles in biomedical, catalysis and biosensors fields.

522 citations