Sustainable Chemistry Webinar | Sustainable Materials for Wastewater Treatment
the chairs
This webinar is jointly organized by the Sustainable Chemistry journal (MDPI) & the INTEGRANO Project, with me and Dr. Ilaria Zanoni (CNR-ISSMC, Italy) as chairs. This event brings together leading experts to discuss how cutting-edge research on sustainable materials is a major boon to the water purification sector and our future.
Webinar topics include:
• Green materials for membrane filtration;
• Microalgae as natural agents for wastewater cleaning;
• Innovative solvent platforms for membrane preparation.
Today we propose three presentations (with relative Question and Answers sections):
• Prof. Vittorio Boffa, from Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark, presents his research work about “Sustainable Materials for Membrane Filtration Technologies”;
• Prof. Simonetta Pancaldi and Prof. Costanza Baldisserotto will share the second presentation, which is entitled “Microalgae for Wastewater Cleaning“ – University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy;
• Dr. Francesca Russo – CNR-ITM, Rende, Italy, will speak about “New Solvent Platforms for Membrane Preparation in Wastewater Treatment”.
Date: 16 July 2025
Time: 10:00 am CEST | 4.00 am EDT | 4.00 pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 885 2860 3825
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet the Event Chairs
Meet Our Speakers
Prof. Vittorio Boffa
Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalbborg University, Denmark;
Prof. Vittorio Boffa is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience at Aalborg University in Denmark. He is affiliated with the Center for Membrane Technology and the Disordered Materials group. His research focuses on inorganic and hybrid membranes, particularly for applications in water purification and environmental remediation.
Prof. Boffa has contributed to the development of advanced nanofiltration membranes, including perovskite–graphene oxide composites, aimed at removing pollutants from water sources. He has authored numerous publications in the field and is recognized for his work on sustainable membrane technologies.
Prof. Simonetta Pancaldi
Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy;
Prof. Simonetta Pancaldi is a Full Professor of General Botany (BIO/01) at the Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara. She earned her degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Ferrara in 1981 and completed a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Her research focuses on the biotechnological potential of microalgae, examining the structural, functional, and molecular aspects of their photosynthetic apparatus under normal and stress conditions. She has authored 95 peer-reviewed publications and co-authored approximately 200 conference contributions. She is also a co-inventor of a patent for reducing nitrogen load in livestock wastewater.
Prof. Pancaldi teaches courses in Biological Sciences and various Master's programs, including Industrial Biotechnology and Agricultural Biotechnology. She is involved in several research projects, such as the EU-funded EASY TRAIN and PRIN projects like GREENPATCH and BIMODAL. She also leads the INTECH4WATER project, focusing on integrated technologies for wastewater treatment.
She is the scientific director and co-founder of Alga&Zyme Factory s.r.l., a spin-off of the University of Ferrara. Her contributions have been recognized with awards like the ItaliaX10 Prize (2013) and the R.O.S.A. Prize (2015).
Prof. Costanza Baldisserotto
Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy;
Prof. Costanza Baldisserotto is an Associate Professor in General Botany (BIO/01) at the Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences at the University of Ferrara. She teaches courses in Biological Sciences and Agricultural Technologies and Aquaculture of the Delta, and is involved in other BIO/01 sector courses at UniFE. She is also a member of the Doctoral Board for the PhD program in Environmental and Health Sciences.
Her research focuses on the biotechnological applications of microalgae, including wastewater phytoremediation, biomedical uses, eco-sustainable agriculture, aquaculture (particularly for bivalve nutrition), and the valorization of agro-industrial waste. She is the Principal Investigator for the national PRIN-2022 project ALBAVITA and leads a project co-funded by UniFE and the Chamber of Commerce of Ferrara.
Prof. Baldisserotto has conducted research at the Universidad Nacional del Sur in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, and at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. She has authored 45 peer-reviewed articles in international journals, contributed to over 90 national and international conferences, and co-authored a university textbook on Botany published by McGraw-Hill. She is also a co-founder of Alga&Zyme Factory s.r.l., a spin-off from the University of Ferrara specializing in microalgal biotechnology.
In addition to her academic and research roles, she serves as a member of the Joint Committee of Teachers and Students (CPDS) for Biological Sciences and is a coordinator for the internationalization of two degree programs. She is also involved in the quality assurance committee for the Master's program in Methodologies and Innovation in Teaching for Biogeosciences and Chemistry
Dr. Francesca Russo
National Research Council of Italy -Institute for Membrane Technology, CNR-ITM, Italy;
Dr. Francesca Russo is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute on Membrane Technology (ITM) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), based in Rende, Calabria. Her research focuses on the development of sustainable polymeric membranes for water treatment, desalination, and gas separation, utilizing green solvents and bio-based materials.
Dr. Russo earned her Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences and Technologies, concentrating on eco-friendly membrane fabrication techniques. Notably, she received the Best PhD Thesis Award in 2022 from Clean Technologies (MDPI) for her thesis on polymeric membranes for water purification.
Her recent research includes the preparation of mixed matrix membranes incorporating bio-ceramic hydroxyapatite derived from fish bone waste, aimed at removing heavy metals like copper and iron from water sources.
Dr. Russo actively collaborates with European research institutions and participates in EU-funded projects focused on sustainable membrane technologies. She is also engaged in science communication, sharing her research insights through professional networks and conferences.
Sponsors and Partners
Organizer
Co-organizer
The webinar was hosted via Zoom and required registration to attend. The full recording can be found below. In order to learn about future webinars, you can sign up to our newsletter by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of the page.
From Costanza Baldisserotto,
"This presentation explores the innovative use of microalgae in phytoremediation for wastewater treatment, highlighting their biological versatility and environmental benefits. It showcases research from the University of Ferrara and Terra & Acqua Tech on nutrient and contaminant removal, biomass valorization, and integration with advanced technologies. Emphasis is placed on circular economy strategies and interdisciplinary collaboration for sustainable water management."
"Circularity, Sustainability, Resilience, and Analysis in Water, Wastewater, and Sludge Management"
Guest Editor: Dr. Athanasia Tolkou, Dr. Athanasia Tolkou and Dr. Elena Rada
Deadline for Manuscript Submisstion: 31 October 2026