The STAR*Facility Centre is a technological hub of University of Foggia, Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE). Research activities are focused on biomass valorization, including microalgae and seaweeds, through chemical, biochemical and thermochemical conversion with a biorefinery approach. Circularity (zero waste) and environmental sustainability of biomass valorization process are the main objectives pursued in our lab, inspired by green chemistry principles.

A comprehensive and cutting-edge laboratory equipment specialized in biomass and biomaterial characterization, together with integrated pilot plants are available. The following equipment is available for research activities:

Gas Chromatograph coupled with a Mass Spectrometer (GC-MSn); High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with two detectors (Diode Array and Refractive Index Detector) and Mass Spectrometer; Micro Gas Chromatograph (μGC); Elemental analyzer (CNHS); Ash Melting Analyzer; Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR and NIR); Spectrophotometer UV-VIS coupled with an optic fiber; MicroWave Extractor; Lab anaerobic digester (test batch); Thermostatic room and a rack with settable photoperiod, air and CO2 fluxes for algae test batch; Thermogravimetric Analyzer; Fiber Analyzer; Soxtec; Calorimeter; Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometer; Ozonizer.

Moreover, the following integrated pilot plants are installed in an outdoor “biorefinery technological platform” adjacent to the lab:

– Photobioreactors plant for algae cultivation; three different technologies for microalgae cultivation: column photobioreactor (300L), tubular photobioreactor (400L) and race-way reactor (1000L);

– Pyrolysis and Gasification pilot plants;

– Anaerobic digestion pilot plant (1000 litres in volume).

Ubicazione

Sede STAR Facility Centre c/o BLAB, Zona ASI FOGGIA 

Piano Terra