Domenico Licursi

Researcher unique identifiers ORCID: 0000-0003-0290-5359
Web of Science ResearcherID: AAD-3498-2022.
Scopus Author ID: 55313645000
Date of birth: 27/11/1983
Nationality: Italian

• EDUCATION

2015: PhD in “Chemical Sciences Galileo Galilei” (XXVII Cycle)
2013: First Level Master Degree in “Production of Paper and Paperboard and Management of the Production System”, CELSIUS-UNIPI.
2010: Master’s Degree in “Industrial Chemistry”, UNIPI, Italy.
2009: First Level Master Degree in: “Industrial Hygiene, Prevention and Safety”, UNIPI.
2007: Bachelor Degree in “Chemical Sciences and Technologies for the Industry and the Environment”, UNIPI.

• CURRENT POSITION

Present: Researcher in Tenure Track (RTT) in Industrial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry.

• PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2021–2023: Junior Researcher in Industrial Chemistry (RTD-a), UNIPI.
2018–2020: Technician Position, UNIPI.
2016–2017: Post-Doctorate Fellow, UNIPI.
2015–2016: Post-Doctorate Fellow, UNIPI.


• TEACHING ACTIVITIES

2022: Teaching Assignments Abroad (6 hours), at the University of Vigo – Department of Chemical Engineering (LG Campus Lagoas Marcosende – Pontevedra, Spain) on the following topic: “Advanced analytical techniques applied to the understanding of the biomass conversion chemistry: Theoretical principles and relevant cases of study”.
2021 - present: Holder of the fundamental course “Environmental Science and Technology”, and co-teaching of the fundamental course "Processes and Chemical Industrial Plants I", both within the bachelor’s degree in “Industrial Chemistry”, UNIPI.
2021 - present: Teacher assistant in the laboratory activity for courses of Industrial Chemistry within the bachelor’s degree in “Industrial Chemistry”, UNIPI.
2019–2018: Subject Expert for CHIM/04 sector (Industrial Chemistry), UNIPI.
2013: Teacher assistant in the laboratory activity for courses of Industrial Chemistry within the bachelor’s degree in “Industrial Chemistry”, UNIPI, and courses of Analytical Chemistry within the bachelor’s degree in “Chemistry”, UNIPI.


2012–present: Scientific production: 33 papers published in indexed journals (Scopus and ISI web of Knowledge), 2 patents (applications submitted in the 2021-present). Speaker in 8 Congresses, Conferences and Meetings (on invitation) and 34 communications (Abstracts/Proceedings) to International and National congresses.
Indexing parameters: h-index: 17; citing articles: 893 (Scopus last access: 30/03/2021).

• MAIN RESEARCH ACTIVITY

Keywords: Hydrolysis; alcoholysis; pyrolysis; gasification; hydrogenation; oxidation; homogeneous/heterogeneous catalysis; biomass exploitation; cellulose; hemicellulose; lignin; biochar; activated carbon; esters; carboxylic acids; diphenolic acid; biorefinery and circular economy.

Main topics: My research mainly concerns the hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis of waste biomasses to produce chars and bio-oils, potentially exploitable for fuel and environmental applications. Developing cascade approaches, I am focusing on the development of efficient biomass pre-treatments, to include upstream of the above mentioned thermochemical processes, to better fractionate and exploit the main biomass components (e.g. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin). Other topics of relevant interest: Synthesis of activated carbons and their next use for environmental/energy applications; catalytic hydrogenation of esters/carboxylic acids with homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts; microwave-assisted synthesis of new polyesters; solubilization of ashes by hydrothermal technologies, aimed at improving the combustion performances of biomass.


• SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION AND INDEXING PARAMETERS

2012–present: 51 papers published in Scopus-indexed journals, and 2 patents. Speaker in 14 congresses/conferences and more than 60 communications (abstracts/proceedings) to international/national congresses/conferences.
Indexing parameters: h-ind