Ph.D. in Energetica , 26th cycle (2011-2013)
Ph.D. obtained in 2014
Dissertation:
Biogas from anaerobic digestion of biomass (Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste and sewage sludge): trace compounds characterization through an innovative technique (PTR-MS) and detrimental effects on SOFC energy generators, from single cells to short stacks.
Tutors:
Massimo SantarelliProfile
Research interests
Scientific branch
(Area 0009 - Industrial and information engineering)
Teaching
Collegi of the degree programmes
- Collegio di Ingegneria Chimica e dei Materiali. Componente invitato
- Collegio di Ingegneria Elettrica ed Energetica. Componente
- Collegio di Ingegneria Meccanica, Aerospaziale e dell'Autoveicolo. Componente invitato
Other activities and projects related to teaching
Master's and Bachelor’s Degree Courses:
Energy Storage Technologies, New Battery Systems for Mobility (Course collaborator since 2022 - present).
Laboratory of Energy Plants (LIE): Full course management and experimental activities (Course holder since 2020 - present).
Applied Thermodynamics and Heat Transmission (Course collaborator since 2018 - present).
Design of Thermotechnical Systems (Course collaborator since 2023 - present).
Thermotechnical Systems and Industrial Refrigeration (Course collaborator since 2024 - present).
Instructor for the technical training of operators at the Livorno Ferraris (VC) thermoelectric power plant, delivering a 90-hour course (in-person and online) on applied thermodynamics, physics, basic electricity, combustion chemistry, and water treatment in power plants (three separate yearly sessions).
International Collaboration and Initiatives:
Tunnel Ventilation and Safety (Graz University of Technology, March 23).
Co-organizer of international program: Joint Online Course on Safety Tunnel and Ventilation systems (TU Graz and PoliTo: Hard skills for phd students) (March 24 to present).
Co-organizer of international program: Summer school program on Safety of Underground Transport Infrastructure in collaboration with international universities (TU Darmstadt, TU Graz, WUST Wroclaw) – (Sept 24, Sept 25).
Coordinator of international program: Hybrid course (online-onsite) HSMA- Hydrogen and Safety for Mobile Application (1st edition) in collaboration with international universities (UPC Barcelona, TU Graz) – (Sept. 25).
Visiting professor in charge of the 45-hour Experimental Studies of RES course in Astana (KZ) at Gumilev Eurasian National University (ENU) (Oct 24).
Member of the TC4.4 – PIARC – tunnel safety, cycle 2020-2023 and 2024-2027.
Visiting professor - Experimental research at the Aberdeen research laboratory (HyWay project) (August 2025) - experimental tests to produce hydrogen and solid char useful for enriching the PCM system for thermal control of LIB batteries. Char produced from organic waste digestates and water treatment sludge.
Participated in the Virtual Battery Project Proposal Workshop, Coventry University, 29–31 October 2025.
- Supervision of master's theses (supervisor): on average 20/year
- Supervision of three-year dissertations (supervisor): average 40/year
- Supervision activities for curricular traineeships: average 10/year
Research
Research groups
Research projects
Projects funded by competitive calls
- GeothermSkin - Sistema energetico contro terra e metodo per scambiare calore tramite tale sistema , (2020-2021) - Responsabile Scientifico di Struttura
Corporate-funded and donor-funded research
Projects funded by commercial contracts
- Parere in merito alla “completezza e correttezza delle prove di non regressione realizzate sulla nuova GTC (Gestione Tecnica Centralizzata)” , (2025-2026) - Componente gruppo di Ricerca
Consulting
Other activities and projects related to research
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">ECVSectionBullet",201340122,"2",134234082,"true",134233614,"true",469778129,"ECVSectionBullet",335572020,"1",469778324,"ECVSectionDetails"]}">Advancing research on electrochemical energy storage systems through a Tri-University collaboration (ARES-APW) (Unite! call)EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">Concentrated Solar Power and Solar cells – Innovative materials and technologies (CSP-IMT), sustainable electricity and heat generation - Training and Innovation (Unite! call)EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">HYWAY: Hydrogen Production from Waste (Co-funded by the European Union, Engineering and physical sciences research council – UKRI)EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">PRIN2020: Hydrogen production, storage, and CO2 enhancement in renewable energy networks.EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">BatFire (2023-2024): Safety and fire testing of electric vehicles. (Unite! call)EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">Waste2Watts (2018-2021): Integrated biogas-SOFC system design and testing. (European funds)EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">BioWaste for SOFC (2015-2017): Biogas purification for SOFC systems.EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">THERMODEL BAT: Thermal modeling to predict battery aging in electric vehicles.EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
EmbeddedFont", "ArialMSFontService", sans-serif;">VEGA and BWS projects funded by Caritro (Trento) in collaboration with Fondazione Edmund Mach and Solidpower spa.EmbeddedFont", "Arial_MSFontService", sans-serif; color: #3f3a38;">
Publications
Last years publications
PoliTO co-authors
Publications by type
Works published during the Ph.D. View all publications in Porto@Iris
- Papurello, Davide (2014)
Biogas from anaerobic digestion of biomass (Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste and sewage sludge): trace compounds characterization through an innovative technique (PTR-MS) and detrimental effects on SOFC energy generators, from single cells to short stacks.. relatore: Massimo Santarelli, 16. XVI Ciclo, P.: 403
Doctoral Thesis - Papurello, Davide; Lanzini, Andrea; Leone, Pierluigi; Santarelli, Massimo; Silvia, ... (2014)
Biogas from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: Dealing with contaminants for a solid oxide fuel cell energy generator. In: WASTE MANAGEMENT, pp. 2047-2056. ISSN 0956-053X
Contributo su Rivista - Papurello, Davide; Erna, Schuhfried; Lanzini, Andrea; Andrea, Romano; Luca, Cappellin; ... (2014)
Influence of co-vapors on biogas filtration for fuel cells monitored with PTR-MS (Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometry). In: FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY, vol. 118, pp. 133-140. ISSN 0378-3820
Contributo su Rivista - Papurello, Davide; Borchiellini, Romano; P., Bareschino; V., Chiodo; S., Freni; Lanzini, ... (2014)
Performance of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell short-stack with biogas feeding. In: APPLIED ENERGY, vol. 125, pp. 254-263. ISSN 0306-2619
Contributo su Rivista - Papurello, Davide; Lanzini, Andrea; Leone, Pierluigi; Smeacetto, Federico; L., Tognana; ... (2013)
Direct biogas steam reforming on Nickel anode supported cell: Effect of higher hydrocarbons and sulfur impurities on the cell performance. In: 5th European Fuel Cell Piero Lunghi Conference and Exhibition, EFC 2013, Rome; Italy
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Papurello, Davide; Lanzini, Andrea; Ferrero, Domenico; Smeacetto, Federico; Leone, ... (2013)
Covapors influence on activated carbon filter performance removal from a biogenous fuel suitable for SOFC application using a rapid and online tool. In: 5th European Fuel Cell Piero Lunghi Conference and Exhibition, EFC 2013, Rome; Italy, 11 December 2013 through 13 December 2013
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Lanzini, Andrea; G. A., Ortigoza Villalba; Papurello, Davide; Santarelli, Massimo; R., ... (2013)
Effects of various biogas contaminants on the performance of an SOFC short stack. In: 5th European Fuel Cell Piero Lunghi Conference and Exhibition, EFC 2013, Rome; Italy, 11 December 2013 through 13 December 2013. ISBN: 9788882862978
Contributo in Atti di Convegno (Proceeding) - Papurello, Davide; Soukoulis, C.; Cappellin, L.; Silvestri, S.; Santarelli, Massimo; ... (2012)
Monitoring of Volatile Compound Emissions During Dry Anaerobic Digestion of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste by Proton Transfer Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry. In: BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 126, pp. 254-265. ISSN 0960-8524
Contributo su Rivista