Giuseppe Pipitone

Fixed-term tenured assistant professor (RTT)
Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT)

Profile

Research interests

Biofuels
Biorefinery
Process modelling
Waste treatment, reuse, recycling, recovery

Biography

Giuseppe Pipitone is a chemical engineer and Assistant Professor (RTT) at DISAT, Politecnico di Torino, and his scientific activity focuses on the development of sustainable processes for the production of hydrogen and advanced biofuels from biomass, industrial residues, and organic waste. His work combines experimental, modeling, and techno-economic as well as environmental assessment approaches, with a strong emphasis on both the understanding of catalytic mechanisms and the feasibility of processes at the plant scale. His main research areas include Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR), investigated for hydrogen production and the valorization of complex effluents; Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL), explored as a pathway to convert biomass and organic waste into biofuels, often in synergy with APR to maximize biorefinery efficiency; and heterogeneous catalysis, addressed through an integrated approach that combines advanced experimentation with theoretical collaborations. Alongside reaction engineering, he also works on sustainability assessments through life cycle studies (LCA) and techno-economic evaluations, with a particular focus on the production of sustainable aviation fuels. His research therefore spans from the fundamentals of catalysis and process chemistry to the intensification and integration of biorefinery schemes, outlining concrete pathways for the energy transition and for a more circular use of resources.

Scientific branch

ICHI-02/B - Chemical Technologies
(Area 0009 - Industrial and information engineering)

Research topics

  • Every new technology for energy or fuel production must demonstrate its sustainability not only from a scientific standpoint, but also from an economic and environmental perspective. In this context, tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) make it possible to evaluate the overall impact and competitiveness of processes at the industrial scale. My work integrates these approaches with experimental activities and technological development, analyzing energy efficiency, costs, and emissions associated with different industrial processes, with particular focus on those related to the energy transition.
  • Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) is a thermochemical process that converts biomass and wet wastes into a biocrude precursor and intermediate compounds by exploiting water at high temperature and pressure. It is considered one of the most promising technologies for the production of advanced biofuels, as it allows the processing of complex feedstocks without the need for costly drying pretreatments. My research in the field of HTL focuses on understanding the conversion mechanisms of complex mixtures and on studying the interactions between different biomass components. In addition, we investigate this process to assess the feasibility of chemical recycling of plastic and textile waste. In parallel, I explore the synergy between HTL and APR to integrate the production of biofuels and hydrogen, developing more efficient and circular biorefinery concepts.
  • The Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) is a catalytic process that enables the conversion of oxygenated compounds in the aqueous phase into hydrogen, offering a versatile approach for the valorization of biomass, industrial effluents, and complex biorefinery by-products. It is a technology of great interest because it combines the production of clean energy with the sustainable treatment of diluted organic streams that are often regarded as waste. My research in this field focuses on the development of innovative and stable catalysts capable of operating under real conditions and with complex effluents, as well as on the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern reaction selectivity. In parallel, I investigate the integration of APR within biorefinery schemes, assessing its techno-economic and environmental impact, with the aim of outlining viable solutions for sustainable hydrogen production and for reducing the footprint of industrial processes.

Skills

ERC sectors

PE8_2 - Chemical engineering, technical chemistry
PE8_11 - Environmental engineering, e.g. sustainable design, waste and water treatment, recycling, regeneration or recovery of compounds, carbon capture & storage
PE8_9 - Production technology, process engineering

SDG

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy
Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
Goal 13: Climate action

Teaching

Collegi of the degree programmes

Teachings

Master of Science

MostraNascondi A.A. passati

Bachelor of Science

  • Chimica industriale. A.A. 2025/26, INGEGNERIA CHIMICA E ALIMENTARE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica industriale. A.A. 2024/25, INGEGNERIA CHIMICA E ALIMENTARE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica industriale. A.A. 2023/24, INGEGNERIA CHIMICA E ALIMENTARE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica industriale. A.A. 2022/23, INGEGNERIA CHIMICA E ALIMENTARE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica industriale. A.A. 2021/22, INGEGNERIA CHIMICA E ALIMENTARE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica. A.A. 2020/21, INGEGNERIA AEROSPAZIALE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica industriale. A.A. 2020/21, INGEGNERIA CHIMICA E ALIMENTARE. Collaboratore del corso
  • Chimica. A.A. 2019/20, INGEGNERIA AEROSPAZIALE. Collaboratore del corso
MostraNascondi A.A. passati

Research

Institute

Research groups/teams

Research projects

Projects funded by commercial contracts

Supervised PhD students

  • Guido Ceragioli. Programme in Ingegneria Chimica (39th cycle, 2024-in progress)
  • Diego Fida. Programme in Ingegneria Chimica (39th cycle, 2023-in progress)
  • Giulia Farnocchia. Programme in Ingegneria Chimica (38th cycle, 2022-in progress)

Publications

Latest publications View all publications in Porto@Iris