Dr. Luigi Di Bitonto
Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Viale de Blasio 5, 70132 Bari, Italy
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Academic Career Length
8Years (2019-Present)
(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)
Representative Publications
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Journal Article
Michele Casiello
Lucia CatucciFFFrancesco Fracassi
Francesco FracassiCFCaterina Fusco
Caterina FuscoALAmelita G. Laurenza
Amelita G. Laurenza
Angelo Nacci +3
A new protocol for biodiesel production is proposed, based on a binary ZnO/TBAI (TBAI = tetrabutylammonium iodide) catalytic system. Zinc oxide acts as a heterogeneous, bifunctional Lewis acid/base catalyst, while TBAI plays the role of phase transfer agent. Being composed by the bulk form powders, the whole catalyst system proved to be easy to use, without requiring nano-structuration or tedious and costly preparation or pre-activation procedures. In addition, due to the amphoteric properties of ZnO, the catalyst can simultaneously promote transesterification and esterification processes, thus becoming applicable to common vegetable oils (e.g., soybean, jatropha, linseed, etc.) and animal fats (lard and fish oil), but also to waste lipids such as cooking oils (WCOs), highly acidic lipids from oil industry processing, and lipid fractions of municipal sewage sludge. Reusability of the catalyst system together with kinetic (Ea) and thermodynamic parameters of activation (ΔG‡ and ΔH‡) are also studied for transesterification reaction.
Journal Article
Luigi Di BitontoESENRICO SCELSI
ENRICO SCELSI
Hilda Elizabeth Reynel-ÁvilaDCDidilia Ileana Mendoza Castillo
Didilia Ileana Mendoza Castillo
Adrian Bonilla-Petriciolet
Carlo Pastore +2
In this work, a closed-loop strategy for the management and valorization of winery waste was proposed. The exhausted pomace and grape stalks that are typically obtained from white wine industries were used as a source of simple sugars, namely, glucose and fructose, and of lignocellulosic feedstock for the preparation of selective catalysts for the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) production from fructose. A novel synthetic procedure was developed for the synthesis of iron-sulfonated magnetic biochar catalysts (Fe-SMBCs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), BET surface area, porous structure analysis and determination of total amount of acid sites were performed in order to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the synthesized systems. Then, these heterogeneous catalysts were successfully tested via the dehydration of simple sugars into 5-HMF by using methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and gamma valerolactone (GVL) as co-solvents. The optimum 5-HMF yield of 40.9 ± 1.1%mol with a selectivity of 59.8 ± 2.6%mol was achieved by adopting the following optimized conditions: 0.1 g of catalyst, volume ratio of GVL to H2O = 2 to 1, 403 K, 6 h. In addition, the catalyst was easily recycled using an external magnetic field and used for at least five reaction cycles without significant loss of catalytic activity.
Journal Article
JWJoão H. C. Wancura
João H. C. WancuraECEliane Cipolatti
Eliane CipolattiEMEvelin Andrade Manoel
Evelin Andrade Manoel
Febri Odel NitbaniACAngie Vanessa Caicedo-Paz
Angie Vanessa Caicedo-PazLuigi Di Bitonto +3
Oleochemicals, which are obtained from vegetable and animal fats and oils, have become indispensable in the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and biofuel industries. Traditionally, they are synthesized using chemical catalysts, a process that is often associated with high energy requirements and a considerable environmental impact. Biocatalysis, using enzymes such as lipases, has emerged as a transformative alternative that offers high specificity, environmental friendliness and cost-efficiency. This review comprehensively examines the current state of biocatalysis for oleochemical synthesis, highlighting key reactions such as esterification and transesterification and their integration into industrial processes. A bibliometric analysis uncovers global trends and collaborations, while case studies illustrate cost efficiency and scalability. The article outlines recommendations and future research directions to advance biocatalytic processes. This review is intended to be an important resource for researchers and industries transitioning to sustainable oleochemical production.
Journal Article
In this work, the transesterification of methyl estolides (ME) extracted from the lipid component present in the sewage scum was investigated. Methyl 10-(R)-hydroxystearate (Me-10-HSA) and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) were obtained in a single step. A three-level and four factorial Box–Behnken experimental design were used to study the effects of methanol amounts, catalyst, temperature, and reaction time on the transesterification reaction using aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3·6H2O) or hydrochloric acid (HCl) as catalysts. AlCl3·6H2O was found quite active as well as conventional homogeneous acid catalysts as HCl. In both cases, a complete conversion of ME into Me-10-HSA and FAMEs was observed. The products were isolated, quantified, and fully characterized. At the end of the process, Me-10-HSA (32.3%wt) was purified through a chromatographic separation and analyzed by NMR. The high enantiomeric excess (ee > 92%) of the R-enantiomer isomer opens a new scenario for the valorization of sewage scum.
Journal Article
Luigi Di BitontoESENRICO SCELSI
ENRICO SCELSI
Massimiliano ErricoHilda Elizabeth Reynel-ÁvilaDCDidilia Ileana Mendoza Castillo
Didilia Ileana Mendoza CastilloCarlo Pastore +5
In this work, a novel sustainable approach was proposed for the integral valorisation of Arctium lappa (burdock) seeds and roots. Firstly, a preliminary recovery of bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids, was performed. Then, simple sugars (i.e., fructose and sucrose) and phenolic compounds were extracted by using compressed fluids (supercritical CO2 and propane). Consequently, a complete characterisation of raw biomass and extraction residues was carried out to determine the starting chemical composition in terms of residual lipids, proteins, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and ash content. Subsequently, three alternative ways to utilise extraction residues were proposed and successfully tested: (i) enzymatic hydrolysis operated by Cellulases (Thricoderma resei) of raw and residual biomass to glucose, (ii) direct ethanolysis to produce ethyl levulinate; and (iii) pyrolysis to obtain biochar to be used as supports for the synthesis of sulfonated magnetic iron-carbon catalysts (Fe-SMCC) to be applied in the dehydration of fructose for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The development of these advanced approaches enabled the full utilisation of this resource through the production of fine chemicals and value-added compounds in line with the principles of the circular economy.
24 November 2025 in Biomass and Bioenergy
Journal Article
KAKholoud A. Ali
Kholoud A. Ali
SIsh ibrahim
sh ibrahimSESahar A. El–Molla
Sahar A. El–Molla
AMAhmad Mustafa
Ahmad Mustafa
Carlo PastoreMNMona A. Naghmash
Mona A. Naghmash
+2
About Me
Dr. Luigi di Bitonto has been a Researcher at the National Council of Italian Research, CNR, Water Research Institute since 2021. He graduated in Chemical Sciences and Technologies (62/s) cum laude from the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" in 2010 and obtained his PhD in Chemical Sciences from the same university in 2014. During his PhD studies, he carried out research activities within the EuroBioRef project "European Multilevel Integrated Biorefinery Design for Sustainable Biomass Processing" on the valorization of animal and plant biomass resources for the production of third-generation biofuels. In the same year, he worked under a project contract at the University Consortium for Chemical Reactivity and Catalysis on the development of processes for the synthesis of "platform molecules" from residual biomass. As a scholarship holder (2015-2017) and postgraduate (2017-2020) at IRSA-CNR in Bari, he has participated in numerous national and international projects (PON-TARANTO, BioLuBridge, RES URBIS, IPROPBIO, WE-MET, BFBioS, WISE) and collaborations with private entities (Hydro SpA, CISA SpA). He is a co-author of 29 indexed scientific publications (Scopus and ISI) (490 citations), 3 book chapters, and 5 patents and has participated in international and national conferences 34 times (HI: 15, Scopus). Currently, he is working on the valorization of wastewater sludge through thermo-chemical conversion into fine chemicals and/or liquid biofuel.