Alexandra Fidalgo

Prof. Alexandra Fidalgo

Universidade Europeia, Lisbon, Portugal
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

32Years (1995-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
19 June 2013 in Chemical Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Rosaria CiriminnaRosaria Ciriminna
Rosaria Ciriminna
Alexandra FidalgoAlexandra Fidalgo
Alexandra Fidalgo
VPValerica Pandarus
Valerica Pandarus
FBFrançois Béland
François Béland
Laura Maria IlharcoLaura Maria Ilharco
Laura Maria Ilharco
Mario PagliaroMario Pagliaro
Mario Pagliaro

1 May 2001 in Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Alexandra FidalgoAlexandra Fidalgo
Alexandra Fidalgo
Laura Maria IlharcoLaura Maria Ilharco
Laura Maria Ilharco

24 November 2005 in Chemistry of Materials
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Alexandra FidalgoAlexandra Fidalgo
Alexandra Fidalgo
Rosaria CiriminnaRosaria Ciriminna
Rosaria Ciriminna
Laura Maria IlharcoLaura Maria Ilharco
Laura Maria Ilharco
Mario PagliaroMario Pagliaro
Mario Pagliaro

15 January 2004 in Chemistry – A European Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
Alexandra FidalgoAlexandra Fidalgo
Alexandra Fidalgo
Laura Maria IlharcoLaura Maria Ilharco
Laura Maria Ilharco

29 February 2016 in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Alexandra FidalgoAlexandra Fidalgo
Alexandra Fidalgo
Rosaria CiriminnaRosaria Ciriminna
Rosaria Ciriminna
DCDiego Carnaroglio
Diego Carnaroglio
ATAlfredo Tamburino
Alfredo Tamburino
Giancarlo CravottoGiancarlo Cravotto
Giancarlo Cravotto
Mario PagliaroMario Pagliaro
Mario Pagliaro

2 September 2019 in Processes
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FRANCESCO MENEGUZZOFRANCESCO MENEGUZZO
FRANCESCO MENEGUZZO
Cecilia BrunettiCecilia Brunetti
Cecilia Brunetti
Alexandra FidalgoAlexandra Fidalgo
Alexandra Fidalgo
Rosaria CiriminnaRosaria Ciriminna
Rosaria Ciriminna
RDRiccardo Delisi
Riccardo Delisi
Mario PagliaroMario Pagliaro
Mario Pagliaro
Waste orange peel represents a heavy burden for the orange juice industry, estimated in several million tons per year worldwide; nevertheless, this by-product is endowed with valuable bioactive compounds, such as pectin, polyphenols, and terpenes. The potential value of the waste orange peel has stimulated the search for extraction processes, alternative or complementary to landfilling or to the integral energy conversion. This study introduces controlled hydrodynamic cavitation as a new route to the integral valorization of this by-product, based on simple equipment, speed, effectiveness and efficiency, scalability, and compliance with green extraction principles. Waste orange peel, in batches of several kg, was processed in more than 100 L of water, without any other raw materials, in a device comprising a Venturi-shaped cavitation reactor. The extractions of pectin (with a remarkably low degree of esterification), polyphenols (flavanones and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives), and terpenes (mainly d-limonene) were effective and efficient (high yields within a few min of process time). The biomethane generation potential of the process residues was determined. The achieved results proved the viability of the proposed route to the integral valorization of waste orange peel, though wide margins exist for further improvements.