Professor
University of Catania
Italy
Siracusa Valentina received her degree in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Catania (Italy), at 23 years old. She completed her PhD and post-PhD study working on the synthesis and characterization of innovative polyesters, used in the engineering field. After a period as lectures for “Chemistry and Materials” for Engineering, from 2006 she is Associate Professor in Chemistry for Engineering Couses at University of Catania (Italy) and Invited Professor on “Life Cycle Assessment Study (LCA)” courses at University of Bologna (Italy). She collaborates to several research projects, both for academic than industrial interest, on topic such as recycle, ambient, food packaging, graphene for packaging application, nanoparticles, polymer drug delivery. Actually, she collaborates with national and international research groups on biopolymers used in the field of food packaging, for modified atmosphere packaging of fresh foods, with also Life Cycle Assessment study (with SimaPro software). She is author of more than 114 papers in high impact factor scientific journals, she is author of several book chapters for Wiley, Springer, Elsevier, she is author of articles for special Module of Elsevier Encyclopedia and she is Editorial Board Member and Lead Guest Editor of several International Journals. Her research interest includes: synthesis and full characterization of biodegradable and bio-based polymers; gas barrier behavior in standard as well as in moisture condition, at different temperature; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of polymers; thermal and photo degradation behavior of packaging materials analyzed during food shelf-life study.