Contacts:
Supervisor(s):
Prof. Valter Castelvetro and Prof. Marco Lessi
Title of the PhD project:
Analysis and development of hydrophobic and oleophobic ‘fluorine-free’ modifiers for paper.
Abstract of the PhD project:
Water- and oil-repellent surfaces are fundamental for many applications, such as food packaging, self-cleaning, anti-fouling materials, etc. Especially for food packaging materials, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties play an essential role in preventing food contamination and/or leakage. Paper is a porous substrate permeable to liquids, therefore its use in food contact materials is currently based on multi-layered products including polymers and sometimes metal films. Fluorinated agents provide excellent performances but, being under scrutiny as potentially harmful to the environment and human health, more environmental-friendly and safe solutions have to be investigated.
The PhD project will focus on the development of new fluorine-free water- and oil-repellent treatments, combining the advantages of renewable cellulose substrate with new environmentally-friendly modifiers of the surface and/or the bulk of its porous structure while preserving paper recyclability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, low cost, easy processing with current equipment, and providing adequate mechanical properties. This will be achieved by thorough evaluation of existing paper coating formulations, and by exploring different materials and preparation methods along with a broad range of spectroscopic, morphological, thermal and mechanical characterization techniques from the molecular to the macroscopic level.
Publications:
• F. Cicogna, E. Passaglia, M. Benedettini, W. Oberhauser, R. Ishak, F. Signori, S. Coiai “Rosmarinic and Glycyrrhetinic Acid-Modified Layered Double Hydroxides as Functional Additives for Poly(Lactic Acid)/Poly(Butylene Succinate) Blends”, Molecules 2023, 28(1), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010347
Oral communications at conferences
• “Phosphorylated microfibrillated cellulose for Pickering emulsion polymerization to produce water borne hybrid acrylic (co)polymer coatings for paper”. M. Benedettini, A. Benard, J. Bras, M. Zonca, M. Lessi, V. Castelvetro. 2025 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, TAPPI Nano. 8-11 July, Girona (Spain).
• “Development of hydrophobic and grease resistant fluorine-free modifiers for paper”. M. Benedettini, J. Bras, A. Benard, M. Lessi, V. Castelvetro. CFF 2025 - Chemistry for the Future International Conference. 7-9 July, Pisa (Italy).
• “Development of water borne hybrid acrylic (co)polymers by Pickering emulsion polymerization and their application as paper coating materials”. M. Benedettini, A. Benard, J. Bras, M. Lessi, V. Castelvetro. Macrogiovani 2025. 28-30 May, Pisa (Italy).
• “Sviluppo di materiali idrofobici e oleofobici per carta”. M. Benedettini, A. Corti, V. Castelvetro, M. Lessi. XLII Convegno – Scuola “Mario Farina”. 13-17 May, Bertinoro (Italy).
Poster communications at conferences:
• “Surface omdification of microcrystalline cellulose: investigating solvent-less functionalization”. M. Benedettini, J. Bras, J. Viguié, M. Zonca, M. Lessi, V. Castelvetro. GlycoAlps Scientific Day 2024 – Unlocking the Future in Glycan Science. 28th November, Grenoble (France).
• “Surface modification of cellulose: new methods to achieve hydrophobic and oleophobic paper”. M. Benedettini, F. Petri, A. Operamolla, M. Lessi, V. Castelvetro. CFF 2023 - Chemistry for the Future International Conference. 28-30 June, Pisa (Italy).
Other achievements:
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Support provided for the scientific outputs:
• Fedrigoni SpA (Verona, Italy) for the financial support provided through the Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 3.3 (D.M. n. 352/2022) - EU – NextGenerationEU.
