Interview with Dr. Giusti - Molecular Service Manager and Dr. Piparo - Lab Manager

Dr. Giusti, thank you very much for spending some time on this interview. First, can you outline your research and let us know what discovery and achievements have been made so far?

Thank you for giving us the opportunity, with Dr. Piparo, to share our goals. The biggest part of the work in our R&D Analytical Department is to provide the tools needed by our industry, and eventually to support our businesses. One mission within that overarching goal is seeking out and evaluating new technology that could be potentially useful. When it comes to utility, there is a real demand for (analytical) information at the point of need - for us, that means considering ways of shifting robust analysis out of research laboratories and into control labs. It is within this context that we also provide
analytical support to all other departments of our research direction in order to get a deep molecular understanding of our complex mixtures (crude oil fractions, pyrolysis oils, polymers). We are now looking at new challenges. In particular, the development and use of bio-based fuels and the recycling of plastics, whether mechanically or chemically after a pyrolysis step.

Why are you interested in this research? What is the goal?

Energy markets are changing, driven by climate change, technology and societal expectations. Our goals as analysts are to adapt and improve the methods historically developed for petroleum matrices, in order to establish molecular-level fingerprints of oil, new feedstocks and polymers. The ability to access molecular-level descriptions is a game changer. It enables us to better optimize the use of new feedstock, such as pyrolysis oils from plastic,
and understand the fate of bio-based molecules in the refining scheme.

“Listen to our needs and problems, and constantly look to progress in the development of new instruments and concepts”

Could you tell us why you chose Shimadzu as your partner for this project?

To realize solutions for all these multiple projects, we need external collaborations that bring innovations and ideas. Our academic and instrument manufacturer partners need to be willing to listen to our needs and problems, and constantly look to progress in the development of new instruments and concepts. Shimadzu fulfills all these characteristics. In fact, it is in this context that we started a collaboration, based on a patent, for the development of a new kind of detector for oxygen speciation.

Read the full Interview HERE>>