Curriculum Vitae of Siracusa Valentina Manuela
Personal Data:
Nationality: Italian
Data of born: March 09, 1972
Place of born: Catania (Italy)
Work address: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6,
95125 Catania (Italy), Phone number: Office +39 095 7382755 or +39 338 7275526. Email:
[email protected] .
Educational Qualification:
Born in Catania on March 1972, V. Siracusa carried out the secondary school at the
Commercial Technical institute in Catania (CT). On November 23, 1995 she graduated in
Industrial Chemistry at the University of Catania, with the Professor A. Recca, discussing
the experimental thesis with the title: "Thermoplastic / thermosetting blends as matrixes for
composite materials", research developed in the laboratory of the Department of Physical
and Chemical Methodologies for Engineering (DMFCI), Faculty of Engineering, University
of Catania, and in collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering of the
University of Salerno, with the score of 110/110, et lode.
- Qualification as Chemical achieved in May 1996.
- Title of PhD, received February 24, 2003, at the Faculty of Engineering of the University
of Catania ( PhD in Polymeric Materials for special purposes - XV cycle ) . Title: "Synthesis
and structure-property correlations of copolyesters based on aromatic acids ."
Professional Work:
August 1993: winner of a scholarship for research activity of one month as visiting student in the
laboratory of RUSTI (Imperial Chemical Industries-ICI) of Daresbury (Manchester, England) on
invitation of the Prof. D.T. Clark, manager Responsible of the research activity.
January - August 1996: Advice Contract from Department of Physical and Chemical Methodologies
for Engineering (DMFCI), Faculty of Engineering, University of Catania, with POP financing,
having for object the study and characterization of recycle plastic materials.
September - December 1996: winner of the scholarship proposed by the association SINTESI
within the project LEONARDO DA VINCI destined to the carrying out of a period of
apprenticeship near an enterprise inside the European union or of the S.E.E.. Such period of stage
has been developed to the French Society CLARIANT, Innovation Polymer Additives, F-68331
Huningue Cedex, France.
January 1997 - March 1998: winner of the exam, for titles and examinations, for the recruitment of
an unity of personnel (Graduated Technician) for the realization of the search program "Project
BRITE of the EEC n. BE 95-1315" in the Department of Physical and Chemical Methodologies for
the Engineering, University of Catania, coordinated by the IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
(ICI) in collaboration with the DASA, House, SHINDLER, SNECMA, ETH, IVW, AEROSPATIA
SAERTEX, Università di Louvain La Neuve (Belgio), Università di York (Gran Bretagna).
April - September 1998: research professional charge from the Department of Physical and
Chemical Methodologies for Engineering (DMFCI), Faculty of Engineering, University of Catania
in the project "Polymer for Composite Materials", activity turns in collaboration with the Prof.
Roger LEGRAS, Head of Laboratoire des Hauts Polymères, Universitè Catholique de Louvain-youNeuve (Croix South du 1, B-1348 LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, Belgium).
Academic Year 1998-1999: contract as lecturer on " Technologies of Applied Chemistry" for
Mechanical Engineering, University of Catania.
June 1999 - November 2006: Titular of a check of search for the disciplinary scientific sector C06X
"Chemistry" and I14B "Macromolecular Materials " (subsequently modified to CHIM/07 and ING /
IND -22) with search program: "Flame retarding additives for polymer materials ". The research has
been developed in collaboration with the Department of Applied Chemistry and Material Science
Engineering faculty, University of Bologna.
Academic Year 1999-2000: contract as Lecture for " Technologies of Applied Chemistry" for
Mechanical Engineering, University of Catania.
November 1999 - October 2002: Doctorate on Polymer Materials for special uses - XV cycle
(without grant), discussing a thesis with the title "Synthesis and correlations properties-structure of
copolyester based on aromatic acids." The examination of Doctorate has been dispatched on
February 24, 2003, Department of Physical and Chemical Methodologies for the Engineering,
Engineering Faculty, University of Catania.
Academic Year 2002 - 2003: activity of support for the lecture "Chemistry and Materials",
engineering Faculty, University of Bologna, Mechanical Engineering.
Year 2003: collaboration to the research project PRIN 2003. Title of the research activity: "New
tenacized thermosetting systems for molding process with resin transfer".
Academic years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006: winner of a Post-Doctorate fellowship, from July 01,
2005, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Chemistry Area, Sector of research Chemical Sciences,
University of Bologna. Title of the research activity: "polymers for special uses: synthesis,
characterization and study of the correlations properties-structure."
Academic Year 2005-2006: activity of support for the lecture "Chemistry and Materials",
Engineering Faculty, University of Bologna, Mechanical Engineering.
From December 2006 she is Associate Professor of Chemistry to the Engineering Faculty of the
University of Catania.
Scientific Collaboration
- She collaborates with the full Professor Marco Dalla Rosa and collaborators, Department of Food
Sciences and Technology, University of Bologna (Cesena), on the study of the packaging food
shelf-life (synthesis and full characterization of standard, innovative and biodegradable polymer
materials during standard condition, after food contact, after thermo-oxidation for accelerating
degradation test, after photo-oxidative degradation simulating the supermarket exposition,
migration test, biodegradation test).
- She collaborates with the CNR of Catania on standard and Biodegradable Polymer matrix
characterization, standard and after degradation due to food contact/storage condition, with the
instrument MALDI-TOFF.
- She collaborate with the Department of Civil Engineering of Bologna University, with Prof. Nadia
Lotti and co-worker, on the synthesis and characterization of innovative Biodegradable Polymer
used for Packaging Application, with a full thermal, mechanical, chemical and permeability
characterization.
- She collaborate with other researcher on the Life Cycle Assessment Study (LCA) associated to
materials, process and technology of Food Industry.
- She collaborates with several Food Company on the study of Food Packaging materials, tested on
several kind of food (standard, innovative and biodegradable polymers).
- Collaboration to a Project of the Emilia Romagna Region (Italy) with acronym TEPASS (
E17I100000300012 ), with the aim of addressing the issues of quality and sustainability of food
products , in particular on the relationship food packaging . As regards the study of the packaging,
object of the project, was both on the physical-chemical characterization of plastic film control (
Polyethylene and Polypropylene with and without additives ) and innovative ( biodegradable ), both
the analysis and the development of technologies for the production of environmentally friendly
packaging, with particular reference to biodegradable packaging.
- Agreement between the University of Catania, Department of Industrial Engineering and the CIRI,
University of Bologna , on food packaging.
- She collaborates to Research Project European SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME ,
Theme 2 , KBBE 2010-4 ( Grant agreement no .: 266331 ), with acronym CHANCE, having as its
object the study of functional foods for populations at risk of poverty . In particular the object of the
collaboration is a food packaging intelligent , low cost ( based on starch and polysaccharides ) and
low environmental impact , which maintains unaltered the nutritional characteristics of the food .
The materials to be used are chosen according to their chemical-physical characteristics , in order to
better support the choices of the food industry involved in the formulation of the meal.
- Commision Teachers for the XXIV PhD in Materials and Technological Innovation for
Engineering and Architecture , coordinator Prof. Arch . Carlo Truppi , beginning in 2008 , at the
University of Catania .
She is reviewer for different International Scientific Journal as
1) Trends in Food Science and Technology, Elsevier;
2) Food and Bioprocess Technology: An International Journal – Springer;
3) European Polymer Journal – Elsevier;
4) Journal of Applyed Polymer Science –Elsevier;
5) LWT – Food Science and Thechnology – Elsevier;
6) Polymer Composites – Wiley;
7) Journal of thermal Analysis and Calorimetry – Springer;
8) RCS Advances – Royal Socity of Chemistry;
9) Polymer Engineering and Science – Wiley
10) Packaging Technology and Science - Wiley
V. Siracusa is author or co-author of more than 40 scientific publications, published on international
journal, introduced to congresses and conferences of the sector.
Pubblication
1. Thermal behavior of epoxy resins cured with an amine-containing, thermoplastic poly(arylene
ether sulphone) (Article), Motta, O., Recca, A., Siracusa, V., Acierno, D., Journal of Polymer
Engineering, Volume 19, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 161-173.
2. Flame-retarding properties of a new phosphorus-containing monomer used as hardener in an
epoxy system (Article), La Rosa, A.D., Failla, S., Finocchiaro, P., Recca, A., Siracusa, V., Carter,
J.T., McGrail, P.T., Journal of Polymer Engineering, Volume 19, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 151-160.
3. Synthesis of new ortho-hydroxy aryl phosphonate monomers (Article), Consiglio, G.A., Failla,
S., Finocchiaro, P., Siracusa, V., Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon and Related Elements, Volume
134-135, 1998, Pages 413-418.
4. Synthesis and NMR characterization of diphenyl α-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)benzylphosphonates and diphenyl 1-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)-alkyl phosphonates (Article), Consiglio,
G.A., Failla, S. , Finocchiaro, P., Siracusa, V., Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon and Related
Elements, Volume 143, 1998, Pages 159-166.
5. High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of crystalline and amorphous poly(ethylene
terephthalate): A study of biaxially oriented film, spin cast film and polymer melt (Article),
Beamson, G., Clark, D.T., Hayes, N.W., Law, D.S.-L., Siracusa, V., Recca, A., Polymer, Volume
37, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 379-385.
6. Surface Photo-stabilisation of Polypropilene by the use of different stabilisers, V. Chisari, A.
Pollicino, A. Recca and V. Siracusa, Journal of Polymer Engineering, Vol. 20, No.3, pp. 191-200,
(2000).
7. Poly (ether sulphone) copolymers with novel reactive chain-ends, V. Chisari, A. Mamo, A.
Recca, V. Siracusa, J.T. Carter and P.T. McGrail, Polymer, 41, pp. 2001-2008, (2000).
8. Study of the Crystallization of an Aromatic Poly-ether-ketone (PK99) by calorimetric and X-ray
Analysis, L. Torre, J.M. Kenny, A. Recca, V. Siracusa, A. Tarzia and A. Maffezzoli, Journal of
Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 61, 565-578, (2000).
9. Surface properties of methacrylic copolymers containing a perfluoropolyether structure. R.
Bongiovanni, G. Malucelli, V. Lombardi, A. Priola, V. Siracusa, C. Tonelli, A. Di Meo, Polymer,
42, 2299-2305, (2001).
10. Synthesis and thermal behavior of Poly(2-hydroxyethoxybenzoate) and its copolyester with ecaprolactone, N. Lotti, V. Siracusa, L. Finelli, A. Munari, P. Manaresi, Journal of Thermal Analysis
and Calorimetry, Vol. 66, 827-840, (2001).
11. Melting behavior and crystallization kinetics of sulfonated poly(butylenes isophthalate), N.
Lotti, V. Siracusa, L. Finelli, A. Munari, Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.42, No.7, 15901599 (2002).
12. Melting behavior, crystallization kinetics and Crystal structure of Poly(2hydroxyethoxybenzoate), L. Finelli, V. Siracusa, N. Lotti, A. Munari, M. Gazzano, J. Polymer
Science: Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol. 40, 1354-1362, (2002).
13. Synthesis and thermal characterization of poly(butylenes terephthalate-co-thiodiethylene
terephthalate) copolyesters, N. Lotti, L. Finelli, V. Siracusa, A. Munari, M. Gazzano, Polymer, 43,
4355-4363, (2002).
14. Melting behavior, crystallization kinetics and morphology of random copolyesters of poly(2hydroxyethoxybenzoate) with e-caprolactone, L. Finelli, V. Siracusa, N. Lotti, A. Munari, Polymer
Engineering and Science, Vol.42, No.11, 2137-2145 (2002).
15. Random copolymers of Poly(butylene terephthalate): effect of thiodiethylene terephthalate units
on melting behavior and crystallization kinetics, N. Lotti, L. Finelli, V. Siracusa, A. Munari, Journal
of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 69, 441-453 (2002).
16. Synthesis and characterization of new ortho-acetyl or ortho-bis-p-aminophenoxy phosphonate
monomers., G.A. Consiglio, S. Failla, P. Finocchiaro, V. Siracusa, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Silicon,
Vol.177, 2561-2569, (2002).
17. Eco-compatible Use of Olive Husk as Filler in Thermoplastic Composites, G. Siracusa, A.D. La
Rosa, V. Siracusa, M. Trovato, Journal of Polymers and the Environment, Vol. 9, No. 4, 157-161,
(2002).1
18. Sulfur-containing polymers: effect of composition on the melting behavior and crystallization
kinetics of poly(butylene terephthalate), V. Siracusa, L. Finelli, N. Lotti, A. Munari, Journal of
Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 90, 2003-2009 (2003).
19. Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(ethylene isophthalate-co-ethylene terephthalate)
copolyesters, L. Finelli, M. Fiorini, V. Siracusa, N. Lotti, A. Munari, Journal of Applied Polymer
Science, (2004), 92 (1), 186-193.
20. Poly(dithiotriethylene adipate): melting behavior, crystallization kinetics and morphology, L.
Finelli, V. Siracusa, N. Lotti, P. Marchese, A. Munari, European Polymer Journal, 41 (2005) 19091918.
21. Miscibility and compatibilization between poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly (ether sulfoneco-ether ether sulfone) using reactive blending, P. Lodefier, J. Devaux, R. Legras, V. Siracusa and
A. Recca, in preparazione.
22. Synthesis and thermal properties of randomly branched poly(butylene isophthalate) containing
sodium sulfonate groups, L. Finelli, V. Siracusa, N. Lotti, M. Gazzano, A. Munari, inviato a Journal
of Applied Polymer Science, (2006), 99(4), 1374-1379.
23. Cocrystallization phenomena in novel poly(diethylene terephthalate-co-thiodiethylene
terephthalate) copolyesters, V. Siracusa, M. Gazzano, L. Finelli, N. Lotti, A. Munari, Journal of
Polymer Science: Part B: Polym. Phys. (2006) 44(11), 1562-1571.
24. Sulphur-containing polymer: synthesis and thermal properties of novel polyesters based on
dithiotriethylene glicol, N. Lotti, V. Siracusa, L. Finelli, P. Marchese, A. Munari, European
Polymer Journal (2006) 42 (12), 3374-3382.
25. A novel hyperbranched polyesters based on 2,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl)butyric acid: synthesis and
characterizatio, M. Soccio, L. Finelli, N. Lotti, P. Marchese, V. Siracusa, A. Munari, e- Polymer,
049 (2007) 1-14.
26. Novel ethero atoms containing polyesters based on 2,6-naphthalendicarboxylic acid: a
comparative study with poly(butylene naphthalate). M. Soccio, L. Finelli, N. Lotti, V. Siracusa, T.
Ezquerra, A. Munari. Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics (2007), 45(13), 16941703.
27. Emergy analysis and environmental indices applied to a company producing aluminium
extruded bars. G.Siracusa, A.D.La Rosa, A.Aiello, V.Siracusa, International Journal for Sustainable
development and Planning, Volume 2, number 1, pp.1-13 (2007). ISSN: 1743- 7601.
28. Effect of MAP on physico-chemical characteristics of shell hen eggs. P. Rocculi, S. Romani, V.
Siracusa, M. Dalla Rosa, Special Issue of Italian Journal of Food Science (2008), 1, 164.
29. Synthesis and characterization of poly(4-oxyalkylenoxy benzoate)s of different chain length. V.
Siracusa, N. Lotti, C. Puglisi, F. Samperi, A. Munari, L. Finelli, S. Battiato, e-Polymers (2009).
30. MAP storage of shell hen eggs, Part 1: Effect on physico-chemical characteristics of the fresh
product. P. Rocculi, U. Tylewicz, A. Pekoslawska, S. Romani, F. Sirri, V. Siracusa, M. Dalla Rosa.
LWT--Food Science and Technology (2009), 42(3), 758-762.
31. Biodegradable polymers for food packaging: a review. V. Siracusa, P. Rocculi, S. Romani, M.
Dalla Rosa. Trends in Food Science & Technology (2008), 19(12), 634-643.
32. Life Cycle Assesment of Multylayer polymer film used on food packaging field. V. Siracusa,
M. Dalla Rosa, S. Romani, P. Rocculi, U. Tylewicz. Procedia Food Science (2011), 1, 235-239.
33. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) modified films for food packaging application: Physical, Mechanical
and Barrier behaviour. V. Siracusa, I. Blanco, S. Romani, U. Tylewicz, P. Rocculi, M. Dalla Rosa,
Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2012), 125, E390-E401.
34. Food packaging permeability behaviour: a report. V. Siracusa. International Journal of Polymer
Science (2012), 1, 1-11.
35. Gas Permeability and Thermal Behavior of Polypropylene Films Used for Packaging Minimally
Processed Fresh-Cut Potatoes: A Case Study, Siracusa, V., Blanco, I., Romani, S., Tylewicz, U.,
Dalla Rosa, M., Journal of Food Science (2012), 77(10), E264-E272.
36. Kinetic study of the thermal and thermo-oxidative degradations of polylactide-modified films
for food packaging, Blanco I., Siracusa V., Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (2013),
112, 1171-1177.
37. Fully aliphatic copolyesters based on poly(butylene 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) with
promising mechanical and barrier properties for food packaging applications, Gigli M., Lotti N.,
Gazzano M., Siracusa V., Finelli L., Munari A., Dalla Rosa M., Industrial and Engineering
chemistry Research (2013) 52(36), p. 12876-12886.
38. Biodegradable aliphatic copolyesters containing PEG-like sequences for sustainable food
packaging applications, M. Gigli, N. Lotti, M. Gazzano, V. Siracusa, L. Finelli, A. Munari, M.
Dalla Rosa, Polymer Degradatoion and Stability (2014) 105, p. 96-106.
39. Environmental Assessment of a multilayer polymer bag for food packaging and preservation: an
LCA approach, V. Siracusa, C. Ingrao, A. Lo Giudice, C. Mbohwa, M. Dalla Rosa, Food Research
International (2014) 62, p. 151-161. (I.F. 3.005).
40. Recycled-PET fibre based panels for building thermal insulation: Environmental impact and
improvement potential assessment for a greener production (Article), Ingrao, C., Lo Giudice, A.,
Tricase, C., Rana, R., Mbohwa, C., Siracusa, V., Science of the Total Environment, Science of the
41. Total Environment, Volume 493, 15 September 2014, Pages 914-929. (I.F. 3.258).
42. Biodegradable long chain aliphatic polyesters containing ether-linkages: Synthesis, solid-state,
and barrier properties (Article), Genovese, L., Gigli, M., Lotti, N., Gazzano, M., Siracusa, V.,
Munari, A., Dalla Rosa, M., Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Volume 53, Issue 27,
9 July 2014, Pages 10965-10973.
43. Effect Of Different New Packaging Materials On Biscuit Quality During Accelerated Storage,
S. Romani, S. Tappi, F. Balestra, M.T. Rodriguez-Estrada, V. Siracusa, P. Rocculi, Journal of the
Science of Food and Agriculture (Impact Factor: 1.76); DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6888, in press.
January, 13, 2015.
Siracusa Valentina.