Research interests

My research focuses on the chemical kinetics involved in thermochemical valorization of waste. My core expertise lies in the development of semi-detailed and fully lumped kinetic models. My primary research activity addresses the condensed-phase thermal degradation of plastics, where I proposed an innovative methodology to describe complex polymeric networks at low computational cost. I also worked on gas-phase pyrolysis kinetics, biomass thermal valorization, and surface char oxidation.

Education

• Ph.D. in Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Feb. 2020 – Jul. 2024
• Visiting Ph.D. at Universiteit Gent (BE). Sep. 2022 – Mar. 2023
• Master Degree in Chemical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Sep. 2017 – Dec. 2019
• Erasmus exchange at Aalborg Universitet Esbjerg (DK). Jan. 2018 – Jun. 2018
• Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering at Politecnico di Milano. Oct. 2014 – Sep. 2017

Selected Publications

• A. Locaspi, O. Akin, D. Withoeck, M. Havaei, A. Frassoldati, L. Pratali Maffei, R. J. Varghese, M. Pelucchi, M. Mehl, K. M. Van Geem, T. Faravelli. “Thermochemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate: condensed-phase kinetic modelling and experimental investigation”. Chemical Engineering Journal (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.156955.
• A. Locaspi, A. Frassoldati, T. Faravelli. “Reduced-order condensed-phase kinetic models for polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene thermochemical recycling”. Chemical Engineering Journal (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.156949
• A. Locaspi, M. Pelucchi, M. Mehl, T. Faravelli. “Towards a lumped approach for solid plastic waste gasification: Polyethylene and polypropylene pyrolysis”. Waste Management (2023).DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2022.11.028
• A. Locaspi, M. Ferri, F. Serse, M. Maestri, M. Pelucchi. “Chemical kinetics of catalytic/non-catalytic pyrolysis and gasification of solid plastic wastes”. Advances in Chemical Engineering (2022). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ache.2022.09.002.
• A. Locaspi, P.E.A. Debiagi, M. Pelucchi, C. Hasse, T. Faravelli. “A predictive physico-chemical model of biochar oxidation”. Energy & Fuels (2021).DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.1c01559