Carmine Barba

Carmine Barba is a chemist specializing in wastewater management, catalyst engineering and circular economy. He holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Chemistry from the University of Salerno, where he focused on materials science, catalysis, and green chemistry.

During his Bachelor’s thesis, he investigated polyester alcoholysis, contributing to a research study that resulted in a publication in an ACS journal. His Master’s thesis focused on the depolymerization of textile polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using ionic liquids as catalysts under supercritical CO₂ conditions. This research was carried out during a six-month research stay at the University of Valencia.

As Doctoral Candidate 2 in the NEUTEN project, his research is focused on the development of efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective electrocatalysts for ammonia production through the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR). By investigating the optimal conditions for ammonia synthesis as a sustainable alternative to the Haber–Bosch process, his work aims to simultaneously remove nitrate, a widespread and harmful pollutant, while producing ammonia, a valuable chemical feedstock. This approach aligns with the principles of the circular economy by transforming waste into a high-value resource.