Stefano Convertini
Stefano Convertini has a total of 14 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Angelo Tursi
Department of Biology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
1 shared publication - Carmine Massarelli
Environment and Territory Research Unit, Construction Technologies Institute, Italian National Research Council, 70124 Bari, Italy
1 shared publication - Daniela Losacco
Water Research Institute, National Research Council of Italy, 70132 Bari, Italy
1 shared publication - Daniela Losacco
Reagri s.r.l., Via Chiatona 62, 74016 Massafra, Italy
1 shared publication - Eustachio Tarasco
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
1 shared publication - Giuseppe Bari
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISSPA), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, BA, Italy
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 21 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Sustainability
- Vol. 18 (6) , 3095
Environmental and Economic Sustainability Assessment of Biological Treatment Options for Organic Wastes and Agro-Industrial By-Products: A Scoping Review
The European Environment Agency believes that circular economy strategies could substantially contribute to CO2 emissions reduction. Therefore, it is necessary that the agro-industrial sector identifies sustainable technologies for side-stream management. The scope of this review was to compare the sustainability of available biological treatments for by-product biomasses and organic waste. A total of 147 studies, all Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Techno-Economic Analyses (TEAs), were selected through PRISMA-ScR methodology, on Scopus and Web of Science, and were bibliographically mapped on VOSviewer (Version 1.6.20) Anaerobic digestion and integrated energy recovery systems were found to be the most environmentally robust options. Integrated biorefineries and multi-product systems have emerged as the highest long-term sustainability potential, especially when process integration and co-product recovery were also implemented. Importantly, the most sustainable systems were found to have required considerable start-up investments. Thus, sustainable deployment of biological treatment technologies was clearly dependent on time-consistent policy frameworks that have been fertile to capital-intensive infrastructures via incentives and fiscal measures and that have embraced circular bioeconomy systems. Finally, this paper has demonstrated that the sustainability of biological treatments has resulted from optimal relationships between biomass characteristics, system boundaries, process integration, and market value of co-product, while no single technology has been sufficient in isolation.
- 21 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Sustainability
- Vol. 18 (6) , 3095
Open AccessEnvironmental and Economic Sustainability Assessment of Biological Treatment Options for Organic Wastes and Agro-Industrial By-Products: A Scoping Review
The European Environment Agency believes that circular economy strategies could substantially contribute to CO2 emissions reduction. Therefore, it is necessary that the agro-industrial sector identifies sustainable technologies for side-stream management. The scope of this review was to compare the sustainability of available biological treatments for by-product biomasses and organic waste. A total of 147 studies, all Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Techno-Economic Analyses (TEAs), were selected through PRISMA-ScR methodology, on Scopus and Web of Science, and were bibliographically mapped on VOSviewer (Version 1.6.20) Anaerobic digestion and integrated energy recovery systems were found to be the most environmentally robust options. Integrated biorefineries and multi-product systems have emerged as the highest long-term sustainability potential, especially when process integration and co-product recovery were also implemented. Importantly, the most sustainable systems were found to have required considerable start-up investments. Thus, sustainable deployment of biological treatment technologies was clearly dependent on time-consistent policy frameworks that have been fertile to capital-intensive infrastructures via incentives and fiscal measures and that have embraced circular bioeconomy systems. Finally, this paper has demonstrated that the sustainability of biological treatments has resulted from optimal relationships between biomass characteristics, system boundaries, process integration, and market value of co-product, while no single technology has been sufficient in isolation.
- Open Access
Use of Biochar to Improve the Sustainable Crop Production of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.)
In agriculture, biochar (B) application has been suggested as a green technology to reduce nitrate pollution from agricultural origins and improve crop yield. The agronomic impact of B use on soil has been extensively studied, while knowledge of its possible effects on horticultural cultivation is still scarce. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of using biochar in soils treated with two different rates of nitrogen fertilizers on soil properties and nitrogen (N) leachate. This study also investigated the vegetative parameters during the crop growing season of Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis. Soil mesocosms were set up to test the following treatments: untreated/control (C); normal dose of N fertilizer (130 kg N ha−1) (ND); ND+B; high dose of N fertilizer (260 kg N ha−1) (HD); and HD+B. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were exploited to assess biochar’s ability to reduce nitrate leaching and enhance soil–vegetative properties. Biochar addition affected the soil chemical properties of the fertilized microcosms (ND and HD). Biochar increased the content in HD soil and the content in ND soil by 26 mg/L and 48.76 mg/L, respectively. The results showed that biochar application increased the marketable cauliflower yield. In ND+B and HD+B, the curd weight was 880.68 kg and 1097.60 kg, respectively. In addition, a small number of nitrogenous compounds in the leachate were quantified in experimental lines with the biochar. Therefore, biochar use improves the marketable yield of horticulture, mitigating the negative impacts associated with the mass use of N fertilizers in agriculture.Open AccessUse of Biochar to Improve the Sustainable Crop Production of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.)
In agriculture, biochar (B) application has been suggested as a green technology to reduce nitrate pollution from agricultural origins and improve crop yield. The agronomic impact of B use on soil has been extensively studied, while knowledge of its possible effects on horticultural cultivation is still scarce. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of using biochar in soils treated with two different rates of nitrogen fertilizers on soil properties and nitrogen (N) leachate. This study also investigated the vegetative parameters during the crop growing season of Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis. Soil mesocosms were set up to test the following treatments: untreated/control (C); normal dose of N fertilizer (130 kg N ha−1) (ND); ND+B; high dose of N fertilizer (260 kg N ha−1) (HD); and HD+B. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were exploited to assess biochar’s ability to reduce nitrate leaching and enhance soil–vegetative properties. Biochar addition affected the soil chemical properties of the fertilized microcosms (ND and HD). Biochar increased the content in HD soil and the content in ND soil by 26 mg/L and 48.76 mg/L, respectively. The results showed that biochar application increased the marketable cauliflower yield. In ND+B and HD+B, the curd weight was 880.68 kg and 1097.60 kg, respectively. In addition, a small number of nitrogenous compounds in the leachate were quantified in experimental lines with the biochar. Therefore, biochar use improves the marketable yield of horticulture, mitigating the negative impacts associated with the mass use of N fertilizers in agriculture.