Laboratorio di biochimica e caratterizzazione delle biomasse - Cereal and Industrial Crops

Laboratory of Biochemistry and characterization of Biomasses

The laboratory of Biochemistry and characterization of Biomasses is based in Bologna, and it is available for studies on biomasses of plant origin, with a view to developing new sustainable agronomic processes and new biobased products.
The Labs are equipped with instrumentation for the preparation of products from vegetable biomasses (oil extraction, extraction and purification of proteins and bioactive molecules) and for the chemical and biochemical characterization of plant tissue and biomass analysis. They are equipped with instruments for the analysis of: moisture, ash, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, higher and lower calorific value, ash fusibility, sugars, oils, proteins, amino acids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, nitriles, ETNs, oxazolidin-thions, phenols, fatty acids.
The available instruments are:
•    1 Ultra Centrifugal Mill ZM200 (Retsch GMBH, Germany)
•    1 high temperature muffle for ash preparation
•    1 Elemental analyser LECO CHN TruSpec
•    1 IKA calorimeter
•    1 AF700 for the assessment of high temperature ash fusibility
•    1 NMR for the determination of the oil content
•    3 chemicals hoods
•    1 Cooling cabinet
•    3 refrigerated centrifuges (volumes 100 microL to 500 mL).
•    2 HPLC with UV detector
•    1 HPLC with UV and ELSD detector.
•    2 FPLC with several columns for low molecular weight active biomolecules and proteins
•    4 GC FID
•    1 GC coupled to a single quadrupole MS detector
•    1 E-816 ECE (Economic Continuous Extraction) extraction unit (BÜCHI Labortechnik AG, Switzerland)
•    1 PhastSystem for SDS and native page.
•    1 Microwave Extraction System MARS (CEM corporation)
•    2 Sonica Sweep System (Soltec) baths
•    1 UV-VIS spectrophotometer
•    1 Fluorimeter
•    2 freeze-dryers
•    1 mini Spray Dryer
A Lab specialized in the chemistry of vegetable oils is also available at the experimental farm in Osimo.

For further informations
Susanna Cinti susanna.cinti@crea.gov.it  - Biochemistry Lab -Bologna Site
Anna Moschella anna.moschella@crea.gov.it - Biomasses Lab- Bologna Site