Skip to main content

Antonio Capezza

Profile picture of Antonio Capezza

RESEARCHER


About me

My current focus is to develop large-scale protocols for producing biohybrid protein/lignocellulosic materials with useful properties as biodegradable ab(d)sorbents using industrial biomass as raw material (waste valorisation). My overall goal is to produce solutions within the "Waste to useful Products W2P" frame and the cradle-to-cradle circularity model for product design (raw material, processing, end-of-life).

My ultimate goal is to foster collaboration among actors interested in developing sustainable Sanitary Solutions and addressing the hygiene industry's negative environmental impact. I believe this can be achieved by bringing together diverse stakeholders and collaborators united in their commitment to creating solutions that contribute to a circular and sustainable economy.

My interests lie within the fields of research, education, teaching, and society.

I am also a member of the LGBTQI+ and Allies Network at KTH 🏳️‍🌈. My pronouns are he, him. You can call me Antonio.

Are you interested in working in this research field? Contact me for more information.

Are you studying at a Gymnasium skolan and want to do project work with us? Clic here for more information!

 

Research

  • Transformation of industrial biomass intofunctional materials andnetworks.
  • Biomacromolecules and their use as raw material for producing porous absorbent networks.
  • Circular economy principles for material development.
  • Protein/cellulose interfacesfor the production of biohybrid networks.
  • Upcyclingof biomass and biopolymer streams and material adaptation.

My research vision goes in hand with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9, 11 and 12. For more info, read more here.

SDGs

Projects

As project leader at KTH

BioRESOrb

  • Collaboration and networking within Life Science at the Division of Industrial Biotechnology.

As collaborator

  • Collaboration with Dr. Amparo Jimenez Quero at the Division of Glycoscience.
  • Collaboration with Prof. Antonio Guerreroat Seville University (Spain) to develop superabsorbent structures from industrial waste.

Previous Projects

  • Protein based-superabsorbents (Problöja). Vinnova Grant. Role: Ph.D. student.
  • Sustainable Superabsorbents (SuSap): Innovation Driven Challenge.Vinnova Grant. Role: Coordinator and project leader.

 

Latest News

Stora Ingenjörspriset Innovation – delas ut av Vattenfall

SaniSOLE vinner Stora Ingenjörspriset Innovation

From research to start-up – they are developing environmentally friendly alternatives to sanitary products.

From milk protein, a plastic foam that gets better in a tough environment

Wheat gluten can be used to make sustainable diaper material

NewsKTH

Background

Dr. Capezza earned his double Ph.D. in 2020 from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU). The topic of the Ph.D. work was Superabsorbents from Agricultural Products. Previous to his doctoral studies, he developed an interest in polymeric materials when working withConductive Natural Rubber Nanocompositesin KTH (2014-2015). Capezza's doctoral studies on protein superabsorbents werepatentedin cooperation with Essity AB in 2020. Capezza worked in 2019 as Project Coordinator and main applicant in the Vinnova Challenge Driven Innovation program "Sustainable Superabsorbents". The project aimed to pilot-scaling the results published in his Ph.D. thesis and resulted in an established constellation of 12 industrial/academic partners interested in exploring the materials for future applications.

Capezza is conducting his postdoctoral studies on the topicExtrusion of Superabsorbents for Hygiene Applicationsas principal investigator in KTH Olsson's group (BoRydins Stiftelsen for Independent Research, Grant F30/19) in theDepartment of Fibre and Polymer Technology. The focus of his project is to develop large-scale protocols for producing hygiene articles using industrial biomass/waste for raw material valorisation. The research is directed towards making useful hygiene products from waste (Waste To Products W2P), considering the circular bioeconomy and sustainability of the products (raw material, processing, end-of-life).

Advanced courses in:

  • Polymer synthesis of polyolefins and polyesters.
  • Elastomeric materials.
  • Natural and synthetic polymers used in the Biomedical Field.
  • Nano-structured materials.
  • Living Polymerization.
  • Materials Engineer from Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas-Venezuela. Program equivalent to 280 ECTS).
  • Exchange Master studies at The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm-Sweden. Part of a bilateral agreement program for exchange students.
  • Master Thesis in Polymeric Nano-composite materials at The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm-Sweden. 30ECST.
  • Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Product Quality (double degree SLU and KTH). Thesis title: Sustainable Biobased Superabsorbents from Agricultural Co-Products

Courses

Degree Project in Engineering Chemistry, First Cycle (KA103X), assistant | Course web

Engineering Chemistry (KE1140), assistant | Course web

Engineering Chemistry (KE1150), assistant | Course web

Polymer Materials Processing (KF2505), teacher | Course web

Polymer Materials in a Circular Economy (CK2180), assistant | Course web

Polymeric Materials: Structure and Properties (KF2190), assistant | Course web

Scientific Methodology and Research Horizons (CK2030), teacher | Course web

Sustainable Development in Biotechnology (CB1015), teacher | Course web