Giuseppe ARENA

Giuseppe Arena is a Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Catania, Italy, specializing in thermodynamic and spectroscopic studies of metal complexes, speciation in aqueous solutions, and supramolecular chemistry. He holds a Laurea in Industrial Chemistry (1973) from the University of Catania and has held academic positions including Visiting Professorships at Brigham Young University (USA) and collaborations with institutions worldwide.

• Education:
  • Laurea magna cum laude in Industrial Chemistry (1973), University of Catania
  • Post-doctoral fellowship, University of St. Andrews (Scotland, 1976)
• Research Interests:
  • Thermodynamic studies of bio-functional ligand metal complexes
  • Speciation in aqueous solutions
  • Optimization of calorimetric systems
  • Development of polymer membrane carriers for metal removal
  • Supramolecular chemistry, including calixarene-based hosts and metallacrowns
• Awards:
  • Sunner Memorial Award (1989), The Calorimetry Conference, USA
  • Medaglia Canneri (2013), Italian Chemical Society

His research has produced over 115 peer-reviewed publications (H-index 34) and includes collaborations with universities in Italy, the USA, Japan, and Russia. He has coordinated national and international research projects, including PRIN 2015 and bilateral agreements with UC Berkeley and Nagoya University. As a leader in calorimetry and analytical chemistry, he serves on editorial boards (e.g., Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry) and holds leadership roles in the Italian Chemical Society and international scientific associations.

Recent work focuses on metal-ion interactions in biological systems (e.g., copper in neurotrophins, zinc in amyloid-β), development of novel supramolecular hosts, and thermodynamic modeling of complexation processes. His contributions span analytical techniques, drug delivery systems, and environmental applications of polymer membranes.