Paolo PAVAN

Paolo PAVAN is a Full Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Statistics. He holds roles in the Research Institute for Green and Blue Growth and the Interdepartmental Center for Services for Experimental Disciplines. His research focuses on waste valorization, biofuel production, and biotechnological processes for converting organic waste into valuable products like biohydrogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). He leads projects on anaerobic digestion optimization, zeolite-assisted fermentation, and sustainable waste management strategies.

Key research areas include:
- Anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and sewage sludge.
- Biohythane (hydrogen and methane) production.
- Valorization of tannery and agricultural waste.
- Development of integrated biorefinery systems.

His recent publications emphasize technical-economic evaluations of bioprocesses and the use of advanced pretreatments (e.g., microwave, thermal, and chemical) to enhance substrate conversion efficiency. He has contributed to pilot-scale demonstrations of PHA production from municipal solid waste and sewage sludge.