Sensor applications for heavy metals
19/12/2025
A spark of chemistry lights up winter. From 18 to 19 December 2025, the BRIGANTINE team attends Chimica sotto l’albero at the Politecnico of Bari (Italy). Scientists, students, and researchers gather for two days of talks, posters, and flash presentations. The event brings together chemical innovation and collaboration under the theme “Building peace through chemical bonds”.
BRIGANTINE develops innovative sensors for environmental matrices, with a strong focus on water monitoring. The analytical team from the Polytechnic University of Marche and the University of Udine presents research on the “Development of sensors for heavy metals determination in environmental matrices”.
Our young PhD student Gianmarco Michetti exposes a poster on the development and comprehensive characterization of novel plastic composite electrodes based on activated biochars, obtained from sunflower shells and rice husks, for the sensitive determination of heavy metals such as Lead, Cadmium and Zinc. These findings pave the way for the application of this sensor on Brigantine hulls for the monitoring of such contaminants in the waters. The research combines sustainability and analytical performance, aligning with the broader mission of the project.
Chimica sotto l’albero is a national chemistry conference organised by the Italian Chemical Society (CSI) with support from the "Aldo Moro" University of Bari and the Polytechnic of Bari. The event invites contributions from all areas of chemistry and encourages young researchers to present their work through oral talks, posters, and flash sessions. The conference emphasises how chemical research can foster cooperation, sustainability, and scientific dialogue across fields.