Silvia PORTALE

PhD Student
PhD in - XXXVII cycle
Tutor: Germana BARONE

Silvia Portale (silvia.potale@phd.unict.it) is a PhD candidate in Heritage and Cultural Production Sciences (DISUM). She is currently conducting research on the experimentation of green and innovative materials from stone-type waste materials, with subsequent application in the field of restoration and conservation of Cultural Heritage. She received her Master's degree in volcanology theme in Geological Sciences in 2021 and has now brought the field of geology and restoration together under one research project. She is currently joined by a firm of restorers based in Palermo, with whom she does six months of collaboration. In the past, she did Erasmus in Prague (Czech Republic) and she spent six months of study and research abroad at the University of Oslo.

Ph.D. research project: experimentation of innovative green materials for the conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage

The research project concerns the testing of cementitious materials with low environmental impact, called Alkali Activated Materials (AAMs), to be applied to the restoration of Cultural Heritage. AAMs are inorganic polymers that are synthesized at room temperature from powders of an aluminosilicate nature dissolved in a basic pH environment. A major advantage of AAMs is that they allow the recovery of waste materials, such as sludge from stone processing, enhancing their status: from waste to geo-resources. Unlike classic cements, through the procurement of secondary materials at "zero" cost, the cost of finding virgin raw materials is lowered, and the overexploitation of our land resources is also avoided. In addition, since the production process takes place at room temperature, energy costs and consequently CO2 emissions into the atmosphere are also lowered. Finally, since AAMs have proven to have excellent versatility in multiple fields of application, such as construction, the aim of the project is precisely to investigate and test the application also in the field of restoration and conservation of artifacts belonging to Cultural Heritage.


Other activities during doctoral studies

2023/03-08: study and research period abroad at University of Oslo

2023/02/10: radio interview on Rai Radio3 Science about the presentation of AGM for CuHe and SETI PO FERS research projects.

2023/02/02: Geo Rai3 TV report on the presentation of AGM for CuHe and SETI PO FERS research projects.

2023/01: Environmental education activities at the "S.G. Bosco" Comprehensive Institute, Giarre.

2023: Management and coordination of activities in school groups at the Musao deli saperri e delle mirabilia siciliane  (P.C.T.O. Project with Liceo Scientifico Galileo Galilei and ITI Cannizzaro, Catania).

2022/11: Start of collaboration period with the restoration company Piacenti S.p.A. (duration: 6 months).

2022/09/30: Participation as presenter in "Climate-neutral materials in restoration and construction," Sharper - European Researchers' Night, Catania.

2022/09: member of the organizing committee of the Workshop "Synchrotron- and laboratory-based X-ray computed microtomography: applications in the Earth Sciences" (Catania and Trieste)

2022/03: invited speaker at the Workshop "Highlights on new generation green materials in restoration and building" (Milazzo, ME).

2022/02: member of the Organizing Committee of the I Italian National Congress on Geopolymers: New Frontiers of Innovative and Green Materials in Restoration and Building (Catania, Italy).


Awards and acknowledgements

SIMP travel grant for best oral contribution in mineralogy/petrology at the BeGEO Scientists “Sustainability and Risks: BeGeoScientists on the road to the future” congress, Naples 03-06 october 2023.

SIMP grant for participation at the “The Geoscience paradigm: Resources, Risks and future perspectives” SIMP, SGI, SoGel, AIV Congress, Potenza, 19-21 september 2023.

Best oral contribution to the congress "Innovative materials for sustainable development: from laboratory to applications," Bari, Italy, February 16-17, 2023.

Proposal: co-proponent for neutron scattering studies entitled "Capillary water uptake in waste-based geopolymers for conservation purposes" at ANSTO-ACNS, Sydney May 2023 (Australia).

SIMP grant for participation in the Workshop "Synchrotron- and laboratory-based X-ray computed microtomography: applications in the Earth Sciences," Trieste September 27-28, 2022.

SGI grant for participation in the Congress "Geosciences for a sustainable future," Turin September 19-21, 2022.


Mention as advidor or co-advisor.

Martina Ferlito (bachelor's degree, 2023).


Oral and posters contributions

Bongiovanni M., Borzì M., D’Amico S., Fichera F., Gangi D., Indovina E, Portale S.*, Torre C., Stanzù F., Zocco G., Brighenti F., Carnemolla F., De Guidi G. (2021) Volcano-tectonics analysis of the active faults affecting eastern slope of the Mt. Etna: the case study of “Ripe della Naca” fault system. “BeGeo Scientists” Congress, Naples (Italy), 7-10th october 2021. hdl: 20.500.11769/537004

 Portale, S.*, Occhipinti, R., Lanzafame, G., Gimeno, D., Barone, G., Mazzoleni, P. (2022) Valorization of natural waste materials: volcanic ash from the 2021 eruption at Cumbre Vieja (La Palma Island, Spain). “New frontiers in innovative and green materials for cultural heritage conservation and building industry” Congress, Catania (Italy), 24-25th february 2022. hdl: 20.500.11769/551227

Lanzafame, G.*, Caggiani, M.C., Finocchiaro, C., Caschetto, G., Portale, S., Barone, G., Ferlito, C., Gigli, L., Mazzoleni, P. (2022) The “Ghiara” volcanic paleosoil (Mt. Etna, Italy): petrologic characters, genetic model and use for AAM production. “New frontiers in innovative and green materials for cultural heritage conservation and building industry” Congress, Catania (Italy), 24-25th february 2022.

Bertino, A.*, Occhipinti, R., Finocchiaro, C., Fugazzotto, M., Motta, A., Nucatolo, G., Portale, S., Starinieri, S. (2022) Properties and applications of highly porous geopolymers as replicas of lightweight decorative elements. Congresso “New frontiers in innovative and green materials for cultural heritage conservation and building industry” Congress, Catania (Italy), 24-25th february 2022.

Portale, S.*, Occhipinti, R., Lanzafame, G., Gimeno, D., Barone, G., Mazzoleni, P. (2022) The volcanic ash from 2021 Cumbre Vieja Eruption (La Palma, Spain) as geopolymer precursor: a preliminary study. “Highlights on new generation green materials in restoration and building” Workshop, Milazzo (Italy), 03-04 march 2022.

Portale S.*, Finocchiaro C. & Barone G. (2022) Preliminary studies on the cutting wastes from Sicilian stone industries: a resource for Alkali-Activated Materials. “Geosciences for a sustainable future” Congress, Torino (Italy), 19-21 september 2022. hdl: 20.500.11769/551181

Portale S.*, Occhipinti R., Lanzafame G., Gimeno D. & Barone G. (2022) The potentiality of volcanic ash from 2021 Cumbre Vieja Eruption (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain) as starting material for the alkali activation process. “Geosciences for a sustainable future” Congress, Torino (Italy), 19-21 september 2022. hdl: 20.500.11769/551183

 Finocchiaro C.*, Caggiani M.C., Coccato A., Fugazzotto M., Lanzafame G., Nucatolo G., Occhipinti R., Portale S., Stranieri S. & Stroscio A. (2022) Restoration tests with alkali activated mortars based on Mt. Etna volcanic ash: the mosaics of Monreale Cathedral (Palermo, Italy). “Geosciences for a sustainable future” Congress, Torino (Italy), 19-21 september 2022.

Occhipinti R.*, Bertino A., Finocchiaro C., Fugazzotto M., Motta A., Portale S., Stroscio A., Baudo S., Nucatolo G. & Starinieri S. (2022) The ancient Odéon from Teatro Romano (Catania Sicily): a pilot site for the application of Alkali Activated Materials in Cultural Heritage conservation. “Geosciences for a sustainable future” Congress, Torino (Italy), 19-21 september 2022.

Giuffrida S.*, Portale S., Brighenti F., Carnemolla F., Fichera F., Torre C., De Guidi G. (2022) Analysis of the aseismic deformation referred to the Ripe della Naca fault system (Mt. Etna): a volcano tectonic approach through geological and geophysical data. A. Rittmann Conference, Catania, 29 september – 1 october 2022. hdl: 20.500.11769/538758

 Portale S.*, Occhipinti R., Lanzafame G., Gimeno D., Barone G., Mazzoleni P. (2023) Ash from Cumbre Vieja volcano (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain) from waste to resource for AAMs technology. “Materiali innovativi per uno sviluppo sostenibile: dal laboratorio alle applicazioni” Congress, Bari, 16-17 february 2023. hdl: 20.500.11769/551178

Barone G., Belfiore C., Bertino A., Caggiani M.C., Coccato A., Finocchiaro C.*, Fugazzotto M., Lanzafame G., Mazzoleni P., Occhipinti R.*, Portale S., Stroscio A., Zafarana S. (2023) Advanced Green Materials for Cultural Heritage: the experience of UNICT in the AGMforCuHe project. “Materiali innovativi per uno sviluppo sostenibile: dal laboratorio alle applicazioni” Congress, Bari, 16-17 february 2023.

Portale S.*, Felter M.G., Zisi A., De Ferri L., Barone G. & Mazzoleni P. (2023) Preliminary application tests of Alkali Activated Materials based on stone-processing wastes: the conservation of ceramic pottery. BeGEO Scientists “Sustainability and Risks: BeGeoScientists on the road to the future” congress, Naples 03-06 october 2023.

Zafarana S.*, Barone G., Occhipinti R., Portale S. & Mazzoleni P. (2023) The effect of natural and synthetic fibres on the mechanical properties of Alkali Activated Materials: a comparison between different precursors. BeGEO Scientists “Sustainability and Risks: BeGeoScientists on the road to the future” congress, Naples 03-06 october 2023.

Portale S.*, De Ferri L., Felter M.G., Zisi A., Barone G., Mazzoleni P. (2023) New geo-resources for the conservation of Cultural Heritage: feasibility study on the application of stone sawing sludges-based Alkali Activated Materials. “The Geoscience paradigm: Resources, Risks and future perspectives” SIMP, SGI, SoGel, AIV Congress, Potenza, 19-21 september 2023.

Finocchiaro C.*, Portale S., Crespo-López L., Cultrone G., Barone G., Mazzoleni P. (2023) Porosity and ageing durability assessing for volcanic ash and basalt sludge-based alkali-activated materials (Mt. Etna volcano, Italy). “The Geoscience paradigm: Resources, Risks and future perspectives” SIMP, SGI, SoGel, AIV Congress, Potenza, 19-21 september 2023.

Zafarana S.*, Barone G., Finocchiaro C., Occhipinti R. & Portale S., Mazzoleni P. (2023) Design of experiments (DOE): a preliminary study for the optimization of alkali-activated formulations. “The Geoscience paradigm: Resources, Risks and future perspectives” SIMP, SGI, SoGel, AIV Congress, Potenza, 19-21 september 2023.

List of pubblications [selection: 2021 - present]

- Published in scientific journals

Portale, S., Finocchiaro, C., Occhipinti, R., Mazzoleni, P., & Barone, G. (2023). Feasibility study about the use of basalt sawing sludge in building and restoration. Materials Letters, 333, 133624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2022.133624.

Lanzafame, G., Bolam, A., Di Muro, A., Portale, S., Donato, S., Besson, P., & Ferlito, C. (2023). Geochemistry and Petrology of the Bellecombe Lava Sequence, Enclos Fouqué Caldera, Piton de la Fournaise Volcano (Réunion, France). Minerals, 13(6), 751.