Associate Editor
Maria Grazia Volpe, research scientist, received her degree in Chemistry at the University of Naples and the Chemist's Diploma Qualification in 1981. She was Research Assistant at University of Liverpool, University of Bath (England) in 1983 for six months. Since 1986 she is researcher at National Council Research (CNR). From 1986 to 1999 she was a researcher at the Institute of Chemistry and Technology on Polymers of Italian Research Council (ICTP -CNR); nominated as Member of the Scientific Committee of ICTP from 1994 to 1999;
In1999 she has moved to Institute of Food Science (ISA) in Avellino, where she is head of the research unit of Italian Research Council on Preservation and Quality of Agrifood Production and of the laboratory of quality, safety and food-packaging. The aim of the her investigations regards to the quality control, chemical composition, authenticity and safety of food and parallel is to realize innovative packaging systems able to preserve sensorial qualities and increase the shelf-life.The recent activities are focused on food package sustainability, including bio-based packaging materials such as film, gel or edible coatings which allow the controlled release of active ingredients with antioxidant, antimicrobial and / or anti-browning activities.
High added-value compounds, as lipofilic or hydrophilic nature, are obtained from extraction of agrifood waste (pomegranate, grapes, chestnuts, lemon peel, olive mill oil etc….). After attempted to examine for the condition of effective extraction for the active substances and carefully characterization, the compounds are added to packaging systems in order to impart antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiimbruniment or antifungal proprieties.Biodegradable matrices obtained from renewable sources are used for the formulation functional pellets for animal feed by means of extrusion with controlled temperature. Overall, I am conducts research on the entire production chain, from foods production, processing and storage. edible films or coating.
Dr. Volpe is supervisor of postdoctoral fellows of public and private Institutions and regular referee of many scientific International Journals and tutor of many University thesis in Chemistry , Biology, Biotechonology, Farmacy, for University of Naples, Salerno, Benevento.Actually she is professor professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Sannio (Benevento-Italy).
