IRTO Anna

Dr. Anna Irto is a researcher in Analytical, Environmental, and Cultural Heritage Chemistry (CHEM/01-B) at the University of Messina, where she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences with the mention "Doctor Europaeus". She was a Fixed-Term Researcher (RTD-A) at the CHIBIOFARAM Department from 2021 to 2026. In 2024, she obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification (ASN) for Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry, and since October 2026 she became a Tenure-Track Researcher (RTT). Her research focuses on chemical speciation of metallic and organometallic cations, determination of thermodynamic parameters, and development of systems for selective sequestration of contaminants in environmental and biological matrices. She has expertise in electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques for investigating equilibria in multicomponent solutions. Research periods at the University of Lisbon and Friedrich Schiller University Jena strengthened her experience in the synthesis and characterization of chelating agents for environmental applications. More recently, her work has focused on sustainability and the circular economy, particularly the valorization of agri-food waste for producing adsorbent materials, biochar, and Carbon Quantum Dots for removing metallic and pharmaceutical contaminants. She has also contributed to archaeometric studies and to the development of materials for cultural heritage conservation and restoration. She teaches and has taught in Environmental Chemistry, Wastewater and Waste Characterization and Management, and Teaching Methodologies for Environmental Chemistry courses, while also tutoring and supervising students and doctoral candidates. Her scientific output includes 44 peer-reviewed articles and 87 conference contributions. She has received the Fernando Pulidori Award and the NJC Award.