The “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (ICMPP) contributes with expertise in functional polymers, hybrid materials, catalytic nanomaterials and biomass valorisation. Within CERSUS, it leads innovative materials development and contributes to wastewater treatment, aquaculture, sustainable packaging and sustainability assessment. Its activities connect molecular design with practical environmental applications, circular resource use and researcher training.
CERSUS Project Coordination
The “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry (ICMPP) contributes to CERSUS through its expertise in polymer chemistry, functional materials, organic–inorganic composites and biomass valorisation. Its team combines chemical synthesis, advanced characterisation and computational methods to develop materials with tailored properties for environmental applications and the circular bioeconomy.
Within CERSUS, ICMPP leads the development of innovative materials, connecting molecular design and materials performance with applications in wastewater treatment, resource recovery, aquaculture and sustainable packaging.
Reseach profile and expertise
The ICMPP team contributes expertise in the following scientific areas of the project:
- Functional polymers and complex macromolecular systems, including natural and synthetic polyelectrolytes, self-assembled structures and cross-linked polymer networks.
- Organic–inorganic composites and porous materials, designed for pollutant removal, resource recovery and reuse.
- Biomass-derived materials, including the valorisation of cellulose, lignin, hemicelluloses and other natural compounds.
- Nanostructured catalytic materials, including supported metal nanoparticles and spinel ferrites for chemical conversion and wastewater treatment.
- Advanced materials characterisation, investigating chemical structure, morphology, surface properties, thermal behaviour and functional performance.
- Computational chemistry, exploring molecular structures and interactions to support materials design and process optimisation.
ICMPP’s role in the consortium
TUIASI combines consortium coordination with research contributions across all seven CERSUS work packages, connecting materials development, environmental technologies and resource valorisation with sustainability assessment and researcher training.
WP1 — Project management and coordination
ICMPP participates in consortium governance, scientific coordination, progress monitoring and reporting. It works with the coordinator and the other partners to support research planning, quality assurance and project implementation.
WP2 — Innovative materials for environmental applications
ICMPP leads the work package dedicated to developing innovative inorganic, polymeric and hybrid materials for environmental applications, resource recovery and reuse.
The institute leads tasks on organic and macromolecular materials with tailored structures and functional groups, natural polymer-based materials with controlled properties, and computational chemistry approaches for investigating molecular systems. Its contributions also include catalytic and photocatalytic materials, porous organic–inorganic platforms, carbon-based materials and the sustainable valorisation of lignocellulosic resources.
WP3 — Advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery
ICMPP leads the screening of environmental applications of materials developed in WP2. These investigations assess their potential for pollutant removal, resource recovery and other environmental applications, including regeneration and reuse.
The team also contributes to integrated processes for degrading priority and emerging pollutants, nutrient recovery from wastewater, and metal recovery for sustainable industrial water management.
WP4 — Water resources management for recirculating aquaculture
ICMPP contributes to laboratory testing of the potential toxicity of innovative materials and leads their testing under real aquaculture conditions, in collaboration with consortium partners. Applications include polymer-based water filters for nitrogen reduction and materials or formulations intended to support fish production.
The institute also contributes to developing improved recirculating aquaculture technologies, connecting materials innovation with water quality and fish health.
WP5 — By-product and waste valorisation
ICMPP contributes to recovering and purifying bioactive compounds from agricultural and food-processing residues, as well as valorising grape seeds through oil extraction and the production of nutrient-rich powders.
The institute leads the development and laboratory demonstration of innovative wine seal capsules. This work combines biodegradable polymers, pectin, grape seed oil and encapsulated natural extracts to obtain materials with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. ICMPP also contributes to developing alternative wine corks from plant-derived wastes.
WP6 — Sustainability and risk assessment
ICMPP leads the task on sustainability assessment of the innovative materials developed in WP2. Working with TUIASI and the other partners, it provides experimental data and contributes to life cycle inventories, environmental and economic assessments, and comparisons of materials based on their functionality.
The institute also participates in prospective eco-design assessments, the evaluation of advanced processes and waste valorisation pathways, and risk assessment and life cycle impact assessment methodology development.
WP7 — Technology transfer, dissemination and training
ICMPP contributes to scientific dissemination, technology transfer, research exchanges and mentorship. It provides training in research methodology and statistical analysis, alongside specialised training in the characterisation of materials, by-products and wastes for circular bioeconomy applications.
These activities support young researchers in developing experimental, analytical and interdisciplinary research skills.
ICMPP Team
The ICMPP team is led by Dr. habil. Marcela Mihai, whose research focuses on functional polymers, multicomponent polyelectrolyte systems, self-assembly and organic–inorganic macromolecular architectures. Her expertise connects molecular structure with the physicochemical behaviour and performance of materials in solutions, bulk systems and on surfaces.
The team brings together complementary expertise in polymer networks, biomass valorisation, catalytic nanomaterials and functional composites, supporting the development of materials for environmental protection and circular resource use.
Through its leadership in materials development and its contributions across the project, ICMPP helps CERSUS connect chemical innovation with practical environmental applications and measurable sustainability performance.
CS I dr. Marcela Mihai
Partner Coordinator
CS I dr. Maria Valentina Dinu
Key member
CS I dr. Iuliana Spiridon
Key member
CS II dr. Petrisor Samoila
Key member
CS II dr. Florin Bucatariu
Key member
more about ICMPP research team
ICMPP Research Infrastructure
ICMPP provides laboratories for chemical synthesis, separation and purification, supported by extensive facilities for structural, morphological and surface characterisation.
Available equipment includes a combined Bruker 600 NMR–LC–MS system, Rigaku SmartLab X-ray diffractometer, IRTracer-100 FT-IR spectrophotometer, Discovery TGA 5500 thermogravimetric analyser and Axis Nova X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system.
Microscopy facilities include Verios G4 UC scanning electron microscopy, Hitachi HT7700 transmission electron microscopy, an LVEM5 multimode electron microscope, and a NTEGRA Spectra atomic force microscope coupled with a Renishaw confocal Raman microscope.
Additional capabilities include particle size and charge analysis, magnetic characterisation, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, contact angle measurements and quartz crystal microbalance analysis. Flow cytometry, microplate readers and automated cell counting equipment support biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity studies.