The Trisaia Research Centre, set up in1962 as a facility for the treatment of spent

fuel elements, is currently a multidisciplinarycentre equipped to perform research and deve-

lopment activities in a wide range of sectors:- agro-biotechnology

- laser applications- technology innovation for industry

- renewable energy sources (biomass and solar energy)- metrology

- environmental monitoring- radioprotection- rare earths- waste treatment.

The Centre counts 260 employees.In December 2004 the Centre obtained the double certifica-tion for the Integrated Environment Management System(according to the ISO 14001:96 regulation) and Safety(according to the OHSAS 18001:99 Standard).

Agro-biotechnologiesThe agro-biotechnology activities touch upon a wide rangeof areas: • quality improvement and diversification in agriculturalproduce;• experimentation, demonstration and transfer of techno-logies and methodologies for typical products of southernItaly. An Integrated Innovation Centre for Agro-biote-chnologies has been established, aimed at developinginnovation technologies and systems, as well as provi-ding advanced services to small and medium sizedenterprises of the field;• information services to firms, concerning certifica-tion and evaluation of product quality;

• preparation, certification and furnish with refe-rence materials.

Research Centre

Laser applications The Centre possesses an experimental station for research

and development of laser technology applications in the tre-atment of materials, used for:

• qualification of the laser welding process through microstructu-ral, mechanical and behavioural characterization;

• consultancy services to enterprises for the introduction of innovationprocesses based on laser technology.The activities, also conducted trough the CALEF Consortium, concern:• innovative solutions for the creation of steel railway panels;• applications of optical beams to light-weight aluminium alloys for naval andaerospatial applications;• welding of steel structural elements and structural components employed inthe aeronautics sector; • cutting of parabolic shapes for solar concentrators;• training activities, with the collaboration of other research bodies and insti-tutions.

Innovation technology for industryThe Centre features facilities for the transfer of innovative technologies fromresearch to production and to enterprises, with particular reference to the

southern Italy area:• a Centre for automation technologies of the manufacturing process,that carries out R&D activities to design and fabricate prototypes forthe automation of the fruit and vegetable and milk and dairy productsectors, as well as consultancy, support and technology transfer toagroindustrial firms;• a Services Centre providing assistance to SMEs for the retrieval andrecycling of industrial waste, designed to promoting the use of noveltechnologies and services in the mechanics, textile, ceramics andtannery sectors;• a Centre of innovation in goods transportation, in technologyR&D and training, in the field of transportation intermodality(railway-road-water) and diagnostic, in support to the mainte-nance of transportation components and systems.

Renewable energy sources: biomass and solar energyResearch in the biomass sector is currently focused on two tran-

sformation processes, steam explosion and gasification, aimingat:

• define and certify chemical and physical characteristics of biomassin relation to its application in the energy field;

• develop and qualify technologies for the exploitation of biomass resi-dues from agricultural production and pruning, forests and wood waste

(wood industry);• implement eco-compatible technologies for power generation from

hydrogen processed in fuel cells.The Centre possesses a laboratory for testing and qualifying solar compo-

nents and systems, whose activities concern mainly:• certification of thermal efficiency of solar components;

• study of solar thermal desalination systems;• study of concentrating solar plants for hydrogen production and power gene-ration;• developing of a quality mark recognized at European level (Solar Keymark).

MetrologyThe Integrated Centre for Metrology is a complex of laboratories equipped withcutting-edge machinery, all SIT certified or about to be certified. The Centre con-stitutes a major reference point for the manufacturing industries of southern Italyin the field of non-destructive testing.The Centre conducts research on applied metrology and qualification of materialsand components. The main research areas concern:• certification services of materials and components (SIT and ISO 9000 certificates);• training of qualified personnel in the sector of quality control, measurements andtests, R&D of new products and technologies.

Environmental monitoring The activities concern the following subject matters:- environmental monitoring/forecasting services; - analysis of the level of air, soil and water pollution in agricultural, urban andindustrial areas;- analysis for environmental reclamation;- environmental monitoring in areas destined to waste disposal (monitored rub-bish dumps);- characterization of the environmental impact of agricultural and industrial acti-vities;- environmental quality control in support to the Protected Designation ofOrigin agricultural product;- training of qualified personnel in the environmental sector.The Centre also works as a reference point for the national networks moni-toring acid rain and radioactivity in the Mediterranean Sea.

RadioprotectionThe Institute for Radioprotection (IRP) ispresent in five ENEA Centres (Bologna,Casaccia, Frascati, Saluggia and Trisaia) andconducts activities regarding: • physical and environmental radioprotectionsurveillance, that ENEA, as manager of facilitiesand laboratories capable of emitting ionizingradiations, is obliged to carry out as prescribed bylaw;• research, development and qualification in dosime-try and qualification of radioprotection techniques. The IRP also provides on demand by national, localand private institutes, radioprotection evaluations onactivities carried out by structures and laboratoriescapable of emitting ionizing radiations.The IRP of the Trisaia Centre performs radiotoxicologysurveillance activities and Whole Body Counter measure-ments for employees presenting a high level of contamina-

tion risk.

Rare earthsWithin the activities on new materials, a pilot plant has been setup for the development and optimization of hydrometallurgicalprocesses for the treatment of industrial waste and sludge andthe retrieval of ultrapure metals (rare earths, indium, gallium,PGM – Platinum Group Metals – germanium, gold, copper, etc.).The activities specifically linked to the plant, supported by alaboratory of process control, concern: • R&D of chemical processes for separation and purification ofhigh added value metals; • technological transfer to the Italian industry of the know-how necessary for producing those metals;• development of techniques for process control andautomation.

Waste treatmentThe activities concern development and experimentation of:• optimization processes of productive cycles for reducing production of waste andsludge;• waste treatment and disposal of waste: solid urban waste, waste containingasbestos, hospital waste, special waste, hazardous and non-hazardous waste (foremergency actions); • processes for the exploitation of waste and sludge, also polymer based (pla-stic, gum, carbon fibres) for energy and material recycle; • techniques for the treatment of waste flows for the exploitation of contai-ned metals (biodegradable organic substances, metallic materials, etc.);• anaerobic digestion of humid waste selected from urban and agri-foodindustry residues for energy recycling; • treatment of civil purifier effluents to be reutilized as irrigation water;• pollution remediation techniques for contaminated soil (emergencyand/or reclamation);The Centre possesses research laboratories and pilot plants for thedevelopment of innovative processes and technologies as well asindustrial-sized mobile plants for emergency actions and environ-mental reclamation.

Genomics Laboratory:Microarray Printing System

Aeral view of the TrisaiaResearch Centre

Laser application laboratory:detail of parabolic steel shapecutting

Centre for automation technologies ofthe manufacture processes: fruit andvegetables calibration and automatic

filling of containers

500 kWt fluidized bed steamgasification plant

Non-destructive analysis on building materials: elaboration of thermographic images performed onPalazzo Agresta D’Alessandro (Rotondella – Basilicata)

Chemical biological laboratory: HPLC cromatographer

Shadow shield Whole BodyCounter, with mobile bed andNal(TI) detector

Rare earths plant: dissolution process

Mobile plant for thermal treatment ofwaste and reclamation of polluted sites

Trisaia

History and archeology The Centre was set up in 1962 in the Trisaia Inferiore, within the

Rotondella Municipality, at about 4 km from the Jonian Sea, close to theSinni river and the Pantano di Policoro woods.

Initially, the activities performed regarded the nuclear fuel cycle and themanagement of several prototype plants for the development and qualifi-

cation of nuclear processes and components.In the second half of the eighties, the Centre started to convert its activities,in the framework of a general strengthening of the facilities for the scientificand technological research in southern Italy, expanding its competencies also

through the acquisition of young personnel.Presently, the Centre performs activities regarding all the programmatic objec-tives of ENEA.The Centre has a significant archaeological value, being situated in an areawhere in the past, the Greek colony of Siris rose, notably the port area of theancient city at the outlet of the Sinni river.The acropolis, the sacred area and the necropolis of Siris have been detectedinstead along the Castello di Policoro hill, where in 433-32 BC Heracleia was builtafter the decadence and destruction of Siris.The different aspects of the life of the Greek colonies are documented by the findsof exquisite manufacture stored in the National Museum of Sirtide in Policoro andthe National Archaeological Museum of Metaponto.The plateau on which the Centre is situated was in ancient times occupied by agreat quantity of siroi, underground hollows, commonly defined as “potholes forpagans”, where cereals were stored. In later times the siroi were sunk under-ground, probably because they constituted a danger to men and animals.At the beginning of the sixties, in the area were discovered seven/eight siroi, ofwhich at least one, preserved well enough to be studied.

Address of the Centre ENEA – Trisaia Research Centre

S.S. Ionica, km 419.575026 Rotondella (Matera)Tel. +39-0835-974111, fax +39-0835-974292

How to visit the Centre A visit to the laboratories and experimental plants of theTrisaia Centre enables to acquire a satisfying picture of theactivities carried out, and a direct knowledge of processes,technologies and their applications.To arrange to visit the Centre contact:Maurizio Matera – e-mail: maurizio.matera@trisaia.enea.ittel. +39-0835-974564, fax +39-0835-974740

How to reach the Centre

By car Motorway A3 (Rome-Reggio Calabria) - exit Lauria Nord: continueon S.S. 653 until the entrance to the S.S. 106 Ionica, directionReggio Calabria

Motorway A14 (Bologna-Taranto) - exit Palagiano: take S.S. 106Ionica, direction Reggio Calabria

By trainBari-Taranto-Sibari line, Policoro or Nova Siri Station

By busFrom Rome: Roma-Trebisacce line –SAJ Lines (Tel. +39-0981-500331)From Naples: Napoli-Policoro line –Grassani&Garofalo Lines (Tel. +39-0835-901443)From Bari: Bari-Taranto-Cosenza line –SAJ Lines (Tel. +39-0981-500331)

By planeBari Airport

For further information, visitwww.trisaia.enea.it

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Restored upper part ofsome “siroi” in the

“Pothole of the Pagans”,located outside the Centre.

The “siroi” were used asstorage sites for cereals