Biography
Christina holds a diploma degree in Chemical Engineering from the NTUA since 2018 (Grade: 8.43, top 17% of the Class). Her diploma thesis was conducted at the Laboratory of Polymer Technology, mainly dealing with the "Hydrolytic degradation and stabilization of poly(lactic acid) for durable applications". Christina defended her Ph.D. thesis in December 2023. Her thesis on the "Development of environmentally friendly polymerization processes" was conducted in the framework of a European Research project in which the PolymeReEng group participates, and was financed by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (co-financing by Greece and the European Union - European Social Fund), through the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning" in the context of the Act "Enhancing Human Resources Research Potential by undertaking a Doctoral Research".
Christina also contributes to the preparation, conduction, and examination of several laboratory exercises. Her current research interests include, among others, the enzymatic synthesis of bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers, solid state polymerization (SSP) of bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers, conventional and biodegradable polymer degradation processes, sustainable polymeric materials for packaging, biochemical technologies (enzymatic recycling) for sustainable packaging, biocatalytic processes.
Publications
Presentations
- K. Makryniotis, E. Nikolaivits, G. Taxeidis, C. Gkountela, S. Vouyiouka, J. Nikodinovic-Runic, E. Topakas, An interdisciplinary approach for the discovery and utilization of novel polymer degrading enzymes, 8th International Conference on Bio-based and Biodegradable Polymers (Biopol 2022), 14-16 November 2022, Alicante, Spain.
- S.N. Vouyiouka, C.I. Gkountela, K. Chronaki, Sustainable challenges to produce green polymers and manage their waste: Solid State Polymerization. 8th International Conference on Bio-based and Biodegradable Polymers (Biopol 2022), 14-16 November 2022, Alicante, Spain.
- C. Gkountela and S. Vouyiouka, Exploring enzymatic polymerization pathways for the production of aliphatic polyesters, Polymers 2022 – New Trends in Polymer Science: Health of the Planet, Health of the People, 25-27 May 2022, Turin, Italy.
- C. Gkountela, E. Nikolaivits, G. Taxeidis, J. Nikodinovic-Runic, E. Topakas, S. Vouyiouka, Enzymatic depolymerization against polymers structure and properties in the perspective of biochemical recycling, Polymers 2022 – New Trends in Polymer Science: Health of the Planet, Health of the People, 25-27 May 2022, Turin, Italy.
- C.I. Gkountela, D.M. Korres, S.N. Vouyiouka, A sustainable approach to produce and upgrade poly(butylene succinate), 13th Panhellenic Scientific Conference in Chemical Engineering, 2-4 June 2022, Patras, Greece, .
- C.I. Gkountela, D.M. Korres, S.N. Vouyiouka, A green enzyme-based process for the production of poly(butylene succinate). 13th Hellenic Polymer Society International Conference, 12-16 December 2021, Athens, Greece.
- K. Makryniotis, G. Taxeidis, E. Nikolaivits, C. Gkountela, S. Vouyiouka, J. Nikodinovic Runic, E. Topakas, Discovery of novel polyesterases capable of degrading a variety of synthetic polyesters, 21st European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry (EMEC21), November 30 – December 03, 2021, Novi Sad, Serbia. Best poster presentation award
- A.D. Porfyris, C. Gkountela, C. Politidis, G. Messaritakis, P. Orfanoudakis, S. Pavlidou, D.M. Korres, S.N. Vouyiouka, Halogen-free flame retarded PP compounds designated for cable protection conduits. AMI Fire Resistance in Plastics, 30 November – 02 December 2021, Dusseldorf, Germany.
- C.I. Gkountela, D.N. Markoulakis, D.M. Korres, S.N. Vouyiouka, Evaluation of the parameters of poly(butylene succinate) enzymatic polymerization, The 2nd International Online Conference on Polymer Science – Polymers and Nanotechnology for Industry 4.0 (ICOPS 2021), 01-15 November 2021, online.
- A.D. Porfyris, C. Gkountela, D.M. Korres, S.N. Vouyiouka, Polypropylene compounds for halogen-free low smoke (HFLS) conduits. European Meeting on Fire Retardant Polymeric Materials. 29 August – 01 September 2021, Budapest, Hungary.
- G. Taxeidis, E. Nikolaivits, C. Gkountela, S. Vouyiouka, J. Nikodinovic Runic, E. Topakas, The ability of a known plant-biomass degrading fungus to break down polyurethane, European Federation of Biotechnology Virtual Conference (EBF 2021), 10-14 May 2021, online.
- C. Gkountela, A. Porfyris, S. Vasilakos, D.M. Korres, S. Pavlidou, S. Vouyiouka, C. Papaspyrides, Hydrolytic degradation and stabilization of poly(lactic acid) for durable applications. 12th Panhellenic Scientific Conference in Chemical Engineering, 29-31 May 2019, Athens, Greece.