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The Environmental Laboratory (LA) provides an essential support to Teaching, Research & Development activities of IST in the field of Environmental Engineering and Hydrogeology. LAhas an approximate area of 600 m2 and it accommodates ninehorizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands(CW),an LSS respirometer and an installation to analysesulphide release on drops in wastewater drainage systems. The CW are gravel-filled basins with 1.1 m × 0.71 m × 0.76 m used for secondary or tertiary treatment of waste water(e.g. grey water or black water).
LA is equipped with a wide range of technical equipment for water, soil and biological analysis and field data monitoring used for teaching, advanced research and consultancy projects.
The 9 Constructed Wetlands (CW) are planted (6 beds, 3 with P. australisand 3 with Scirpus) and non-planted (3 beds). The gravel media as a diameter of 4–8 mm, a porosity of 30% and a total depth of 30 cm. Each bed is equipped with a feeding T-pipe, perforated and located at mid high of the CW. The outlet control is done by a throttle structure installed at the opposite end of the bed near its base.
The LSS respirometer (Liquid phase principle – static gas and static liquid) is composed by a main reactor (aerated), built as an acrylic cylinder with closed bottom, and a reading cell (with no aeration), custom made in glass. Other components of the system include a compressor, a hydraulic pump, a stirrer and a dissolved oxygen sensor, which also monitors temperature.
The experimental setup is composed by a downstream tank, a recirculation pump, a valve and a flowmeter. The downstream tank is 0.26×0.26×0.30 m (WxLxH) and as a total storage capacity of 20 L. For the simulation of different water drops in the drainage system the installation has various pipe-columns with different heights.
This equipment is used in chemical analysis necessary for water characterization. The blanket (in the figure on the right) has a maximum heating capacity of 150 ° C in which samples are processed during a specific period. After the sample has cooled, it is placed in the spectrophotometer (in the figure on the left) for parameter readings (COD, BOD, NH4+, etc.).
To field measurements the laboratory has 5 different probes for water analysis. For the dissolved oxygen reading the LA has 2 YSI probes (luminescence-based) and 1 WTW probe. For the pH and redox readings a CRIMSON probe is used and for Conductivity readings the LA has a WTW probe.
To analyze multiple parameters at the same time, the LA has two multi-parametric YSI probes (records DO, Temperature, conductivity, redox and pH) with a protection for readings in a more aggressive environment (rivers, seas, inflow structure of a WWTP). For direct readings of different parameters (sulphide, CQO, TSS) during field measurements the S::CAN is also used.
The magnetic stirrer (OVAN) and mechanical stirrer (VELP) are also part of the LA support equipment. Both stirrers are used in the LSS respirometer: the mechanical stirrer mixes the solution inside the reactor and the magnetic stirrer is used to mix the liquid inside the reading cell.
Diverse scientific and technical equipment to be used on RTD and consultancy projects for the hydrodinamical, hydrochemistry and environmental of aquifers: • Hydrodynamic characterization of aquifers: several water level meters, some of them with audio or visual alarm triggered when probe reaches the bottom of the borehole; level & temperature data loggers; CTD divers; barodiver; pressure transducers for long term monitoring. • Groundwater sample collection: Nalgene and glass clean bottles for sampling; Millipore filters; suprapur & ultrapur acids for preserving samples; bailers; various electrical pumps for sampling in natural or contaminated environments (submersible low flow pumps, electric centrifugal pumps, peristaltic suction lift pumps and conventional submersible, electric centrifugal pumps only if permanently installed in the well, hand-operated foot valve pump) • Hydrochemical characterization: varied number of probes for point or continuous characterization of groundwater quality (Hanna Instruments multiparameter probes – DO, temperature, EC, TDS, Eh); Hach titration kits for alkalinity; photometers; Dionex ion chromatography. • Other equipment: fluorometers for tracer tests, meteorological stations, sampling devices for the unsaturated zone (water and soil/sediment), TDR for determination of soil humidity and GPR geophysical equipment.
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