Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Radiochemistry

Pavilion C-5, premises 419 & 421

 

The laboratory includes:

  • Laboratory of Radiochemistry (LR)
  • Laboratory of Environmental Protection, pollutants’ analysis in fuels and the monitoring environmental emissions of harmful substances (EP)

In the laboratory of Environmental Protection, pollutants’ analysis in fuels and the monitoring environmental emissions of harmful substances is planned to focus on subjects of research projects related to:

  • Changes in the deposition of particulate matter PM in terms of energy development
  • Mercury analytics in coals and the processing methods of energetic chemical products and the methods to reduce emissions of mercury to the environment

 

Ad 1.
In Poland, the main sources of anthropogenic fine particulate matter PM (dp < 2.5 μ m) are combustion processes in energy, housing, and engines for road transport, therefore, shares of individual fractions of particulate matter from different sources will be the main subject of research. Based on the analysis of organic and inorganic compounds (metals, radionuclides), where the dust is the carrier, a set of chemical indicators will be developed that will serve to share individual sources of dust in its total emissions in urban areas. Through chemical analysis of the samples of ambient air PM, it is possible to determine the proper source of contamination by using a variety of receptive models.  For these purposes levoglucosan, hopany and the jaded will be used according to the type and source of contamination.  Levoglucosan is most well-known organic molecular marker for coal combustion emissions and wood, while Hopanów and Steranów used for emissions from cars. Options will be presented to reduce the emission of pollutants and there will be calculations of economic benefits (avoided costs) resulting from the reduction of the pollutants in the urban environment and reduce morbidity. Scenarios of changes will be prepared in dust deposition in ten years as a result of SQ - no action, EXEC - full implementation of the Polish and EU legislation and MFTR - implementation of the best available solutions. Scenarios will include major sources of air pollution in urban areas and transport routes to dust pollution and fine to human exposure. An innovative element of the project will be the first time to use of organic compounds (chemical indicators) to determine the sources of emissions of particulate matter in urban areas. The research has to be financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, in cooperation with NILU (Norwegian Air Research Institute).

 

Ad.2.
In the new research projects, the group wants to develop a long experience with analytics mercury and other metals in the environment. By getting closer in a linkage with industry power projects, ongoing work become more utilitarian and can serve the formation of patent solutions or know-how. The study will also focus on use of sorbents to reduce mercury content in the exhaust gases, or syngas.Thanks to the accumulated equipment in the laboratory, comprehensive evaluation of test materials and environmental samples in terms of elemental analysis and in many places of speciation can be planned. Described research themes will be carried out, eg. As part of KIC-InnoEnergy (Knowledge and Innovation Community -innovative energy), subtopic CoalGas, WP4: „Monitoring and reduction of mercury emission in gasification and combustion processes”.

Laboratory users:

prof. dr hab. inż. Barbara Kubica
tel. 12 617 51 47
e-mail: bkubica@agh.edu.pl  

Workplace:
WEiP, Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Science, A-4, floor IV, room 422

 

prof. dr hab. inż. Janusz Gołaś