ETL

The “Environmental Technologies Laboratory” (ETL) consists of (i) a chemical section, (ii) a technological section and (iii) a pilot technological platform. The technological platform is located at the Taranto wastewater treatment plant over an area of about 500 m2. 
A variety of research activities are offered by the laboratory in terms of (i) pollutants measurements, (ii) experimental tests at bench and pilot scale as well as (iii) environmental monitoring. 
The measurement of pollutants concerns the determination of (i) elemental composition of aqueous solutions by means of ICP-OES, (ii) organic pollutants (PAH, PCB, Total Hydrocarbons) by means of GC-MS, (iii) hydrocarbons (butane, hexane) by means of GC-FID, (iv) pesticides, phenols and PAHs by means of HPLC with UV-VIS and fluorescence detectors, (v) carbon, hydrogen and sulfur content on solid/liquids samples by means of the CHS analyzer, (vi) the heating value of combustion of solid/liquid substances through the Mahler calorimeter bomb, (vii) the TOC (Total Organic Carbon) of aqueous solutions as well as (viii) the biological stability of a biomass with the Respirometric Dynamic Index (RDI) by means of the 3024 Costech International Respirometer. 
The experimental tests cover numerous technologies for environmental protection such as (i) tribo-electrostatic separation, (ii) mechano-chemical, (iii) stabilization/solidification, (iv) soil and sediment washing, (v) thermal treatments such as pyrolysis, gasification and incineration as well as (vi) biological treatments by means of the Esedra automated bioreactor.
The environmental monitoring activities concern (i) the measurement of odor emissions by means of an integrated system combining several technologies (already on the market) such as ODOR PREP, ODOR TEL, SENSIGENT MSEM32 and (ii) a real-time monitoring of fine particles through the Optical Particle Counter (OPC) system. 
The laboratory also has an impressive experimental platform.
For more than twenty years the ETL has been involved in research activities with participation in local, national and international projects. The head of the lab is prof. Michele Notarnicola. Furthermore, the experience in environmental impact assessment and decision support system of prof. Sabino De Gisi strengthens the ETL offer in the environmental field.