Environmental Quality Monitoring and Technology Group

The aim of the Environmental Quality Monitoring and Technology Group is to support the study process and solve scientific research tasks related to environmental quality monitoring and development of technological solutions in order to restore the environment and develop environmentally friendly technological solutions.

The direction of activity of the team is mainly focused on the study of environmental chemical pollution and the development of environmental technologies. The equipment available in the laboratories allows to conduct a comprehensive analysis of environmental pollution, characterization of the chemical composition. Using various extraction methods, it is possible to obtain a wide range of substances from the object under study. Fractionation of extracts is also possible, which allows the identification of substances even at low concentrations. 

The laboratory provides an opportunity for students of bachelor's, master's and doctoral study programs to conduct research on the following topics:

• Bioactive compounds for the bioeconomy;

• Surface active compounds in the environment;

• Methods of environmental recultivation;

• Climate technologies, CO₂ sorption

• The content of pesticides in plants as an indicator of the level of safety;

• Petroleum products, metals in soil, waters, plants;

• Polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the environment;

The laboratory's capabilities include a certain range of physicochemical options for detecting environmental pollution, analysis of toxic substances, waste and soil, environmental biological testing and water analysis. Analyses are carried out using both gas chromatography (GC) method using complex and high-sensitivity mass spectrometry (MS), as well as infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence, X-ray fluorescence methods. For the analysis of metals, AAS and ICP-OES are used. The range of test objects includes chemical residues, complex matrices, liquids, solids, organic materials with the presence of inorganic parts, unknown chemicals, fibers, silicones and surfactants, gels, reaction by-products, decomposition products, lubricants, cleaning products and others.

The direction of research is the study of humic substances. From peat, as well as soil and lake sediments, humic substances can be isolated. They arise from the decomposition of vegetation, forming a persistent structure with a high molecular weight and a wide spectrum of colors (from yellow to black). Studies have shown that the properties of humic substances vary depending on their age, environmental conditions and the type and composition of the original vegetation. The structure of humic substances determines their wide practical application. They can be used not only as a source of nutrients to improve the composition, structure and fertility of soils and flowerpots, but also in the recultivation of the environment as sorbents. Their composition and the content of functional groups allow them to be used very successfully for binding metal ions, petroleum products and other environmental pollutants. In addition to experiments on the use of humic substances as dyes, their use in cosmetics and balneology is also studied. 

The research is carried out in cooperation with Latvian and foreign researchers, the results are published in articles and reported at international thematic conferences. 
 

The laboratory staff acquires and improves knowledge by participating in EU Horizon Europe, Interreg, LZP, VAF, and other research projects:

• Materials and technology complexes for the recultivation of contaminated areas and the improvement of urban soils
• Monitoring of the content of heavy metals, nitrates and POPs in the environment
• Development of a composition of environmentally friendly surface care products and study of possible uses
• Wastewater treatment and use technologies
• The nature of land-use change in the EU
• Recycling of municipal waste develops climate-neutral solutions
• Chemical ecology of invasive plants