In the Environmental Engineering Laboratories, researchers quantify environmental
contaminants as they study the effects of heavy-metal toxicity on wastewater treatment,
biological nutrient removal, anaerobic digester performance, biofouling of contaminated
aquifers and extraction wells, ion exchange and sorption in soil columns, partitioning
of immiscible organics in water, biodegradation of petroleum, pesticides, and
TNT in soils and groundwater, wetland and sediment biogeochemistry, and river
quality management.
Facilities include an environmental chamber. An atomic adsorption spectrophotometer, ion chromatograph, and ion analyzer quantify heavy-metal contaminants and inorganic nutrients. An organic carbon analyzer for liquid and soil sampling, gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector and liquid sample concentrator, and a high-pressure liquid chromatograph quantify organic contaminants. A mass spectrophotometer identifies and quantifies unknown organic contaminants and treatment byproducts, and a particle sizer and zeta meter analyze particulate contaminants. Fluorescent and light microscopes, autoclaves, and incubators identify and quantify microbial contaminants.
The Department of Civil Engineering at Auburn University has three modern environmental
engineering laboratories with approximately 5,500 square feet of floor space.
The laboratories are equipped with the necessary instruments and apparatus required
for research in the areas of environmental sciences and engineering. In addition
to the standard equipment inventory, which includes two autoclaves, a high speed
refrigerated centrifuge, incubators, and water baths, the lab is equipped with
the following:
