Department of Environmental Studies

To educate the future leaders of the environmental profession and to inculcate skills and foundations for life- long learning and growth. To conduct research and create new knowledge as an integral part of our education programme and the continued renewal of the profession. To contribute towards sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, combat and reduce pollution of air, water and soil, enhance technical management knowledge and develop and promote technology for sustainable management.

Courses Offered :

=> M.Tech Environmental Engineering

Facilities :

Research Laboratory : The Research Laboratory with an area of 120 sq.m. houses the state of the art equipment and reactors. It has 6 worktables and the laboratory is designed to accommodate about 15 researchers. At present, the laboratory houses the following equipment: Sophisticated Bioreactors, Anaerobic Glove – box, Lyophilizer, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Autoclave, Ovens, Electrophoresis Unit and other routine instruments used for research work. Analytical Laboratories : Analytical Laboratories have been modernized to international standards for housing the state of the art equipment and for training the technical personnel in operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants. The laboratories with an area of 280 sq.m. and an Instrumentation Laboratory with an area of 140 sq.m. The Instrumentation Laboratory houses sophisticated instruments for analysis of water, wastewater, air and soil for physical and chemical parameters including heavy metals. Major instruments available are: Hydroid Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (F-AAS), Graphite Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (G-AAS), BOD analyzer, Mercury analyzer, Flame photometer, TOC analysers, SO2 and NOx analysers, Gas Chromatography, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Ion Chromatography, Spectroflurometer, U.V. Visible Spectrophotometer, Colorimeter, Ion Meters, Ion Selective Electrodes, Field test kits, Gas Monitors, Extractable Organic Halogenes (EOX) analyzer, Absorbed Organic Halogenes (AOX) analyzer, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meters and Precision balances. All physical/chemical and biological analysis of water and wastewater are done in the laboratories. Environmental Microbiology Laboratory : The Environmental Microbiology Laboratory upgraded with special assistance from the University Grants Commission has been modernized under the GTZ project. This air-conditioned Laboratory has an area of 450 sq.m. and is well equipped for analysis of water, sewage, industrial wastes, soil and air samples for microbiological components and for conducting research at Postgraduate levels and Doctorate levels. The major equipment available in the laboratory are Phase contrast microscope, Stereo microscope, Scanning microscope, Projection microscope, Refrigerated centrifuge, Incubators, Deep freezer, Laminar flow chamber, Shaker, Constant temperature water-bath, Refrigerator, Colony counter, BOD analysers, Autoclaves, Ovens and Portable water analysis kits. Unit Operations and Processes Engineering Laboratory : The Unit Operations and Processes Engineering Laboratory has been modernized for housing the state of the art equipment and reactors. The laboratory with an area of 180 sq.m. has 12 movable and 6 fixed work tables and will enable 20 students/researchers to conduct experiments. A unique feature of the laboratory is the provision of overhead water supply, electricity and air supply. The laboratory houses field sampling equipment and major equipment such as Photochemical Reactors, Bioreactors, Air Compressor, Stirrers, Peristaltic Pumps, Filter Press, Demineralization Plant, Softening Plant, Reverse Osmosis Unit, Sonicator, Ozonator, High Pressure Jet Impinger, High Speed Centrifuge, Sieve Shaker, Autoclave, Distillation Unit, Model Skimmer, Rotary Vacuum Evaporator and Bench Scale Treatment Plant models. Waste Processing Technology Demonstration Park : The Waste Processing Technology Demonstration Park is located adjacent to CES, serves the objectives of treating the sanitary sewage of Anna University campus, acting as an eco-technology park and as a field research plant for CES and as a training centre for the operators of Sewage Treatment Plants. The facilities at this plant include, sewage collection and pumping stations, screens and grit separators, Oxidation Ditch Treatment System, Root Zone Treatment system, Stabilization ponds, Fish ponds, Activated Sludge Treatment Plant, Aerated lagoon, Bio composter and Sludge Treatment units. The treated wastewater is recycled for campus gardening. The food waste from the campus are composted and used for horticulture activities. Tool Room : A unique facility of the Centre created under the Indo – German Project is the tool room to carry out internal servicing of all the instruments and equipment of the various laboratories to minimize the down time. It has an area of 40 sq.m. the tool room houses 4 work tables for electrical, electronic, fine machines and turning/drilling. A Micro Lathe, High Precision Bench Drilling Machine, Grinding Machine, High Speed Cutter, Hand Drilling Machines, Electric Saw for mechanical works, Dual Beam Oscilloscope, Auto Transformer, Function Generator and a temperature controlled Soldering Station are available here. Computing Facility : The upgraded computing facility consists of fifteen workstations equipped with Intel. Pentium III Processors and a server to which the fifteen-workstations are connected via 16-port HUB to form a NETWORK. A A0 size digitizer is also available. A direct glass fibre cable connection to link the Centre with internet is also available. Environmental Information Centre : The Environmental Information Centre with an area of 100 sq.m. incorporates the centre’s library and the Environmental Information System Library. There are about 4000 books/publications in the areas of Environmental Microbiology, Environmental Chemistry, Water Treatment, Air Pollution Control, Ecology, Environmental Toxicology, Hazardous Waste Management, Sewerage and Sewage Treatment, Industrial Waste Water Treatment and Solid Waste Management, Mathematics and Computers and a collection of Videos on Environmental Engineering and Sciences. The Library regularly subscribes to about 15 journals. Auditorium : The fully air-conditioned Muthian Auditorium of the Centre has all modern facilities such as the state of the art projection units and recording units for conducting international meeting. The Auditorium can accommodate 125 persons. Conference Room : A modern Conference room built for conducting refresher courses, workshops and group discussions is an asset to the Centre. This air conditioned room has an area of 70 sq.m. and can accommodate about 35 individuals. The facilities available here include Overhead Projector, Multimedia Projector, Flip chart, Poster frames, Magnetic writing board, etc. A unique feature of the conference room is the special light arrangements to ensure pleasing and effective work environment.

Research :

The Centre is involved in fundamental and applied research work. Assessment of chemical and biological characteristics of water bodies, treatment and reuse of wastewater by advanced oxidation processes, biomagnification, groundwater recharge, ground water contamination and solute transport modeling, degradation of toxic wastes such as phenol, removal of toxic pollutants by aquatic plants, energy flow and management of community wastes, air pollution modeling and monitoring are some of the areas of investigation at the Centre. Other thrust areas identified include microbial degradation of toxic pollutants, membrane processes and by product recovery, development of Solar Photocatalytic Reactors, cost effective design of water distribution systems, remote sensing and GIS application in environmental studies, solid waste management and hazardous waste management. Twenty Ph.D research studies have been completed and presently, forty candidates are working on their Ph.D programmes, and 10 students are working for M.S Degree by Research.