Technical Environmental Chemistry and Sensor Technology

Water is the basic requirement for life and, thus, particularily worth to be protected. Chemical substances introduced into the evironment by human activity can have negative effects on the ecosystem, some of them can influence the quality of potable water or the processes of wastewater treatment. 

We investigate the chemical quality of water (ground, surface, wastewater, potable water) as well as the chemical basics of natural and technical processes such as the   treatment of potable and wastewater, remediation of contaminated groundwater or composting of green waste. In interdisciplinary cooperation with microbiologists and engineers we work out solutions for the improvement of the quality of water and the environment and  among others deal with

• the investigation of chemical processes in environmental technical plants
• the determination of elimination efficiencies and chemical loads  in sewage treatment plants
• water and evironmental analysis (determination of summary parameters and individual compounds):
• organic micropollutants: pharmaceutical drugs, hormones, pesticides / biocides, PCB, dioxins, PAHs, flame retardants,...
• inorganic compounds: nutrients, anions
• heavy metal and elemental analysis
• effect-based analysis (determination of estrogenic/hormonal activity of environmental samples)
• quality assurance in chemical analysis: proficiency testing, advanced and in-house training
• biological nitrogen elimination, e.g. in aquacultures
• biological processes of remediation (CHC elimination)

Since 04/2020 Dr. Kuch has taken over the provisional management of the chair.