Groupe des Ecoles des Mines - Chemistry and Environment Department

Research topics:

Metrology and characterization of air pollutants

 Improving the quality of measurements : the study of the representative character of measurement sites, involvement in the national calibration chain of automatic monitors
 The study and finalization of sampling and physicochemical characterization methods of pollutants. This concerns volatile organic compounds, suspended  particulate matter, trace heavy metals in particulate particles, metal and organic  compound speciation, ozone, nitrogen and sulphur compounds in gaseous and particle phases.
 The study of particle and gaseous multi-pollutants sampling systems
 The study and finalization of passive sampling techniques of gaseous pollutants
 The scientific and technical coordination of the atmospheric depositions monitoring network in the Nord - Pas-de-Calais region and in the country at national level (MERA) within the framework of the study of cross-border pollution
 Involvement in standardization activities (AFNOR, CEN, ISO) and in European Union directives working groups

Behavior of pollutants in the atmosphere

 Modelling of the dispersion, transport, and reactivity of pollutants. Emission inventory mapping
 The study of the reactivity of pollutants in atmospheric simulation chamber
 Identification of emissions sources from measurements on sites and modelling
 The study of the transformation of particle and gaseous pollutants after their emission into the atmosphere
 Air pollution mapping

Head of Department : Jean-Claude GALLOO, Pr.

 Faculty : 12 (incl. 1 HDR)
 Technical & administrative staff : 10
 PhD students : 9

Physicochemical analysis equipment for minerals and organic compounds

 X- Ray fluorescence spectrometer for qualitative analysis of solids
 Atomic absorption and emission spectrometer, ICP-MS for the  determination of trace heavy metals in particulate matter, soils, waste, and water.
 Ionic chromatography for mineral anions in a solution.
 Gas Chromatographs equipped with different types of injectors (liquids, gas, preconcentrator/desorber) and detectors (flame ionization, electron capture, mass spectrometer, Fourier Infrared spectrometer) for the separation and identification of organic compounds found in the atmosphere.
 High Performance Liquid Chromatography for the characterization of  aldehydes, ketones and polycyclic  aromatic hydrocarbons found in the environment.

Samplers and Monitors of atmospheric pollutants :

A great part of our studies relate to air quality monitoring. The department therefore has a set of automatic analyzers for gaseous compounds : sulphur dioxide, carbon  monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) and several means for calibration (dilution systems based on mass flow control, permeation sources, ozone generators...).

This equipment is completed with different samplers of airborne particulate matter with different sampling inlets (PM10, PM2.5) and automatic measuring systems of  the particulate mass concentrations (microbalance, beta-gauge monitor). Granulometric distribution is studied with a particle counter and cascade impactor.

The department is equipped with exposition chambers for studying the influence of meteorological parameters on passive samplers and understanding the mechanisms of photochemical pollution.