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Research > Industrial Environment and Industrial and Natural Risks
Sustainable development cannot be considered without research projects in environment or hazard fields. Within this framework, the LGEI research center proposes new processes for treatment and recycling dedicated to specific industrial wastes, either gaseous (odors and VOC's) or liquid (colored or highly loaded wastewater, or liquids containing metallic compounds). Rapid measurement systems (sensors, analysers, methods, etc.) are also developed at the Center. Research is carried out within the framework of a doctoral program, an industrial partnership or within specific programs which associate the entrepreneurship strategy of the Ecole des Mines d'Alès, with the integration of individual student projects and the creation of business enterprises.
The LGEI research center is organised in 4 thematic groups:
Industrial and natural hazards
The objectives of the group are located within the framework of safety issues, protection, and crisis management in the case of a major accident. They cover the study of the parameters associated with the occurrence of major accidents, the assessment of crisis consequences, and proposals for limiting the impact on population and environment. Applications are connected to technological risks (industrial on-site, hazardous substances transportation, toxic gas dispersion, fire, explosion, etc.) or natural risks (floods, fire, etc.)
Odors and VOC's : treatment and analysis
The group develops and optimizes different processes for the treatment of gas and gaseous wastes (containing odorous substances and/or Volatile Organic Compounds) based on biological principles (biofiltration, biological washing) and physico-chemical (adsorption, absorption, oxidation techniques, coupling, etc.). Improving trapping of pre-analysis organic pollutants is also carried out for industrial atmosphere survey and the efficiency control of treatment processes.
Wastewater : treatment and valorisation
Usual processes are not efficient for the treatment of refractory wastewater, whichis highly loaded, colored or contains metallic compounds. Therefore the research group proposes alternative ways for its treatment and recycling. Physico-chemical destruction solutions using namely (photo)oxydation of organic pollutants or adsorption of metallic compounds by biosorption are preferred for as their coupling with biological processes. Similarly, methods and procedures for wastewater diagnosis and recycling are also designed.
Biodiagnostic and metrology
Measurement, characterization, survey, or diagnostics are particularly essential for the environment and for industry. The aim of the group is the development of portable or on-line "field" measurement systems, for the quality control of liquid or solid media. The tools proposed (sensors, kits, analysers, etc.) give quantitative results (concentrations, aggregate parameters) and qualitative information (properties, alarm, etc.) from physico-chemical or biological detection. The validation of methods is studied as well as the traceability of results.
The center is particularly active in business creation and transfer: 3 companies have been created over the last 5 years, 2 under incubation, and numerous technology transfers in connection with the Alès Myriapolis and Nîmes technopoles.Current research topics:
Industrial and natural hazards assessment Crisis management for technological or natural accidents Odor and VOC physico-chemical treatment and detection Biological tretament of odors and VOC : microbiological ecology of biofilters Functionalization of adsorbants and biosorbants for gazeous and liquid effluents treatment Treatment of effluents containing metallic compounds (mines, industry, or contaminated sites) Advanced Oxidation Processes for highly loaded or colored industrial wastewater Development and validation of alternative methods for water quality monitoring Development of biodiagnostic systems for environmental and industrial applications
Head: Catherine GONZALEZ
Academic faculty members : 19 (incl. 9 HDR) Other : 16 Post Docs and research engineers : 7 Doctoral candidates : 20
Laboratory built in 1997 (3200 m2 with a 400 m2 pilot hall).
Equipment includes physico-chemical and biological analytical devices, treatment pilots, field instruments, etc.