Research conducted at the Department focuses on improving the safety and reliability of water supply and wastewater disposal systems. This includes assessing hydraulic conditions and water quality in distribution systems, as well as analysing flow and wastewater quality in sewer networks. Research activities are interdisciplinary in nature and combine experimental and field approaches with advanced numerical modelling.
Key areas of the Department's research include the development of tools and methods to support the control and monitoring of water quality in water supply networks. Modern diagnostic methods and computer models are being developed to analyse water quality changes occurring during its transport in pipe systems.
Another important research area is the analysis of hydraulic flow conditions in pressure pipes. The use of computer tools enables the modelling of flow and pressure changes in complex network structures, supporting the rational design and optimal operation of water supply systems.
The Department also conducts research aimed at improving the operation of water supply and sewage networks, with particular emphasis on failure analysis. Pipe damage mechanisms and their interaction with the surrounding ground are assessed, which helps reduce the risk of failure and their environmental impact.
An important area of research activity is the hydraulics of porous media. Work includes assessing the moisture content of soil, ground, and building materials using invasive and non-invasive reflectometric techniques, conducted both in the laboratory and in the field, in real time. This research is supported by numerical modelling of water flow and contaminant transport in porous media in 2D and 3D systems using the finite element method.
This work is complemented by research on the analysis and classification of environmental parameters, conducted using modern sensory tools such as the electronic nose and electronic eye. These methods enable rapid and objective assessment of the properties of soil, ground, gas mixtures, sediments, as well as water and wastewater.
The unit's scientific activities focus on modern energy technologies and issues related to sustainable development. The scope of research encompasses both fundamental and applied research, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy sources.
A significant area of research activity is the fabrication and characterization of thin-film CIGS and CdTe photovoltaic cells, as well as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Thin-film cells are fabricated using magnetron sputtering techniques, employing a variety of semiconductor and metallic materials, such as aluminium, ZnO, CdS, silicon, copper, CIGS, CdTe, and molybdenum. Process parameters are precisely adjusted by controlling the temperature, pressure, and magnetron power, allowing for the optimization of the properties of the resulting structures.
Dye-sensitized solar cell research focuses on the selection and modification of sensitizing substances and the development of photoelectrodes with reduced internal resistance, which translates into improved cell performance. In parallel, work is being conducted on monitoring photovoltaic installations, including analyzing their performance depending on external conditions. This research is based on actual operational data obtained from investors.
Computer simulations and numerical calculations performed using specialized software such as PVSyst, DDS CAD, and Matlab are an important element of this work. They allow for the analysis and forecasting of photovoltaic system performance and the assessment of the effectiveness of proposed technological solutions.
The unit also conducts research on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of renewable technologies, including photovoltaic systems and solar hot water installations. This work addresses the multidimensional nature of sustainable development, taking into account environmental, technological, and social aspects.
Research and teaching activities are also carried out through international collaborations. The scientific journal Problemy Ekorozwoju / Problems of Sustainable Development is published in collaboration with the European Academy of Science and Arts. Moreover, the unit participates in the international network The Baltic University, within which teaching activities are conducted and students are enabled to participate in international student conferences organised in European countries associated with this network.
Research conducted at the department focuses on indoor air quality and creating an optimal microclimate in buildings. This includes the analysis of physical, chemical, and biological pollutants, as well as the assessment of thermal comfort parameters such as air temperature and humidity.
The scope of work includes both the measurement of pollutant concentrations and the development and evaluation of methods for improving air quality. This area includes research on the effectiveness of air purification devices, assessment of the properties of photocatalytic materials in the context of pollutant degradation, and analysis of the performance of modern, energy-efficient ventilation and heating systems. The research is both fundamental and applied, including projects commissioned by manufacturers and industrial partners.
Taking into account the specific construction conditions in Poland, where gravity heating and ventilation systems predominate, work is underway on innovative heating solutions integrated with the elimination of biological pollutants. These solutions are developed in collaboration with local companies, with a view to their practical application in existing facilities.
Another important area of research activity is the rationalization of thermal energy consumption in new and modernized buildings, as well as in transmission systems and installations using renewable energy sources. This work is carried out in collaboration with the social and business community and is aimed at developing easy-to-implement solutions characterized by high energy efficiency and a short payback period.
This research includes the development of a method for predictive control of energy supply for heating, specifically for existing buildings. Simultaneously, work is being carried out on optimizing the operating parameters of innovative surface heating and cooling systems, convector heaters, and heat recovery units, with a focus on minimizing energy consumption.
The Department's staff conducts advanced research on the intensification of biomethane production from organic waste and biomass from energy crops. Research focuses on increasing the efficiency of methane fermentation processes and improving the energy balance of the raw materials used.
The scope of research includes modern methods of process intensification, including the use of hydrodynamic cavitation as a pretreatment stage for difficult-to-biodegradable biomass, bioaugmentation, two- and multi-component co-fermentation, and solutions based on combined methods. Simultaneously, research is being conducted on increasing the energy efficiency of plant biomass grown on reclaimed land and on environmentally beneficial methods of digestate waste management.
The Department's teaching activities are carried out in the fields of environmental engineering and renewable energy engineering. The teaching offer includes, among others, Subjects such as Biofuel Technology, Biological Waste Treatment Methods, Energy Efficiency Technologies, Energy Crops, Sewage Sludge Treatment, and Thermal Waste Treatment Methods provide students with a solid theoretical and practical background in environmental and energy technologies.
The Department has two modern research and teaching laboratories and a growth chamber, where both the staff's own research and students' experimental theses are conducted. The Anaerobic Process Engineering Laboratory and the Biomass and Waste Pretreatment Laboratory conduct research on methane fermentation in batch and flow systems, using 2 dm³ and 40 dm³ bioreactors, as well as hydrodynamic cavitation studies of media with low dry matter content. The growth chamber is used to study plant growth on test substrates under controlled temperature and lighting conditions.
The Department of Environmental Protection Engineering's staff conducts research in the areas of water treatment, wastewater treatment, and the degradation of organic pollutants in various environmental components. A special focus of their work is the removal and transformation of pharmaceutical residues present in wastewater and the natural environment.
Another important research area is the removal of phosphorus from wastewater, with particular emphasis on its recovery and reuse, which aligns with the principles of a circular economy. Simultaneously, research is being conducted on the dispersion of pollutants in outdoor air and the assessment of their environmental impact.
The department's scientific achievements have been recognized both nationally and internationally. The department's staff have been honoured with the title of "Leader of Polish Ecology," and the department twice—in 2014 and 2017—received the prestigious "Green Laurel" award in a competition organized by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Sustainable Development.
The department's research facilities include a modern laboratory for advanced oxidation techniques, equipped with equipment enabling research using ozonation, hydrodynamic cavitation, and other free radical generation methods. Additionally, the department houses a laboratory for determining total pollutant parameters, including various forms of nitrogen and carbon, analysed in both liquid and solid matrices.
From its establishment, initially as the Department of Water and Wastewater Technology and later transformed into the Institute of Environmental Protection Engineering, until 2020, its director was Lucjan Pawłowski, a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The professor has been honoured by, among others, the American Chemical Society for his contributions to the development of chemical methods in wastewater recirculation and the Chinese Academy of Sciences for his contribution to international research on the neutralization of environmental pollutants.
The Laboratory of Environmental Analysis performs specialized chemical analyses for departments and departments at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, as well as for external entities. The laboratory's activities include both routine tests and custom analyses tailored to the individual needs of scientific and industrial clients.
The laboratory specializes in the analysis of air, soil, and water pollutants, including the determination of organic and inorganic compounds present in various environmental matrices. The scope of tests performed includes, among others, analysis of biogas, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other volatile and semi-volatile chemical compounds.
The laboratory's instrumentation includes modern analytical systems, including gas chromatographs equipped with FID, TCD, and MS detectors, used for precise analysis of the composition of gases and organic compounds. The laboratory also has an advanced ICP-MS/MS system for multielement analyses, enabling the determination of trace amounts of elements in environmental samples. Samples can be microwave digested and also introduced into the apparatus via HPLC or GC, allowing for, among other things, the speciation of selected elements and organometallic compounds.
Essential equipment includes total and organic carbon analysers, which enable the determination of all forms of carbon and water content in solid materials, as well as TOC and total nitrogen analysers in water and suspensions. Standard laboratory equipment, such as an HPLC liquid chromatograph, spectrophotometers, pH and electrical conductivity meters, and a Kjeldahl nitrogen analyser, complements the equipment.
Project co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund, Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development 2014–2020: “PL2022 – Integrated Development Program of Lublin University of Technology” POWR.03.05.00-00-Z036/17