Environmental Monitoring Laboratory. Part of the “NUK Environmental Laboratory” complex, established in 2010 and accredited for water quality assessment in 2013.

Main areas of focus:

• Determining the structure and typology of anthropogenic factors affecting the river basins of the Mykolaiv region; developing new methodological approaches to assessing the potential and degree of environmental risk posed by these factors; calculating the level of environmental safety of water bodies; assessing the condition of the region’s water bodies and atmospheric air; research on the degree of anthropogenic transformation and land use, river flow utilization, and water quality.

• Developing key strategies for addressing issues related to the protection of aquatic ecosystems, atmospheric air, and soil from pollution.

• Another area of scientific research involves studying the extent, patterns, and causes of anthropogenic transformation of the plant communities in the region’s protected areas, compiling a floristic inventory of the species and taxonomic richness of the plant communities in various ecosystems under study, and analyzing adventive species. The phytobiota is studied from various perspectives: systematic, geographical, biomorphological, and ecological.

Water Treatment and Water Purification Laboratory.

Part of the "NUK Ecological Laboratory" complex

The laboratory’s primary objective is to develop low-waste water treatment and purification technologies that ensure the rational use of water resources based on an assessment of the state of hydroecological systems within the Mykolaiv region’s watershed.

• Determination of the effectiveness of various coagulants derived from industrial waste or natural raw materials in the clarification, decolorization, and disinfection of model solutions and natural waters.

• Development of reagents and methods for water stabilization to ensure the rational use of water in industry and the energy sector.

• Determination of the parameters for ion-exchange water purification processes to remove heavy metal ions and for metal electroextraction processes from acidic regeneration solutions in the development of zero-waste technologies for the removal of heavy metals from water.

• Development of new methodological approaches to the removal of biogenic compounds from water.

• Determining the effectiveness of various microbiological agents in water treatment.

• Development and implementation of new low-waste technologies for water softening and desalination, as well as for the removal of heavy metal ions and biogenic compounds from water.

Laboratory for Ecological and Economic Research

Part of the "NUK Ecological Laboratory" complex

The main objective of the laboratory is to conduct ecological and economic research in the field of utilizing the natural resource potential of specific territories and analyzing the activities of economic entities in the context of rational nature management, resource conservation, energy efficiency, and the active implementation of environmental protection technologies to develop a set of effective measures aimed at the sustainable development of the Southern region of Ukraine.

Main areas of focus:

• an ecological and economic assessment of the region’s natural resource potential;

• A comprehensive assessment of the environmental condition and level of anthropogenic pressure in the territories of Mykolaiv Oblast in the context of developing sustainable development indicators;

• analysis of environmental risks and the quality of management decisions related to natural resource use, the adoption of resource-saving technologies, and waste recycling operations;

• research on the development of the region’s recreational potential, protected natural areas, the regional ecological network, and the development of ecotourism;

• technical and economic justification of environmental protection measures and an analysis of the effectiveness of their implementation;

• research into issues related to the tax regulation of environmental protection activities, and the main directions for improving economic methods of incentivizing environmental protection activities.

To support the teaching of the courses "Occupational Safety," "Industrial Safety," and "Occupational Safety in the Industry," the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection Technologies has two teaching and practical laboratories with a total area of 86 m²^², where laboratory and practical classes are held for students of various majors.

During laboratory-based training, students acquire practical skills in studying lighting in industrial facilities, measuring and assessing industrial noise, and examining the parameters of protective grounding and insulation resistance in electrical networks within industrial facilities. When studying occupational health and safety conditions in industrial settings, students conduct research on improving indoor air quality in industrial facilities using a training stand. They gain practical knowledge on providing first aid to victims and prepare Form H-1 reports on the investigation of industrial accidents. They solve practical problems aimed at ensuring sanitary and hygienic requirements in production facilities for various types of work.

The following equipment is used when conducting research in laboratories:

Exhaust systems, analytical filters forAZ-5 and FAN U4 particle and aerosol analyzers. Sound level meters – ISHV 1, GM1356 digital sound level meter, anemometer A880V, micromanometer, psychrometer MV-4M, lux meter, analytical balances, VIP-2 vibrometer, VITIM-01 training simulator, and laboratory stands that allow for the simulation of specific production scenarios.

The Department of Ecology and Environmental Technologies comprises two chemistry laboratories, where classes are held for students in various technical and natural science programs.

Every year, the first round of the All-Ukrainian Student Chemistry Olympiad is held in the chemistry laboratories for first- and second-year students at the National University of Kyiv. Every year, faculty members develop new and engaging problems that encourage students to pursue an advanced chemistry course. Since 2017, an annual All-Ukrainian scientific and practical conference for students, graduate students, and young researchers titled “Current Issues in Modern Chemistry” has been held. The main scientific areas of the conference include biochemistry, biogeochemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, environmental monitoring, the application of chemistry in industry, and modern methods of teaching chemistry. Proceedings of the conferences are published.

The chemistry laboratories serve as the educational infrastructure for teaching the following courses: chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, colloid chemistry, environmental monitoring, and biochemistry.

Equipment and reagents used for laboratory work: sets of laboratory glassware, including flasks of various volumes and shapes, storage jars with lids, test tubes, Petri dishes, pipettes, test tube racks, spoons, and laboratory stands with necessary accessories; biological microscopes; electronic pH meters; electronic balances; electrolytic baths; electrodes (hydrogen, copper, etc.); water baths; muffle furnace; porcelainware (crucible, mortar and pestle, evaporation dish); chemical reagents; instructions; task cards with necessary hints, handouts, visual aids.

Topics for laboratory work conducted in chemistry laboratories:

‑ in the academic discipline “Chemistry”: classes of inorganic compounds, determination of the molar mass of the magnesium equivalent, thermochemistry and elements of chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics. Equilibrium, electrolyte solutions, galvanic cells, electrolysis of salt solutions, metal corrosion;

‑ from the course “Organic, Physical, and Colloidal Chemistry”: solutions, electrolyte solutions, non-electrolyte solutions, OVR, galvanic cell, corrosion, corrosion protection, methods for purification and isolation of organic compounds, saturated hydrocarbons – alkanes, unsaturated hydrocarbons – alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, simple ethers, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids;

‑ from the course “Biochemistry”: laboratory techniques. Properties of organic substances, properties of solutions. Buffer solutions, dispersed systems. Properties of colloidal solutions, properties of carbohydrates, carbohydrate metabolism, properties of lipids, metabolism and identification of lipid breakdown products, properties of proteins, enzymatic hydrolysis and metabolism of proteins, general properties of enzymes, qualitative determination of vitamins, properties of hormones, elements of bioenergetics, determination of the body’s energy balance by indirect calorimetry, biochemistry of muscles and muscle contraction;

‑ in the course Environmental Monitoring: physical, chemical, and physicochemical methods of environmental research; methods for assessing pollution and sampling techniques; determination of water alkalinity and hardness; biological and biochemical methods of environmental monitoring. Lichen indication, technologies for sampling and preparing water samples for analysis. Determination of the organoleptic properties of water, biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution based on the reaction of indicator plant pollen, features of biotic monitoring. Ecological and hygienic monitoring, socio-ecological monitoring. Features of public environmental monitoring.