Environmental Research Laboratory

Under the water quality monitoring sub-project impacts of different sub-projects on lake ecosystem are being assessed. EPCO has established a well equipped laboratory to provide analytical facilities for this purpose. The impact of various activities shall be assessed in detail with extensive study of the lake ecosystem to plan mitigative measures to be undertaken during the implementation and post implementation of various sub-projects.

Laboratory facilities - At a glance 

The Research and Development laboratory of Bhoj Wetland has all independent infrastructure with all required equipments, mobile laboratory and well qualified and experienced technical staff to conduct environmental studies and for monitoring the water quality. The facilities available in the laboratory are for the analysis of the following:-

• Physical , chemical , biological and bacteriological parameters of water, soil,sludge and sediment.
• Heavy metal contamination 
• All aspect of limnetic (Aquatic ) ecosystem. 
• Macrophytic vegetation 
• Soil , sludge and sediment analysis
• Pesticides, insecticide and herbicides 
• Lake ecosystem study 
• Ground water study 
• Air Quality and Stack Monitoring.

The laboratory is well furnished and equipped with the following state-of-art equipments for analytical works related to various environmental aspects. 

Atomic absorption spectrophotometer

This is a double beem instrument with flame and HGA 800 furnace automisation. The graphite furnace is helpful to detect the heavy metal contamination up to ppb level. The auto sampler provided with the equipment has the capacity of handling 80 samples at a time and is controlled through computer.   

Gas Chromatograph - Varian3800The equipment has four detector.

1. ECD for detection of Hallogenated Organic compounds such as Organo chlorine
   pesticides. The detection level is upto 50 fameto gram.
2. FID for detection of the organo phosphate pesticides having the sensitivity 
   of two pico gram.
3. TSD(NPD) is for nitrogenous and phosphorous organic compounds, having the sensitivity 
   of 100 fameto gram.
4. TCD is for gaseous and volatile Organic substances having sensitvity of 300 femeto gram.

The equipment has two devine of injectors front & middle. Front injector is for pack column and Middle injector is for capillary. Presently capillary colunm is DB-5, 0.25 mmID, 0.25? . This BPX50 column is used in most of the analysis. That is why this column is called universal column. Both the injector and all detectors are having Electronics flow controls. The auto sampler (varian 8200 Cx) is having capacity of 48 samples at a time . The equipment is controlled through computer having star chromatography work station package .

ION Chromatograph

Ion Chromatograph Dionex 500, made in USA is a sensitive equipment for the analysis of cation and anion upto ppb level. The equipment is having auto sampler device which can accommodate 72 sample at a time. The equipment has 3 columns i.e viz Ion Pac AS12A, Ion Pac CS12A, Ion Pac AS7 . Most of the ions required for the water quality analysis can be detected through this equipment. The equipment is operated through the computer package based on Windows 97.

Multiparameter Unit

It is an electronically controlled equipment and is very useful for immidiate results.The digital display of the unique providing results in after dissimal 2 digits. The equipment is of multi purpose use to analyse more than 200 parameters such as : DO, BOD, Chloride, Floride, Nitrate, Amonia, Conductivity, pH, Salinity etc. Besides this, the instrument could also be be used as Spectrophotometer. The equipment could be attached with the computer as well as with a printer directly for storing results.

Research Trinocular Microscope(Image analyzer system)

Trinocular Research Microscope is fully automatic and having micro photography attachment. It is also having the computer compatible Leica image analysis system which includes Leica image surver software, image pre processor for quantifying microscope images through Leica quin standard. The software provide operation and display, image anotation, image gallery, image processing, bionery image operations and measurements. Individual micro plants and animals can be measured.

UV-Vis spectrophotometer

Through absorption and colorimetrically more than 120 parameters could be analysed through this equipment.This equipment has scanning range of 190-900nm.

High speed Centrifuge

It is a refrigerated high speed (64000X G,30000 RPM) centrifuge.This is very useful for seperation of cell organell and molecular compounds for molecular analysis.

Weather Monitoring Station

Metos Data Microprocessor Controlled data logger with RS 232-C, CPU has extended tamperature range (-300C to 800C). This is having following highly sensitive sensors :

1. Temperature.
2. Relative humidity.
3. Rain Gauge.
4. Wind speed & Wind directions.
5. Radiation.
6. Evapotranspiration 
7. Leaf Wetness
8. Brightness

High Volume Sampler

Used for ambient air quality assessment , including respirable dust particle.    10.  Other EquipmentsThe laboratory has all the usual routine equipments for the processing and analysis of samples.

1. Mettler Microprecission Chemical Balance 
2. Flame photometer.
3. Spectrophotometer.
4. pH Meter.
5. Laminar Air Flow.
6. Bacterial Colony Counter.
7. BOD Incubators.
8. Bacteriological Incubators.
9. Hot Air Ovun.
10. De-Ionization unit.
11. Double Distillation unit.
12. Water Analysis Kit.
13. Soil Analysis Kit.
14. Impulse Detector (Noise meter)
15. Millipore water purifier system
16. Programmable diluter.
17. Rota Vapourator
18. Sieve shaker

Technical Manpower

Reserach and Development section of the Bhoj Wetland, EPCO is having experienced and trained technical staff to handle sophesticated equipment and conduct laboratory work. Under the administrative control of Project Officer, who is from Indian Administrative Services, Sr. Research Officers and Research Officers with a team of scientific staff is handling the laboratory work. The qualifications, experience and credential of individual research staff is briefly given below:

Dr. Sanjeev Sachdev

Dr. Sachdev is a trained environmental geo- scientist having more than 18 years experience in the field of environmental conservation and management studies and 3 years experience in disaster menagemnet studies. He has wide experience in preparing number of environmental appraisal reports and EIA/EMP of developmental projects and Environmental Status Report of Madhya Pradesh. He has completed 2 research project as Project Coordinator. He has worked as Project Coordinator on different National and Inter-national projects. He has conducted various training courses/workshops/ seminars of national level as Course/ Programme Director.

Dr. P K Nandi

Dr. Nandi have worked extensively on Air Pollution .Phytotoxicology and published more than 30 research papers in National and International journals.He has prepared at least 40 Environmental Appraisal Reports and 6 EIA/EMP of Development project.

Dr. R K Jain

Dr. Jain is Hydrologist and completed his research work on Ground Water Quality for Ph.D degree. Dr Jain has attended number of trainings at recognised institutions. He is associated with laboratory work for last 10 years and associated with number of research projects related to the environmental issues.

Dr. Avinash Bajpai

Dr. Bajpai is a Limino Chemist, he has chemistry back ground and completed his research work on lake chemistry for Ph.D Thesis. After completion of research work he is associated with number of lake study projects and acquired experience of more than 8 years in this field. He has acquired training on instrumentation for handling sophesticated laboratory equipments.

Dr. Arun Bajpai

Dr. Bajpai is basically Biologist and completed his research work on Biodiversity & Conservation / Ecology of lakes for his Ph.D degree. He is associated with research as well as laboratory work for the past 6 years. He has exposure and knowledge of biological aspect of aquatic ecosystem. Number of publications are in his credit in the field of lake ecology.

Dr. Subrata Pani

Dr. Pani has received his Ph.D degree in the field of limnology . He has been associated with number of research projects on aquatic ecosystem. He has published number of research papers and acquired training on Water Quality Management at Institute of Hydro biology, Prague,Czech Republic. Dr. Pani has exposure of different seminar, symposia.

Mrs. Binu Varghese

Mrs Varughese did her M.Sc in Microbiology and has 3 years of research experience in the field of aquatic microbiology.

Mrs.Sangeeta Dhote

Mrs. Dhote is Chemist and has completed Master Degree in Chemistry. She has exposure and experience in food, soil, water analysis as well as she has also acquired training to handle analytical instruments. Her all experience in the analytical field is worth to handle the laboratory work.

Mr.Amit Dubey

Mr. Dubey is a Limnologist and has completed Master Degree in Limnology from Barkatullah University. He has good exposure and experience in soil & water analysis and is capable of handling analytical instruments like flame photometer, multiparameter kit(WTW) U.V-Vis Spectrophotometer (DR4000), Orian Analyser etc.

Other supporting technical staff

Field Assistant and Laboratory Assistant are also trained for handling of laboratory equipments and collection of samples, and other field works. All these technical persons have good exposure in the field work and are confident to handle the job assigned to them.

The laboratory is equipped for Soil, Sludge and Sediment

Analysis of Physico-chemical, biological and bacteriological parameters of soil, sludge and sediment can be analysed in the laboratory.All necessary equipments and others facilities are available in the laboratory.

Water testing, lake ecosystem study

Analysis of sewage water and effluent can be tested in the laboratory. 

Air Monitoring

Analysis for the Air Quality Monitoring and industrial exhaust can be done in the laboratory. 

Bacteriological examination

All sort of contamination of water, soil and analysis of food material can be tested in the laboratory for which the laboratory is well equipped with the required facilities.

Terrestrial Wetland system
Laboratory is equipped for the study of Wetland and trestrial ecosystem. Different parameters to study the system can be analysed in the laboratory.

Ground Water Study

Facilities for ground water study are also available in the laboratory.

EIA/EMP/Risk assessment/Risk management and appraisal report

All type of the impact assessment studies can be conducted in the laboratory and reports based on the primary data can be also prepared 

On Going Works

Presently about 200 parameters are being studied for lakes conservation & Management Project (Bhoj Wetland Project). This includes study of upper & lower lake limnetic eco-system & impact of developmental activities in & around the lakes. Apart from this, the following other acctivities are also being conducted in the laboratory.

Consultancy Areas

EPCO has been consistently providing its service for generation of resources, based on available expertise in the Research and Development section (R & D section). The major concerned areas are 

• Environmental Appraisal of Industrial Projects 

• Environmental Impact Assessment of developmental projects. 

• Environmental Management Plans. 

• Environmental Audit. 

• Environmental Status report of other state. 

• Environmental Monitoring of projects of various sectors (Viz. Forestry, Industry, Rural development, Watershed Management, River action plans). 

Analysis facility

Physico-chemical, Bacteriological, Biological & Heavy Metal Testing for water, soil/sludge & other samples could be done on approved rates.