In order to improve the ecological situation at the regional and national levels, researchers and students need access to modern equipment capable of conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis of pollutants, simulating purification processes, selecting reagents for the neutralization of emissions or discharges, and more.

At the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (NTU “KhPI”), ecological research has been carried out for almost half a century, with the execution of state budget, contractual, and grant projects related to solving environmental problems. For nearly 30 years, one of the University’s priorities has been ecological education and the training of students. Currently, students are being prepared in the fields of Ecology (specialty 101) and Environmental Protection Technology (specialty 183), and various non-ecological specialties also include disciplines with an ecological focus.

Throughout its history, the structure of NTU “KhPI” has evolved, leading to various departments possessing equipment for conducting diverse ecological research. However, access to such laboratories is limited, and information about the availability and possibility of research using specific equipment is not readily accessible. Nonetheless, each department dealing with ecological tasks has unique equipment that can be utilized not only in the educational process for students from other departments but also for conducting interdisciplinary research.

Therefore, as part of the ecological research school, which was formally established in 2010 under the leadership of D.Tech. Prof. Shaporev V. P. at the Department of Chemical Technology and Industrial Ecology, with the aim of strengthening interdepartmental cooperation between academic and research staff, students, and postgraduates, the Center for Ecological Research of NTU “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (NTU “KhPI”) was established in 2017. The establishment of the center was approved during the meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council of NTU “KhPI” (Minutes No. 1, dated February 10, 2017).

The main goal of this center was to consolidate the laboratory resources of various departments specializing in ecological research, bringing together highly qualified personnel and extensive experience in addressing ecological scientific problems and applied tasks. The center currently includes four departments from three educational and research institutes:

• Department of Chemical Technology and Industrial Ecology, Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Transport.
• Department of Labor Safety and Environmental Protection, Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Transport.
• Department of Automation of Technological Systems and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Computer Modeling, Applied Physics, and Mathematics.
• Department of Inorganic Substances Technology, Catalysis, and Ecology, Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering.

The creation of the Center for Ecological Research at NTU “KhPI” serves the following objectives:

• Enhancing the quality of ecological research through providing access to laboratory equipment and methodological support for students and staff.
• Increasing the number of ecological scientific research projects.
• Encouraging interdisciplinary, interdepartmental, and inter-institute ecological research.
• Involving school students in laboratory work.
• Providing educational and ecological upbringing opportunities for students of various specialties using the center’s equipment.

Each department’s unique laboratory base allows for the resolution of complex ecological scientific tasks and problems.

At the Department of Chemical Technology and Industrial Ecology, the following laboratories exist (http://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/htpe/naukova-robota/laboratorna-baza/):

1 Laboratory of Heterogeneous Systems for conducting experiments on wastewater treatment using filtering and settling centrifuges.

2 Laboratory of Heat and Mass Transfer, Absorption, and Gas Cleaning for researching the characteristics of absorption equipment used in gas purification.

3 A separate laboratory is located on the territory of the Scientific and Technological Center “Ekomash.”

The laboratory facilities of the Department of Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection (http://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/safetyofliving/uk/virtualna-kafedra/) are dedicated to determining the environmental safety of the working environment and assessing ecological risks to human health. The laboratory is equipped to analyze hazardous factors such as noise, airborne dust, air pollution by hazardous substances, and it also includes experimental stands for assessing anthropogenic and technogenic hazards to the environment and human life.

The laboratory base of the Department of Automation of Technological Systems and Environmental Monitoring (http://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/acem/uk/studentam/uchbova-baza-2/) possesses unique equipment for environmental quality monitoring

The laboratory provides training for students in modern ecological control and environmental monitoring tools and operating state-of-the-art ecological equipment. It is equipped with chemiluminescent, optical-absorption, and other sensors and devices from leading global companies such as Testo-350M/XL, Drager MSI-150 Compact, Drager MiniWarm, Bosh 3-250, Merck, MultiLine, and OxyTop.

The laboratory base of the Department of Inorganic Substances Technology, Catalysis, and Ecology (https://web.kpi.kharkov.ua/xtnv/?page_id=696&lang=uk) is dedicated to researching catalytic processes, including those related to environmental protection, eco-friendly chemical technologies, and studies in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials.

At the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (NTU “KhPI”), the Scientific and Technological Center (NTC) was established in 2001. Within the framework of enhancing environmental safety, scientific research is conducted to improve the efficiency of waste disposal and recycling of polymer waste. The center also develops and implements ecological technologies for using elastomeric regenerates of butyl rubber and pyrolysis waste from automotive tires in the production of polymer and rubber-technical compounds and products that create significant technological stress on the environment. The total volume of work carried out from 2020 to 2023 exceeds 10 million UAH. The center employs 3 full-time specialists and 12 part-time employees.

Several projects carried out by NTU “KhPI” have been honored with national awards, including recognition for addressing issues related to enhancing environmental sustainability:

1 For the development of theoretical foundations of technology and equipment for the production of calcined soda and the establishment of the industrial complex of the Crimean Soda Plant.

2 “Effective use of oxidized coal in the production of blast furnace coke.”

Detailed descriptions and information about these projects can be found at the following links:

– http://science.kpi.kharkov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Derzhavni-premii-NTU-KHPI-1992-2019.pdf

– http://science.kpi.kharkov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Premii-Prezidenta-molodim-uchenim.pdf