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LABORATORIES AND FACILITIES

Training Courses on Safety for Equivalent Workers

Training Courses on Safety for Equivalent Workers
Safety Training for all students of the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Resource Sciences to undertake laboratory activities, geological field campaigns, educational exercises, research, and internships.
(Note: For the activation of internal internships, please pay attention to the additional provisions available at the following link.)

All university students (undergraduates, doctoral candidates, specialists, interns, scholarship holders, research fellows, and equivalent individuals) who attend educational, research, or service laboratories and are exposed to risks identified in the risk assessment document are considered equivalent to workers. As such, they are subject to preventive and protective measures to safeguard their health and safety.

It is clarified that laboratories are considered as locations or environments where educational, research, or service activities are carried out, involving the use of machinery, equipment, plants, prototypes, or other technical tools, as well as chemical, physical, or biological agents. Additionally, locations or environments outside the constructed areas of the premises—such as archaeological, geological, or marine field campaigns—are also regarded as laboratories.

Before commencing activities involving exposure to risks, every university student (so-called "equivalent worker") is required to:

  1. Undergo a health surveillance examination.
  2. Complete the online course "Basic Training on Workplace Health and Safety" (4 hours).
  3. Attend a specific risk training course.

The Health Surveillance Examination will be requested by the tutor/professor/supervisor overseeing the laboratory activity and at the time of assigning the experimental thesis work. Notifications regarding the health surveillance examination schedule are published on the Course of Study's dedicated webpage.

The online course "Basic Training on Workplace Health and Safety" requires a 4-hour commitment (as specified in letter a) of paragraph 1 of Article 37 of Legislative Decree No. 81/08 and the State-Regions Agreement of 21/12/2011). A participation certificate is issued upon passing the final verification test.

The course is available at the following link on the Federica.eu platform:
https://www.federica.eu/partners/formazione-unina/

Access requires the use of active UNINA credentials (name.surname@studenti.unina.it).

To access the course, it is necessary to enter the access code of your department, which can be found by clicking here: https://www.unina.it/documents/11958/21142433/FORM_elenco.codici.accesso.pdf

User support and guidelines for proper course participation can be found at the following link:
https://www.unina.it/documents/11958/21142433/FORM_indicazioni.corsi.pdf

Laboratories and facilities

Laboratories and facilities

Clean Room

Responsible: Prof. Massimo D’Antonio
Co-Responsible: Dr. Valeria Di Renzo
Room: L1 - 4 47-48
Tel. +39 081679281 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES

The Clean Room is a laboratory where samples of rock, soil, etc. are prepared to isolate a chemical element to be analyzed for its isotopic composition.

Isotopic analysis is an investigation tool with many applications, e.g. in Geosciences (Geochemistry, Petrology, Volcanology, Sedimentary Geology, etc.) as well as in sectors close to them (Environmental Geochemistry, Paleoclimatology, Archaeometry, Forensic Sciences, etc.). The isotopic composition of some chemical elements (Sr, Nd, Pb, O, H, Li, B, etc.) allows us:

- determining the absolute age of a rock;

- understanding if a magmatic rock formed in the Earth mantle or crust;

- reconstructing the length and intensity of past climatic events (glaciations and interglacials);

- establishing the nature of pollutant agents in the environment (air, soil, water);

- hypothesizing the type of diet of fossil animals, including Man;

- establishing the provenance of raw materials used for archeological pottery.

DESCRIPTION OF LABORATORY

The Clean Room is a special laboratory (Fig. 1), equipped with a system (Air Treatment Unit) that ensures a low particulate atmosphere, by means of the so-called absolute filters (HEPA filters). Other special precautions, such as Teflon vials and bottles, Suprapur and/or Ultrapur grade reagents and distilled water, and laminar flow hoods also equipped with HEPA filters allow minimizing the contamination of samples, in which the content of elements to be analyzed are at trace or ultra-trace levels.

The element to be analyzed for its isotopic composition must be isolated from the sample matrix. In order to achieve that, liquid-phase chromatographic separation techniques on columns are used (Fig. 2). The acid solution containing the chemical element is then left drying on a hot plate placed within a laminar flow hood (Fig. 3). Once separated, the compound (salt) containing the chemical element is placed in the mass spectrometer for determination of its isotopic composition.

camerabianca1

Fig. 1 – The ISO 6-ISO 5 class Clean Room of DiSTAR. In the center, a laminar flow hood equipped with HEPA filters (higher part) is visible.

 
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Fig. 2 – One important phase of sample preparation: the separation of an element in acid solution through column chromatography techniques. Suprapur grade hydrochloric acid is being pipetted in a column.

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Fig. 3 – Drying on hot plate of acid solutions containing the element to be analyzed, in Teflon vials. The hot plate is placed within a laminar flow hood.

 
Laboratories and facilities

Applied Geophysics 1 

Responsible: Prof. Rosa Di Maio
Co-responsible: Dr. Mauro La Manna
Location: Building 10 - L3 3.07
Phone: +39 081 679282
 Tel. +39 0812538377 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Description of activities

The Laboratory of Applied Geophysics 1 is equipped with instruments for the characterization of the physical properties of soils and rocks through the determination of electrical, elastic and thermal parameters, as well as of their variations related to changes in different physical-structural properties, such as porosity, fracturing, degree of saturation, humidity, etc.

In particular, soil, rock and building material samples are characterized by the estimation of the following physical parameters: electrical resistivity, chargeability, spontaneous polarization, elastic waves velocity, temperature. Measurements of the electrical and elastic parameters are generally performed by varying the water content, to obtain characteristic curves of the examined parameters as a function of the degree of saturation or the species and percentage of contaminants of the saturation fluid.

Micro-geophysics measurements on specimens simulating masonry materials are generally carried out by means of 2D or 3D investigations, for detecting changes in resistivity, spontaneous potential and seismic wave velocity, and by means of thermal infrared thermography measurements, for detecting temperature variations of the investigated specimen surface. The definition of these variations allows to characterize, through appropriate modeling of the acquired data, the endogenous causes of material degradation (i.e. porosity, cracking, delamination, humidity, etc.) in terms of depth, geometry and nature of the anomaly sources.

Laboratory equipment and supplies:

  • STING R1 IP georesistivimeter (Advanced Geosciences, Inc.)
  • KEITHLEY 2700 Multimeter / Switch System with 20 Channels Multiplexer module
  • HP 6920B voltage generator
  • HP 34401A high precision digital multimeter (1 mV) and resolution (0.0001%)
  • FLUKE 8840A high precision ammeter (1 mA) and resolution (0.005%)
  • CONTROLS E46 ultrasonic pulse generator
  • Ultrasonic transducers with central resonance frequency of 54 kHz and 150 kHz
  • HAMEG INSTRUMENTS HM 2005 analog oscilloscope
  • PICO ADC-200 high speed analog / digital converter
  • Precision balance
  • Heating and drying oven
  • Vacuum bell jar
  • Vacuum pump
  • Multielectrode geoelectric tomography system (with ECG electrodes) for microgeophysical measurements
  • Specimens simulating architectural structures with defects

 

Research and teaching

The developed laboratory tests are aimed at contributing to different research topics in the fields of geophysics and applied geology and, in particular, for: landslide studies and analysis of slope stability; aquifer characterization, through the definition of functional relationships between geophysical and hydrogeological parameters; study of soil and groundwater pollution phenomena, through the definition of functional relationships between geophysical parameters and nature and concentration of pollutant elements; identification of endogenous causes of degradation of architectural structures for engineering and/or Cultural Heritage purposes.

The laboratory is also used for practical exercises in the teaching of Applied Geophysics and Electromagnetic Methods of Geophysical Exploration, and in orientation activities for high school students, as well as experimental activities related to the development of Master’s Degree and PhD theses.

 geofappl1 depressurizzazione

Depressurization process of rock samples (a) and saturation by capillary rise (b).

geofappl1 resistivita

Equipment for electrical resistivity (a) and P-wave velocity (b) measurements. (c) Oven for samples drying during a measurement cycle.

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Laboratories and facilities

Laboratory of scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Responsible: Prof. Paola Petrosino

Co-Responsible: Dr. Roberto De Gennaro

Tel. +39 0812538327 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Laboratory of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at DiSTAR is equipped by two scanning electron microscopes: a  SEM Jeol  JSM5310 and  FESEM ZEISS Merlin VP. Both of them allow the acquisition of high resolution magnified images of both raw inorganic and suitably prepared organic samples. Images are routinely digitally acquired.

SEM   Jeol  JSM5310, available at the lab since 1998, supplies both 3D images through a secondary electron  detector (SE ) and topographic and compositional images through a backscattered electron  detector (BSE).  Moreover, it is equipped with an EDS  X-Stream Inca Oxford detector that supplies qualitative evaluation of chemical elements starting from fluorine.  It is also possible, thanks to a well performing reference standardization, to obtain single point analyses of polished samples (resin embedded or thin sections).

Recently acquired (2017) FESEM ZEISS Merlin VP has the very large vacuum chamber Gemini 2 that hosts samples up to 15 cm diameter and its main feature is to work both in high vacuum and in variable pressure. In as much, this SEM reaches 1 million magnification. It is equipped with an "inlens" detector of both secondary and backscattered electrons, a normal secondary electron detector and a variable pressure secondary electron detector. Furthermore, it is linked to an EDS  Oxford X-Max detector and to a WDS Wave Oxford spectometer equipped with 4 analytical crystals. The combined use of EDS and WDS analytical facilities allows the quantitative evaluation of the content of chemical elements starting from boron. Dedicated softwares allow the acquisition of compositional maps for the automated evaluation of the mineralogical composition in an unknown sample.

The best advantage in using FESEM is the possibility to obtain morphoscopic and chemical data from the surface of an "as is" sample, allowing non destructive and non invasive analyses that make this apparatus the most powerful tool for SEM investigation in cultural heritage and forensic geology fields.

For SEM sample preparation, the laboratory is equipped with a gold sputter (Agar Auto Sputter Coater)  and a carbon coater (Agar Auto Carbon Coater).

The SEM lab is used for didactics, scientific research and analyses on behave of third parties. Main users are from University Federico II, other universities, CNR and other research institutions dealing with Earth Science, Physics, Chemistry, Agriculture  and Cultural Heritage. 

Our laboratory is accredited under INAIL  - Istituto Superiore di Sanità for SEM analysis of asbestos, both on total samples and on airborne fibers.

Figure 1. Field Emission Scannin Electron Microscope (SEM) Merlin VP.

Figure 2: Backscattered image of a mica crystal from a thin section of a rock (a) with the EDS spectrum (b).

Figure 3: SE image of an airborne asbesto (crocidolite) on a policarbonate filter at 2000x magnification, as the DM 6.9.1994 requires(a), and at 7500x magnification (b).

sem fig2Figura 2. Immagine in backscattering di una sezione sottile di roccia contenente un cristallo di mica (a) con in relativo spettro EDS (b).

sem fig3Figura 3. Osservazione in SE di fibre di tipo asbestiforme (crocidolite) su filtri in policarbonato a 2000x, scala dell’analisi prevista dal Decreto Ministeriale 6.9.1994 e smi (a), e a 7500x (b).

sem copertinaFigura 1. Microscopio elettronico a scansione (SEM) di tipo field emission Merlin VP.

Laboratories and facilities

Applied geology and geotechnics

Responsible: Prof. Pantaleone De Vita
Co-Responsible:  Prof- Vincenzo Allocca - Prof Giacomo Russo - Dott. Silvio Coda - Dott. Luigi Guerriero - Dott.ssa Rita Tufano - Dott.ssa Enza Vitale
Tel. +39 0812535069 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

The Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geotechnics of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resources Science (DiSTAR) is provided with a wide set of equipment for the characterization of physical, index, mechanical and hydraulic properties of soils (ASTM, UNI, etc. standards), both in the saturated and unsaturated domains, as well as for the measurement of properties of intact rocks and rock masses (RMR and Q-system classifications).

Starting from the first contribution by Prof. Giovanni Valentini in 1982, the equipment of the laboratory has been increased progressively in time due to investments carried out by researchers involved in applied-geological researches, belonging to the former Department of Earth Sciences (DST) and currently to DiSTAR. Since 2017, thanks to a funding provided by the CUGRI (University Centre for Great Risks), the laboratory has acquired important equipments consisting, among the most important, in: load test for rocks and concrete with a range up to 3000 kN, equipments for triaxial tests on soils and rocks and equipment for the measurement of saturated hydraulic conductivity in rock matrix.

The wide range of characterization tests support geological applied researches for which the reconstruction of an engineering geological or hydrogeological models is needed. Among these are included, for example, those regarding the study of landslide triggering and runout mechanisms, analysis of stability of slopes and cut-slopes, engineering geological problems related to the design of civil engineering works as well as the characterization of soils for the analysis of aquifer systems.

By the Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geotechnics of DiSTAR are also carried out consultancy activities related to all geotechnical and hydraulic tests possible by the available equipments, respecting standards requested by the current standards and technical regulations.

Equipment

For soils, the available equipment allows the measurement of fundamental index properties, included the grain size analysis and consistency limits, and of principal mechanical properties, such as: shear strength, by triaxial compression tests (Tx-CD, Tx-CU e Tx-UU) and direct shear test; compressibility, by oedometric test. For undisturbed soil samples, gathered by a specific sampler, the hydraulic properties of soils are measured: in the saturation domain, by a constant head permeameter that permits the estimation of hydraulic conductivity; in the unsaturated domain, by Pressure Extractor and Tempe Cells (Soil Moisture Inc.) that allow the reconstruction of the Soil Water Retention Curve up to 5 bar and 1 bar, respectively.

The uniaxial compression strength for rocks is estimated by a load machine with a range up to 3000 kN; the shear strength of rocks and rock joints of rock masses are estimated by means of triaxial cell for rocks and by the Hoek’s apparatus, respectively; the joint wall compression strength and roughness are estimated in the field by portable instruments, the Schmidt’s hammer and the Barton’s profilometer respectively.

Research and teaching activity

The activities carried out in the Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geotechnics are principally addressed to researches of PhD thesis and of others executed in the framework of funded national and international projects. Moreover, the laboratory is the reference place for practical activities carried out in the framework of Applied Geology, Hydrogeology, Geotechnical Laboratory and Soil and Rock Mechanics courses belonging to the BSc and MsC. It provide the students the possibility to gain practical skills regarding techniques for physical, mechanical and hydraulic characterizations of geological materials and to develop the experimental part of thesis degrees under the assistance of technical personnel. In addition, in the laboratory are also carried out activity for the education of students attending at high schools in the framework of Piano Lauree Scientifiche (PLS) and Alternanza Scuola Lavoro (ASL) programmes.

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Laboratories and facilities

Geomaterial characterization

Responsible: Dr. Abner Colella
Co-Responsible: Dr. Claudia DI Benedetto
Location: L2 T-03
Tel. +39 0812538195 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

The "Geomaterial characterization" laboratory is able to provide the complete physical-mechanical characterization of building stones. The laboratory performs tests according to national and international technical standards (NorMaL, UNI, UNI EN, ASTM, etc.).

Laboratory tests include:

  • Porosity and pore size distribution (macro-meso pores) by mercury intrusion;
  • Open porosity by means of helium intrusion;
  • Uniaxial compressive strength and flexural strength under concentrated load;
  • Abrasion resistance and rupture energy;
  • Water absorption with hydrostatic weighing;
  • Sound speed propagation (P-wave);
  • Expansion of rock specimens by total immersion in water (swelling test);
  • Resistance to ageing by salt mist;
  • Rockwell and Brinell hardness.

Laboratory equipment:

Mercury intrusion porosimeters THERMOFINNIGAN (Pascal 140/240/440 series)

Presses with MCC8 control unit to perform uniaxial compression and flexural tests CONTROLS C5600/50-C8232

Abrasion Tester CONTROLS 48-D0471

Multivolume helium pycnometer MICROMERETICS1305

Specific gravity frame MATEST V085

Portable unit for ultrasound investigation BOVIAR DSP UTD 1004

Prototype for swelling test LONOS TEST

Equipment for rupture energy LONOS TEST

Salt corrosion test chamber (500 l) F.lli GALLI CORROTEST

Hardness tester CISAM ERNST NR3 DSR

Explorer Pro EP613C Scale OHAUS

Scale ORMA TKW-30 +

Scale GIBERTINI Europe 1700

Hood ASALAIR 901

Fonocompact 2hp compressor (100C2MS series) TECNOARIA/CECCATO

Bench drill press VALEX TR13R

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picnoPicnometro
urtourto
porosimetri Porosimetro

 

 

 

 
 
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