Laboratory of Tracers - LT

Summary

The Laboratory of Tracers (LT), established since 1972, is pioneer in Brazil in the use of fluorescent dyes as inactive tracers, an alternative to artificial radioactive tracers. Besides researches and studies on Surface Water Hydrology, the Laboratory of Tracers was one of the first of COPPE/UFRJ laboratories to approach experimentally Environment related problems.

In partnership with the University of Texas (Austin), LT developed methodologies to use fluorescent tracers associated to inert gaseous tracers aiming to study surface water aeration process.

LT uses techniques employing fluorescent tracers in studies aiming to evaluate the dispersion of domestic and industrial effluents that are discharged in receiver bodies (rivers, lakes, and coastal waters) with the support of the Institut für Hydrologie–GSF (Munich).

                                         
                    Samples of fluorescent tracers                                                     Tracer injection

Regarding sewage submarine outfalls, LT has worked in partnership with the research line on Coastal Engineering to measure “in situ” dispersion plumes of the fluorescent tracer continuously injected in the outfall pipe.

Dispersion plumes measured at the field are used to calibrate computational model simulations particularly SisBAHIA® model (http://www.sisbahia.coppe.ufrj.br/).  Several articles were published in partnership wit the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta).
                                            
                                                                                  
                                                                       Tracer plume at the sea

                         
                                                             Boat for fluorescent tracer monitoring at the sea 

Frequently LT interacts with other research lines from the Civil Engineering Program and the Ocean Engineering Program aiming at modeling water quality and collaborates with the Laboratory of Pollution Control of the Chemical Engineering Program at COPPE/UFRJ in inactive tracer use in biological reactor activities.

Current LT activities are concentrated on fluorescent tracer applications on surface hydrology and the study of problems related to water pollution.
Typical applications are:

• Determination of pollutant dispersion coefficient on rivers and lakes
• Evaluation of submarine outfall pipe efficiency on rivers and coastal waters
• Natural reareation capability characterization on rivers and channels
• Measure of hydrodynamic parameters on sewage treatment plants
• Turbinated flow measure on medium and large hydroelectric power plants
• Meteo-oceanographic parameter monitoring (in general as a support to fluorescent tracer activities)


                                                              
                                                                        Meteorological Station Assembly

Special attention is given to laboratory determination of aqueous sample fluorescence through “Synchronous Scan Method”.

In recent years, LT has developed projects and constructed field equipments that are not encountered in the market but are fundamental to improve the use of fluorescent tracers.

The Laboratory of Tracers is one of the newest members of the Ecosystem Maintenance and Recovery and Impact Area Remediation Network.

Infrastructure

Currently, the Laboratory of Tracers occupies a 300 m²area at the back of UFRJ Technological Center, Block I.

LT owns the following laboratory and field equipment:

Faculty

Researchers:

João Sérgio Fajardo Roldão, M.Sc. - COPPE/UFRJ (head of the department)
José Otavio Goulart Pecly, D.Sc. - COPPE/UFRJ

Technicians and administrative staff

Amauri Cavalcanti de Lima
Renato Burgo Lopes 
Henrique Costa de Mattos