Research Abstracts

Biopiles are a common treatment worldwide for the ex-situ remediation of contaminated soil. Much research has been carried out on understanding and modelling microbial degradation, but hitherto no study has attempted to model the effect on a biopile of its ambient surroundings. This paper presents a

Municipal authorities in developing countries are facing immense challenges in managing both solid and liquid waste in a sustainable way. Recycling is not yet high on their agenda although they appreciate the potential of composting for waste volume reduction. This offers an entry point to introduce

The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the attainment of the highest possible level of human health. It formulates of guidelines, norms and standards, and issues technical supporting documents adapted to local challenges. WHO supports progress towards MDG 4: reduce childhood mortality through

In this case study, we investigate the applicability of rainwater harvesting as a sustainable water supply option in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, an area severely hit by the tsunami in 2004. Due to technical and geographical factors, the local residents spend approximately 16% of their incomes on the purc

The close proximity of two Guatemalan villages to the turquoise lagoons of Sepalau in Chisec, Alta Verapaz, made these lakes the communal washing site for over 200 families. As a result, the lagoons were contaminated with soap and bleach chemicals. Community members, with the help of a Guatemalan su

Scarcity and value of fresh water has increased use of desalination technologies and alternative water sources globally. This paper briefly discusses the areas that affect the costs and identifies the areas which are believed to have been mainly neglected so far and that require specific attention i

Bongo faces a serious problem with its underground water supply. This paper examined the factors accounting for the poor water situation in the Bongo District. Bongo is in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Data was collected from the Water and Sanitation Committees and District Water and Sanitation Te

A new solar thermal desalination system has been developed and tested in field conditions. The system has two components: a desalination tower with multiple stages and one or more solar collectors. Sea and ground water can be used to feed the desalination tower, which produces desalinated and decont

Nanoscale iron oxide particles were synthesized and deposited on porous alumina tubes to develop tubular ceramic adsorbers for the removal of arsenic, which is an extremely toxic contaminant even in very low concentrations. In addition, its natural presence affects rural and low-income populations i

Magnetic ion exchange (MIEX1) is an ion exchange resin developed as an additive to existing water treatment plants where additional organic matter is to be removed. The smaller size, magnetic properties and simple regeneration using NaCl distinguishes MIEX1 from conventional ion exchange resins and