Waste Samples Research Articles

Self-assembly of ZnO-Biochar/Kaolinite/Chitosan/GO with 1D/2D/3D heterojunctions for enhanced removal of estrogens and triclosan in water

This Study focuses on the preparation of sustainable and efficient Chitosan catalyst for the removal of three organic pollutants, 17β-Estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2) and triclosan (TCS) from water. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by different techniques which confirmed the presence of the key components Chitosan, Carica Papaya seed and Kaolinite. The optical characterization proved the nanocomposite is photoactive with a band gap of 1.81 eV and 1.77 eV for Chitosan/kaolinite biochar (CS/KBC) and Chitosan/kaolinite biochar/GO (CS/KBC/GO) respectively, confirming the ability of the nanocomposite to be active in the visible light region of the spectrum. The degradation experiment using CS/KBC/GO was observed better with 100% removal for 5 mg/L E2 and EE2 over 60 min and 97.8% over 120 min for 10 mg/L TCS at optimum conditions (pH 3 for E2, and EE2 and pH 7). It was observed that the superoxide radical played a major role in the degradation of the contaminants. Furthermore, the CS/KBC/GO was efficient over four cycles without any decrease in performance, which rules out the question of catalyst deactivation proving the sustainability of the catalyst. The toxicity test shows that the water is safe as it does not harm cerio daphnia silvestrii organism.; CS/KBC/GO efficiently removed the micropollutants from real-life waste samples and the performance was very good with a slight decrease in performance for the wastewater due to the complex matrix of the water sample that competes for the active site.

Characterization of the Liquid Fuel Produced from Catalytic Depolymerization of Polymeric Waste Using Batch Reactor

The high rate of generation of plastic waste in the country and the fact that all other means of Municipal Plastic Waste (MPW) management techniques had failed leading to the requirement of efficient and alternative disposal technique-depolymerization. The technique involves heating the polymeric waste at an elevated temperature in an inert environment to produce condensable, non-condensable, hydrocarbon and biochar. The plastic waste was collected at the Ilokun dumpsite in Ado-Ekiti, southwest Nigeria. Each component of the waste samples was depolymerized in a batch reactor without the use of a catalyst and with the addition of 10 g of activated carbon (AC) and calcium oxide (CaO) as catalysts. The liquid fuels which were produced between the temperature range of 219 and 232 were blended with standard fuel. Fuel samples with conventional diesel and depolymerized plastic diesel were characterized based on ASTM standards. The results of the proximate and ultimate analysis indicated that percentage moisture content ranges from 0.00-0.18%, volatile matter ranges between 96.66-99.75% and percentage ash content ranges from 0.13-3.03%. Fixed carbon ranges from 0.004-0.31% while the Gross Heating Value (GHV) ranges from 42.66-45.87 MJ/kg. The CHONS analyzer indicated the percentage of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur content range 81.64-85.51%, 12-31-18.04%, 0.00-1.51%, 0.00-0.73%, and 0.10- 0.97% respectively. The results of the physiochemical properties of the samples show that the density, API gravity, Kinematic viscosity and Flash point vary from 0.76-0.83 (g/cm3), 38.98-54.68, 17-2.80 (cm2/s) and 50.0-70.0 (°C) respectively while Cloud point, Pour point, Fire point and Cetane index range from -20-15.0 (°C), -23-7 (°C), 61.0-79.0 (°C) and 38.50-47.0. The pH values of the liquid fuel samples vary from 6.60-3.30. The overall results of the characterization indicated the fuel samples have proximity to the properties of the conventional diesel following the ASTM D975, ASTM D4737, ASTM D1298, ASTM D445, ASTM D2709, and ASTM D482 standards. The depolymerized polymeric waste is sustainable, with a low cost of production. Hence a good substitute as an alternative fuel and means of wealth creation from waste.

The Recycling Use of Concrete Waste as Aggregate to Produce Different Types of Concrete

The present study depends on two types of concrete: the first and second samples belong to Portland cement with a high strength of 52.5 R, and ordinary Portland cement with a normal strength of 42.5 N, respectively. The physical tests for these two samples according to Iraqi Standard Specification No. 5 of 2019 were conducted. Whereas the third and fourth samples of concrete waste were taken from Mosul City and Al-Anbar Governorate. The concrete waste samples were broken into different-size particles as a fine and coarse aggregate using a mechanical crusher (Los Angeles). According to the Iraqi Standard Specification No. 45 (1984, the Physical and chemical tests for both fine and coarse natural aggregate and recycled concrete waste were conducted. The physical and mechanical results of the recycled aggregate testing samples were found to be within the limits of specifications, in which a reference concrete was made from the standard cement samples with natural aggregate for comparison. The natural aggregate was replaced with 100% recycled aggregate, and its behavior was studied through mechanical properties tests, including compressive strength, flexural resistance, and direct tensile resistance within 7 and 28 days. The results show a decrease in the compressive, flexural, and direct tensile strength in the subjected samples compared to the reference specimens. The study concluded that a 100% replacement ratio of coarse and fine recycled aggregate can be used successfully with different types of cement to obtain a new type of concrete that can be used in several engineering fields. The mechanical properties of the new concrete depend mainly on the type, class and quality of the natural cement even on the properties of the recycled aggregate.

Stable Convergent Polyneuronal Innervation and Altered Synapse Elimination in Orbicularis oculi Muscles from Patients with Blepharospasm Responding Poorly to Recurrent Botulinum Type-A Neurotoxin Injections

Botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNT/A), which blocks quantal acetylcholine (ACh) release at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), has demonstrated its efficacy in the symptomatic treatment of blepharospasm. In 3.89% of patients treated for blepharospasm at Tenon Hospital, BoNT/A was no longer effective in relieving the patient’s symptoms, and a partial upper myectomy of the Orbicularis oculi muscle was performed. We used surgical waste samples from 14 patients treated with repeated injections of either abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®) or incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®). These muscle fragments were compared to others from 4 normal subjects, naïve of BoNT/A. The morphological study was performed blinded to the BoNT/A treatment and between treated and control samples. Neuromuscular specimens analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, using fluorescent staining and immune-labeling of presynaptic proteins, revealed that the pattern of innervation (e.g., polyneuronal and convergent innervation), the muscle nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs), and the NMJs exhibited marked differences in BoNT/A-treated muscles (regardless of the toxin clinically used), with respect to controls. BoNT/A-treated junctions exhibited profuse polyneuronal innervation in which 2–6 axons innervated 74.84% of single muscle fibers, while 99.47% of control junctions were mono-innervated. Another new finding was the stable convergent innervation, in which several motor axons end onto the same endplate. Morphological signs of synapse elimination included the presence of retraction bulbs in axons and nerve terminals and a reduced extension of postsynaptic nAChRs. These outcomes suggest that synapse elimination is altered and raise questions on the origin and factors contributing to the plasticity changes observed and the functioning of NMJs.

Construction of poly (styrene-divinylbenzene)@tris(4-aminophenyl)amine-p-phthalaldehyde-triethylenetetramine core-shell microspheres for the preparation of ion chromatography stationary phase

Core-shell composite microspheres are increasingly favored for the development of stationary phases due to their ability to integrate the monodispersity of inner core with the functional versatility of outer shell. In this study, poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)@(tris(4-aminophenyl)amine-p-phthalaldehyde-triethylenetetramine) (PS-DVB@TAPA-PPA-TETA) core-shell composite microspheres were constructed via an amine-aldehyde condensation reaction. The resultant microspheres were subsequently quaternized using the residual amine groups of TETA in the shell to create an effective anion-exchange stationary phase. The composite microspheres were characterized by SEM, FTIR, N2 adsorption-desorption experiment, et al. According to the results, the surface of PS-DVB microspheres was wholly covered by TAPA-PPA-TETA. The obtained PS-DVB@TAPA-PPA-TETA exhibited good reactivity, mechanical and chemical stability. The customized column exhibited good separation performance for seven conventional anions, five organic acids and three carbohydrates. The results demonstrate that PS-DVB@TAPA-PPA-TETA is a highly suitable material for the preparation of ion chromatographic stationary phase, exhibiting exceptional chemical stability and robust chromatographic performance in practical application. Finally, the customized column was successfully utilized for the determination of phosphate in waste acid sample.

GREEN SYNTHESIS OF TIO2 USING ALOE VERA FOR PHOTODEGRADATION IN SASIRANGAN WASTE

Green synthesis of TiO2 has been successfully carried out using aloe vera. Aloe vera extract was mixed with TiCl4 while heated to obtain TiO2 powder. The FTIR spectrum showed a peak at 487.67 cm-¹ corresponding to the Ti-O-Ti functional group, which indicates the formation of TiO2 particles. The XRD results showed that the TiO2 crystals were in the anatase phase. SEM images show that the particles tend to be spherical in shape as in the anatase phase. With the Scherer equation, the size of the TiO2 crystal yielded was around 2.3 nm in diameter. The UV-vis spectrophotometer results showed the blue shift of absorption peak at 368 nm or band gap energy of 3.37 eV. A thin layer of TiO2 was made by using the slip casting method. These thin films were applied to methylene blue and sasirangan waste samples for photodegradation tests. The exposure times used were 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes. The results showed photodegradation of 38.9 % and 4.5 %, respectively, for methylene blue and sasirangan waste.

Gravimetric Characterization of Solid Waste in the Dump of the Municipality of Coari - Amazonas, Brazil

Objective: To estimate the gravimetric characterization of solid waste in the waste dump in the municipality of Coari, located in the state of Amazonas, in the region of the Middle Solimões, Brazil, and to evaluate the implications for sustainable management and management. Theoretical Reference: The main public policy bases related to solid waste treatment, from generation to final destination, were contextualized, as well as the scenarios regarding gravimetric composition, as well as the references to support a resolving horizon for materials of a recyclable nature. Method: This study addresses quantitative and qualitative analysis of the collected samples of solid waste destined to the landfill of the municipality of Coari - Amazonas, in accordance with the steps required by NBR 10.007/2004 and tabulation in Microsoft Excel. Results and conclusion: The results indicate that the majority is composed of organic material, followed by plastics and paper/cardboard, among other smaller fractions: glass, metals, wood, pointing to the need for the implementation of urgent recycling and composting practices, even if the municipality does not have an environmentally adequate destination. Implications of the research: In Brazil, even with the public policies already implanted, the great majority of the municipalities have not yet propitiated the extinction of their garbage dumps or have some irregular form as to the final destination of their solid residues. The gravimetric composition is one of the important tools for analyzing the composition of materials taken to the final destination, which is absent in many municipalities. Originality/value: Knowledge of the composition of the fractions of the solid waste generated is fundamental for guiding strategic actions and planning related to management and management, aligned with public policies that direct the practices of utilization from the generating source to the final destination, in order to avoid expansion or mitigate environmental impacts.

Exploring newly isolated thermotolerant, halotolerant and antimicrobial resistant Bacillus subtilis ProNTL1 from tannery waste and its alkaline protease production.

A hydrolytic enzyme called protease from microbial sources has expansive applications in leather as well as tannery industries and thus leaves no choice but to discover a potential candidate for efficient yield of protease with eccentric characteristics. In the current study, using skim milk agar medium, three bacterial strains (Pro SS14, Pro NTL1, Pro SM) were identified for protease production out of thirty tannery waste samples. The bacterial isolates were identified through morphological, biochemical and molecular basis and the highest protease producer (134U/mL) having the paramount protein content (8.75%) with the greatest biomass (absorbance 1.7 at 600nm) was further bioinformatically identified as Bacillus subtilis Pro NTL1. Moreover, the cultural conditions-pH, temperature, incubation period and salinity were tested to get the optimized condition for the three isolates where Bacillus subtilis Pro NTL1 gave best growth at pH 9 demonstrating alkaline protease producing capability, at 45°C for 72h proving its thermotolerance characteristics and at 3% NaCl concentration declaring its halotolerance property. Furthermore, following Kirby-Bauer agar disc diffusion technique, the antimicrobialsusceptibility pattern was investigated showing Bacillus subtilis Pro NTL1 was resistant to ampicillin, penicillin, sulfafurazole and sensitive to amoxicillin, gentamycin, cefotaxime, kanamycin, imipenem, tetracycline. Additionally, Bacillus subtilis Pro NTL1 showed antagonistic activity against three pathogens named Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium and Escherichia coli. Thus, these findings suggest that Bacillus subtilis Pro NTL1 is a newly isolated strain with unique features which might help to contribute in several biotechnological purposes with significant industrial benefits.

Geochemical markers in the detection and identification of fossil fuels in waste material from an illegal landfill fire

Organic compounds, including n-alkanes, steranes, pentacyclic triterpanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, often originate from industrial activities, vehicle emissions, used transformer oils, biomass combustion, and also natural organic matter. The unprotected surroundings of former industrial sites, especially those affected by fire, pose significant risks to public health and the environment, particularly soil and water. These compounds are also excellent geochemical markers for determining the material that was used to ignite the fire, including petroleum products, oils, greases, and gasoline. This study presents research findings from an illegal landfill in Sosnowiec, Poland, which caught fire in 2020, leading to the combustion of petroleum substances, plastics, and other waste. The study found PAHsum concentrations ranging from 4.57 to 302.45 ppm in soil samples and from 3.04 to 27211.98 ppm in burnt solid waste samples, indicating significant contamination. The test results confirmed that the main sources of these pollutants in the analyzed research area were, among other things, greases, industrial oils, products from solid fuel processing, and coal waste. The use of pentacyclic triterpanes (hopanes and moretanes) seems to be the most effective diagnostic method to detect the presence of organic fossil fuels in waste samples. This research underscores the critical need to monitor and control illegal landfills to prevent fires and limit the exposure of communities and the environment to toxic pollutants. The methodologies applied here could be adopted globally to address soil and water pollution in similar contexts. By using these techniques, researchers could better interpret and manage environmental data, ultimately improving pollution control strategies worldwide.

Establishing a plastic waste map using remote sensing data in the coastal area of Thanh Hoa province (Vietnam)

Plastic pollution, particularly in oceans, is a growing environmental threat. Monitoring this pollution is challenging due to the shortage of data and tools. Remote sensing offers a promising solution by using various types of satellite and aerial images to detect and track plastic waste movement. Purpose. The study aims to establish a plastic waste map using remote sensing technology, focusing on the case study of the coastal area of Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Methodology. The study involves several steps, including the collection of plastic waste data (samples in the case study and indices from remote sensing images) as well as topographic and base map collection, statistics of plastic samples, grid design, calculation, interpolation, accuracy assessment, and mapping. Field surveys involved taking pictures of plastic debris along designated routes and a grid system was used to classify and calculate waste samples. Satellite images, especially Sentinel-2 MSI optical satellite imagery, are utilized to identify water areas of high plastic concentration. Findings. A map of plastic wastes in coastal areas of Thanh Hoa was created, with indices like NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) and FDI (Floating Debris Index) helping identify potential plastic waste signals. The resulting map reveals high concentrations of plastic waste in sea areas near the major river mouths of the Ma River basin and tourist areas, which aligns with areas of high human activity. Originality. This is the first study of plastic waste in the coastal area using remote sensing data in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Practical value. This study can contribute to the effective management of marine plastic waste in Thanh Hoa while opening up opportunities for applying the method to create marine plastic waste maps throughout Vietnam and foster long-term monitoring and management.

A Thermogravimetric Analysis of Biomass Conversion to Biochar: Experimental and Kinetic Modeling

This study investigates the pyrolytic decomposition of apple and potato peel waste using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical characteristics and structural properties of biochar was studied. The degradation of biomass samples was studied between 25 °C and 800 °C. Although apple and potato peel decomposition present similar thermogravimetric profiles, there are some differences that can be evidenced from DTG curves. Potato peel showed one degradation peak in the range 205–375 °C with 50% weight loss; meanwhile, the apple peel exhibited two stages: one with a maximum at around 220 °C and about 38% weight loss caused by degradation of simple carbohydrates and a second peak between 280 °C and 380 °C with a maximum at 330 °C, having a weight loss of approximately 24%, attributed to cellulose degradation. To gain more insight into the phenomena involved in biomass conversion, the kinetics of the reaction were analyzed using thermal data collected in non-isothermal conditions with a constant heating rate of 5, 10, 20, or 30 °C /min. The kinetic analysis for each decomposed biomass (apple and potato) was carried out based on single-step and multi-step type techniques by combining the Arrhenius form of the decomposition rate constant with the mass action law. The multi-step approaches provided further insight into the degradation mechanisms for the whole range of the decomposition temperatures. The effect of temperature on biomass waste structure showed that the surface morphologies and surface functional groups of both samples are influenced by the pyrolysis temperature. A higher pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C results in the disappearance of the bands characteristic of the hydroxyl, aliphatic, ether, and ester functional groups, characteristic of a porous surface with increased adsorption capacity. Therefore, this study concludes that biomass waste samples (apple and potato) can produce high yields of biochar and are a potential ecological basis for a sustainable approach. The preliminary adsorption tests show a reasonably good nitrate removal capacity for our biochar samples.

Analisis Potensi Reduksi Sampah oleh Pemulung di Tempat Pengelolaan Sampah Terpadu Bantargebang

Indonesia is the country with the fourth largest population in the world. In 2022, waste in Indonesia reached 36.00 million tons/year. DKI Jakarta Province has a vast waste generation rate of 3.10 million tons/year potentially ending in a waste processing site called TPST Bantargebang. The DKI Jakarta Province recorded as much as 7,000 to 8,000 tons/day of waste entering the TPST Bantargebang, with a regional waste reduction target of 27.00%. TPST Bantargebang has reduced waste by processing waste into fuel and electricity. Another reduction factor that has yet to receive attention is the role of waste pickers. In 2022, the number of waste pickers at TPTS Bantagebang is 6,413 people. This research examines the potential role of waste pickers in reducing waste at the TPST Bantargebang. This research is an observational study conducted by sampling and interviewing the waste pickers. The sample in this research was 98 waste pickers who collected waste samples for eight consecutive days. The results show that waste pickers at TPST Bantargebang potentially reduced 144.08 kg of waste/person/day, with the most prominent composition being plastic waste at 49.88%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that scavengers at TPST Bantargebang can reduce waste by up to 12.55%. The value of potential waste reduction by waste pickers can be used for waste reduction calculations at TPST Bantargebang.

Analisis Potensi Reduksi Sampah oleh Pemulung di Tempat Pengelolaan Sampah Terpadu Bantargebang

Indonesia is the country with the fourth largest population in the world. In 2022, waste in Indonesia reached 36.00 million tons/year. DKI Jakarta Province has a vast waste generation rate of 3.10 million tons/year potentially ending in a waste processing site called TPST Bantargebang. The DKI Jakarta Province recorded as much as 7,000 to 8,000 tons/day of waste entering the TPST Bantargebang, with a regional waste reduction target of 27.00%. TPST Bantargebang has reduced waste by processing waste into fuel and electricity. Another reduction factor that has yet to receive attention is the role of waste pickers. In 2022, the number of waste pickers at TPTS Bantagebang is 6,413 people. This research examines the potential role of waste pickers in reducing waste at the TPST Bantargebang. This research is an observational study conducted by sampling and interviewing the waste pickers. The sample in this research was 98 waste pickers who collected waste samples for eight consecutive days. The results show that waste pickers at TPST Bantargebang potentially reduced 144.08 kg of waste/person/day, with the most prominent composition being plastic waste at 49.88%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that scavengers at TPST Bantargebang can reduce waste by up to 12.55%. The value of potential waste reduction by waste pickers can be used for waste reduction calculations at TPST Bantargebang.

Cultivation of Aurantiochytrium sp. Using Pickle Seasoning Liquid Waste and Application of the Raw Biomass for Fish Aquaculture

AbstractAurantiochytrium sp. strain L3W is a heterotrophic microorganism that produces docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are essential for the growth of marine fish. In this study, pickle seasoning liquid waste was used for culturing strain L3W and the raw biomass of strain L3W was then fed to red sea bream fingerlings (Pagus major) to confirm its usability as a source of DHA and EPA. The strain L3W was cultured on the three pickle seasoning liquid waste samples, Akimurasaki, Hiroshimana, Shisohijiki, diluted with sand-filtered seawater at initial pH values of 4 and 7 under unsterile conditions. The growth of strain L3W was highest at 3.71 g/L on Hiroshimana at an initial pH of 7 with DHA and EPA production at 71.4 and 6.8 mg/g-biomass, respectively. Preparing the raw biomass of strain L3W by the 200 L-scale cultivation using the American Type Culture Collection 790By+ medium because of the DHA and EPA contents close to that produced in the Hiroshimana medium with an initial pH of 7, the raw biomass was spiked to the diet at 3%, 5%, and 10%. The final DHA and EPA contents in the whole body were increased by 4.26 and 3.03 times, respectively, by adding the strain L3W biomass at 10%. These results confirmed the feasibility of a carbon cycling scenario in which the strain L3W is cultivated using liquid food waste with the resultant biomass is utilized as a source of DHA and EPA for fish aquaculture. Graphical Abstract

Incorporation of trace metals in Hanford waste boehmite mineral phases and dissolution rate impacts

AbstractData from radioactive Hanford tank waste samples was analyzed to assess whether trace metals present were incorporated into the bulk boehmite matrix or were simply intermingled with the bulk material and subsequent impacts to the boehmite dissolution rate. Results suggest that chromium is primarily blended into the bulk boehmite, with a small fraction present on the surface of the solids. However, increasing the level of chromium incorporation 30‐fold decreased the dissolution rate of boehmite by only 8%, suggesting incorporation of chromium into these samples had a minimal impact on the dissolution rate. Iron was also found to be incorporated in the boehmite solids. Silicon appears to be simply intermingled and not blended into the boehmite crystals.

Selective extraction of lead from chelator-rich effluents using a biomass-based sorbent

The efficient removal of lead (Pb) from waste streams containing chelators presents a significant challenge due to the high stability and mobility of Pb-chelator complexes. This study investigates a novel approach utilizing a biomass-based sorbent, proline-incorporated dithiocarbamate-modified cellulose with epoxy-cross-linkage (DMC-Pro-Epo6), to extract Pb from effluents with excess chelators. DMC-Pro-Epo6 exhibited exceptional Pb(II) sorption performance under controlled and various chelator-rich conditions. The sorbent maintained high sorption efficiency even with 100-fold excess chelator concentration and competing metal ions. DMC-Pro-Epo6 also outperformed commercially-available ion-selective sorbents in terms of separation efficiency. The sorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second order model, demonstrating rapid sorption with equilibrium reached within 20 min. The maximum sorption capacities of DMC-Pro-Epo6 obtained from the Langmuir isotherm model were 1267 and 659 µmol g−1 in Pb(II)-containing aqueous solution and Pb(II)-containing EDTA solution, respectively. X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy analyses, along with sorption parameters, confirmed a chemisorption mechanism for Pb(II) sorption onto DMC-Pro-Epo6. Validation of the protocol using real waste samples with complex chelator and base metal ion matrices resulted in a quantitative and selective extraction of 92 to 99 % of Pb(II). This success suggests the potential for scaling up the developed process. Compared to conventional treatment methods, the proposed technique offers a more efficient and streamlined process for separating metal ions and chelators from effluents.

Assessment of Nine Real-Time PCR Kits for African Swine Fever Virus Approved in Republic of Korea.

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes severe disease in wild and domestic pigs, with high mortality rates, extensive spread, and significant economic losses globally. Despite ongoing efforts, an effective vaccine remains elusive. Therefore, effective diagnostic methods are needed to rapidly detect and prevent the further spread of ASF. This study assessed nine commercial kits based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approved in the Republic of Korea using the synthesized ASFV plasmid, 20 food waste samples, and artificially spiked samples (ASSs). The kits were evaluated for their diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, cost per reaction, and reaction running time. In addition, the results were compared with those of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) standard methods. Three commercial kits (VDx® ASFV qPCR Kit, Palm PCR™ ASFV Fast PCR Kit, and PowerChek™ ASFV Real-time PCR Detection Kit Ver.1.0) demonstrated the highest sensitivity (100 ag/μL), cost-effectiveness (less than KRW 10,000), and shortest running time (less than 70 min). These kits are suitable for the monitoring, early diagnosis, and prevention of the spread of ASF. This is the first report on the performance comparison of ASFV diagnostic kits approved in the Republic of Korea, providing valuable information for selecting kits for testing with food waste samples.

Production, use and nutritive value of fruit wastes as feed in and around the city of West Arsi Zone and Sidama Regional State

The study was carried out to evaluate the availability, use as livestock feed and nutritional value of fruit waste in a few chosen urban (within) and peri-urban (around) areas of West Arsi and Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. The study areas were chosen using a muti-stage purposive sampling technique and 306 respondents in total-102 from each of Shashemene, Hawassa and Yirgalem-were randomly chosen and interviewed. We used established methodology to examine the nutritional values of six (avocado seed, avocado peel with pulp, papaya pomace, mango, pineapple and banana peels) commonly used fruit waste (FBPs) samples for chemical composition and digestibility analysis. Chi-square was used to examine qualitative results while two-way analyses of variance were used for quantitative factors. Avocado, banana, mango, papaya and pineapple waste were the major useable FBPs for feeding livestock. These wastes were fed to livestock after chopping and wilting without mixing to other feeds. Perishability, health concern, shortage of storage facilities and knowledge were the major limitations whereas low price, high demands, good quality, palatability, use as a source of income and reduction in environmental pollution were the major opportunities for feeding livestock. The range of crude protein (CP) contents were from 5.49 to 19.51 % where papaya pomace contained the highest (p < 0.05) CP content while avocado seed were the lowest (p < 0.05) in CP content. The content of neutral detergent fiber was <45 %, except pineapple peels. The range of acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin contents were from 11.23 to 24.29 % and 1.69–13.54 %, respectively. The mean in-vitro dry matter digestibility was within the range of 70.67–88.17 %. In conclusion, the year round production and good nutritive value of fruit wastes make them a choice feed as a source of protein and energy in the study areas. We recommend animal performance evaluation and quantification of these wastes for further use by livestock.

Immobilization of Cadmium Via Ureolytic Bacteria Isolated from Greywater Waste and Horse Faeces

With the constant growth of technology and pollution caused by urban expansion, heavy metal contamination has become an alarming concern. The performance of Microbial induced carbonate precipitation technology in immobilizing heavy metal has been demonstrated by several researchers. While various studies have successfully isolated ureolytic bacteria from a variety of sources, there are very limited studies that have focused on isolating them from local waste sources, specifically Greywater and Horse Faeces for MICP application, which benefits in terms of economical, sustainability, and efficiency for engineering purposes. The study aims to investigate the effect of urease-producing bacteria derived from Greywater and horse faeces on heavy metal immobilization. The methods include collecting waste samples, isolating and subculturing of ureolytic bacteria, testing the physiological characteristics of ureolytic bacteria, examining the tolerance test and evaluating heavy metal removal efficacy through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) analysis, and last but not least, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses of morphological and mineralogical properties of biominerals formed after heavy metal immobilization treatment. The study found that bacteria from Greywater were more effective at heavy metal immobilization than those from Horse Faeces. Additionally, AAS analysis indicates the greywater-derived bacteria from the residential area sample's exceptional competence in Cd2+ removal, with a significant 80.19% removal rate exceeding the horse faeces bacteria sample's removal rate of 65.26%. The morphological analysis confirmed the presence of heavy metal carbonate in treated heavy metal samples, as well as presenting insight into the effectiveness and application of local ureolytic bacteria's potential for heavy metal toxicity degradation.

Urban governance and solid household waste management in Togo: Case of the town of Vogan in Togo (West Africa)

The regular growth of the population and the change in consumption patterns lead to significant production of urban waste, the management of which is becoming an environmental concern. The rapid population growth and changing consumption patterns have led to significant urban waste production, making waste management a pressing environmental concern. This study aims to improve solid household waste management in Vogan through a diagnostic analysis. Conducted from June to August 2022, the cross-sectional study surveyed household knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to waste management. Data were collected through an opinion survey of 350 households across 20 districts, using semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and field observations. Additionally, heavy metal content in waste samples was analyzed in the laboratory. Results showed that 85.43% of households had trash cans, yet 62.26% disposed of their waste in illegal dumpsites due to a lack of pre-collection services. Furthermore, 10.57% used waste as backfill in streets. Knowledge about waste management was moderate, with 62.29% having heard of it, and 70% of these respondents recognizing the importance of subscribing to a pre-collection service. Laboratory analyses revealed contamination of a landfill with cadmium, lead, and copper, along with widespread zinc pollution across all selected sites. Raising awareness and installing proper waste management infrastructure are critical to improving public health and enhancing the town's environmental quality.