Subsurface flow reedbeds using alternative media for the treatment of domestic greywater in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Central America

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dallas ◽  
G. Ho

This paper describes the performance of reedbeds using plastic (PET) bottle segments as an alternative low-cost media for the treatment of domestic greywater in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Central America. Twelve reedbeds consisting of four sets of triplicates were monitored through wet and dry seasons in order to determine the effect of media type (PET versus crushed rock) and the effect of plants. In both seasons, performance of the planted reedbeds with PET media, for BOD and fecal coliform removal, was either comparable to, or better than, that of the crushed rock systems. The planted PET reedbeds achieved fecal coliform removal rates >99.9% in all cases equating to reductions of between 3 and nearly 5 log, with an average BOD outflow of 12.9 mg/L over both seasons. The hydraulic loading rate varied between 1.33 and 2.67 cm/day and hydraulic retention times (HRT) ranged from 3.5 to 7.5 days. The six reedbeds planted with Coix lacryma-jobi proved to be significantly more effective in pathogen removal and BOD reduction than the unplanted reedbeds. The planted PET reedbeds also increased their biomass by twice that of the planted crushed rock reedbeds during the study period. The majority of this increase was shown to be due to root growth. This paper discusses the implications of the above results for developing countries and identifies potential areas for further research.

Nova ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Jairo Leonardo Cuervo Andrade PhD ◽  
Gonzalo G. Rivas P.

The tropical grounds show great restrictions for tree production after they have been used and over-exploited by man. A strategy to increase the levels of production is based on the fertilization according to the requirements of the trees. As mycorrhization is a biological low cost alternative that can contribute to the success of the reforestation, we wanted to establish how it was possible to favor the surviving and growth of arboreal species in green houses by means of the quantification of mycorrhizal fungi using ground samples in the species <em>Tabebuia rosea </em>and <em>Cordia alliodora </em>in different localities from Costa Rica, Central America.<p>Samples in ten different sites were analyzed and the quantification of spores was made by sifting. The percentage of colonization by roots was considered at microscopic observation by roots according to methodology of Sieverding. The results obtained in this investigation concluded that from the variety of the present sorts of <em>Micorrizas Vesiculo Arbusculares </em>in the ground sample those that demonstrated better behavior with <em>Tabebuia rosea </em>and <em>Cordia alliodora </em>were <em>Glomus </em>sp. and <em>Gigaspora </em>sp. In addition, to obtain a greater growth and development of the trees, it is necessary to favor the mycorrhizal population in the plants within their first days of birth.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Zulkarnain Zulkarnain ◽  
Nadjadji Anwar

The Research Center and Development of Water (Puslitbang) is currently developing the Submerged Breakwater in shallow sea area (PEGAR). The author is interested to examine the material that easily obtained in the field of RCP concrete cylinder. The observation is how it to be ability in function as submerged breakwater an go green and low cost. The physical model of wave transmission test is how the response to the structure in ability to damping of wave as the breakwater function. In this research breakwater used is submerged breakwater type by using concrete cylinder (buis beton). The purpose from this research is to know how the response of breakwater structure to the waves through it, with some variation of the structure by creating a structure with three variations of the arrangement and freeboard that is the relative depth with the crest width is constant. The wave generated test in this study is using regular waves in wave flume at FTSP Civil Engineering Department of Institute Technology Ten November. From the analysis of the effect of the installation of submerged breakwater by using concrete cylinder to the wave damping value, it can be concluded that the factors that are very influential is the freeboard and the composition of concrete cylinder. Scenario A (rigid vertical massive) is capable of producing the smallest value of kt is 0.33. As for scenario B (rigid horyzontal massive) with a damping value of 0.5, while the scenario C (rigid permeable) is only able to produce kt value of 0.71. Scenario A is better than scenario B and C Because the position of arrangement of A is very good used to damp wave in small or big freeboard conditions.


Author(s):  
Keyur Mahant ◽  
Hiren Mewada ◽  
Amit Patel ◽  
Alpesh Vala ◽  
Jitendra Chaudhari

Aim: In this article, wideband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and rectangular waveguide (RWG) transition operating in Ka-band is proposed Objective: In this article, wideband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) and rectangular waveguide (RWG) transition operating in Ka-band is proposed. Method: Coupling patch etched on the SIW cavity to couple the electromagnetic energy from SIW to RWG. Moreover, metasurface is introduced into the radiating patch to enhance bandwidth. To verify the functionality of the proposed structure back to back transition is designed and fabricated on a single layer substrate using standard printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication technology. Results: Measured results matches with the simulation results, measured insertion loss is less than 1.2 dB and return loss is better than 3 dB for the frequency range of 28.8 to 36.3 GHz. By fabricating transition with 35 SRRs bandwidth of the proposed transition can be improved. Conclusion: The proposed transition has advantages like compact in size, easy to fabricate, low cost and wide bandwidth. Proposed structure is a good candidate for millimeter wave circuits and systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-643
Author(s):  
M.M. Ogunbambo

Smoke-drying Clarias gariepinus (catfish) provides animal protein and a source of livelihood in Lagos, Nigeria. Changes occurring to seasonal and mineral compositions of smoke-dried catfish using local Traditional Drum Kiln (TDK) and a newly constructed Eco-Friendly Kiln (EFK) fitted with a flame, drying and electronic components was carried out in this study. The smoke-drying process was carried out in both wet and dry seasons and smoke-dried catfish samples stored at ambient and adjusted refrigerated temperatures of 28 and 4 0C. The smoke-drying procedure was  standardized at 60 - 80 0C and kiln lasted 24 ± 3 hours. Moisture content results showed a significant difference when the catfish samples were smoke-dried using TDK and EFK and stored in ambient and controlled temperatures in both wet and dry seasons while crude protein, lipid, ash and crude fibre values were significantly different when stored only in dry season. Mineral elements phosphorus, sodium, copper, magnesium and iron showed a significant difference when stored at both temperatures and seasons using both kilns. Mineral elements were found to be most stable in smoke-dried catfish samples when stored at controlled temperatures. This work proved that standardizing smoke-drying process using both kilns resulted in good quality smoke-dried catfish but showed that higher biochemical values were obtained when EFK is used. Key words: Nigeria, Smoke-drying Kilns, Seasons, Ambient, Controlled Temperatures


2019 ◽  
Vol 276 ◽  
pp. 01031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Partogi H Simatupang ◽  
Petrus Lubalu ◽  
Herry L Sianturi ◽  
Wilhelmus Bunganaen

Kupang City in Timor Island of Indonesia, as a semiarid area, has abundant solar energy sources. Based on climatology data of Kupang City in 2013-2015, the minimum and maximum average temperatures in Kupang City range from 19.3-34.8oC. Besides, dry seasons last for about 8 months (April-November). This abundance of solar energy is a potential energy resource for the manufacturing of environmentally friendly ferrogeopolymer elements. Based on previous research, the production of geopolymer material can be done optimally with dry curing treatment at 60-80oC for less than 48 hours. Therefore, in this paper, a low-cost, energy efficient oven operated by a solar energy collector was developed. This paper describes a feasibility study of the use of solar energy for curing ferro-geopolymer elements. The ferro-geopolymer elements made were beams with length 600 mm, width 100 mm and height 100 mm. Wire meshes with 6x6mm of opening were used in 5 layers. The solar energy collector system used as an oven was a zinc coated drum which was painted black outwardly and was covered by a glass plate. Using this oven, it was possible to increase the ambient temperature by 1.62 to 2,37 times. Furthermore, this oven can also increase the flexure strength of ferrogeopolymer elements about ± 25.34%. This paper shows good potential use of solar energy in the manufacturing of ferro-geopolymer elements in the semiarid region.


Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 932 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
HARRY M. SAVAGE ◽  
R. WILLS FLOWERS ◽  
WENDY PORRAS V.

A new genus, Tikuna, is described based on recent collections of adults and nymphs of Choroterpes atramentum Traver from western Costa Rica. All recent collections are from streams on or near the Nicoya Complex, the oldest geological formation in Lower Central America. Tikuna belongs to a lineage of South American Atalophlebiinae (Leptophlebiidae: Ephemeroptera) whose origin is hypothesized to have been in the late Cretaceous–early Tertiary. Some implications of the distribution of Tikuna for theories on the origin of Costa Rica’s biota are discussed.


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