Vermicomposting is a possible method for reducing the amount of landfilled bio- waste. The product of vermicomposting is called worm tea. The thesis deals with the issue of composition and possible usage of worm tea, which is a liquid product of vermicomposting. The aim was to assess the composition and properties of worm tea samples provided from households. Then a mixed sample was tested as a nutrient solution for hydroponic growing. One year operation of a small vermicomposter as a mean of community bio-waste disposal was also assessed in the thesis. Conductivity, pH, content of selected cations and anions and TOC were determined for each worm tea sample. Values of conductivity were then assessed by a correlation test with inhibition values gained from an ecotoxicological test with Sinapis alba. Testing of worm tea as a nutrient solution was done in an opened hydroponic system with Lactuca sativa seedlings. Results show that samples of worm tea are very different and they can not be watered down according to their conductivity as was hypothesised. The largest percentage of samples evinced stimulating qualities in a concentration of 2,5 %. Worm tea can be used as an alternative of nutrient solution for hydroponic growth and it has potential for utilization as an stimulant for germination and...

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Detta produktutvecklingsarbete har utförts i samarbete med företaget, Pegil Innovations AB. Syftet med projektet var att utveckla en hanteringslösning för processat avloppsslam (damm) på boendeplattformar i offshore industrin. Processen för projektet kombinerade Front-End processen med detaljer från Set-Based Concurrent Engineering. Projektet inleddes med en förstudie och användarstudier för att få djupare kunskap inom ämnet. Detaljer som var viktigt för projektet samlades i en kravspecifikation som användes som stöd genom hela processen. Därefter följde en idégenerering för att utforska lösningar. Från denna framkom fem idélösningar som utforskades vidare genom en fördjupning och jämförelse mot en ny kravspecifikation. Denna var en uppdaterad version av den första för att bättre reflektera vilka krav och önskemål som kunde ställas på idélösningarna. När idélösningarna hade utforskats utfördes en ny idégenerering som ledde till att idélösningarna utvecklades till två koncept. Det fördjupades kring koncepten och dessa jämfördes mot kravspecifikationen. Sedan följde ytterligare en idégenerering för att undersöka hur koncepten kunde förbättras. Slutligen utfördes ett konceptval. Resultatet blev en påse, som fästs runt en stos, som fylldes med damm och sedan sögs luften ur (för att bilda ett undertryck) samt att påsen värmeförseglades. Personalen kan sedan enkelt bära iväg påsen för att kassera denna tillsammans med dammet. / This product development project has been carried out in cooperation with the company, Pegil Innovations AB. The purpose of the project was to develop a management solution for processed sewage sludge (dust) on accommodation vessels in the offshore industry. The process of the project combined the Front-End process with details from Set-Based Concurrent Engineering. The project started with a preliminary study and user studies to obtain deeper understanding regarding the relevant knowledge area. Details that were of importance to the project was gathered in a specification that was used through the entire process as a support. Then an idea generation was preformed, to discover and explore different solutions. From the idea generation five different idea solutions were created. These five solutions were explored deeper and then compared to a new specification. The specification was an updated version from the first one to better reflect what conditions the idea solutions should meet. When the idea solutions were explored, a new idea generation was performed, resulting in two concepts. These concepts were explored deeper and then compared to a new specification. Then followed another idea generation to explore how the concepts could be improved. In conclusion to the project a concept was chosen. The result was a plastic bag which was fastened around a spigot, that was filled with the dust and then the air was withdrawn (to create a vacuum). Then the opening of the plastic bag was heat sealed. The personal could then easily carry the bag to discard this together with the dust.

About 83% of total energy consumed in Nepal comes directly from the solid fuels. The import of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is also growing at an exponential rate. The hospitality subsector (hotels and restaurants), one of the key economic subsectors in the country, consumes most of the energy within the commercial sector primarily for cooking purposes. The bio-waste generated from growing hospitality subsector and other sectors in Kathmandu is poorly managed. Similarly, on the other hand, Nepal has an extensive knowledge and experience of manure based anaerobic household biogas systems mainly in rural areas. Based upon this situation, the thesis investigates the opportunities for anaerobic biogas production for cooking at hotels and restaurants by utilizing their own organic waste. Currently available biogas technologies, important parameters affecting the biogas yield, policy and financial supports and case studies of various stakeholders employing the biogas technologies in the hotels and restaurants in Nepal were considered. The most applicable technology for the purpose was then chosen. The organic waste sampling study from randomly selected 4-star hotel (Yatri Spa and Suites), tourist standard hotel (Hotel Bliss International) and restaurant (Fren’s Kitchen) in Thamel, the tourist zone of Kathmandu was conducted. Similarly, various data especially focusing on the current cooking energy need, demand, supply, cost, organic waste management of the hotels and the restaurant was collected through questionnaires and series of interviews. The average amount of daily organic waste and organic waste fraction for Yatri, Bliss and Fren’s was found to be 61.3 kg and 63.0%, 18.4 kg and 82.7%, and 16.3 kg and 81.8% respectively. Similarly, the variations in weekly organic wastes and waste generated per guest was also determined. Based upon the amount and characteristics of organic waste from the sampling survey, the theoretical biogas potential of the organic waste at digester output rate of 0.27 kWh/kg/day for JUAS digesters, the technology selected for the biogas conversion, was found to be 18.4 kWh/day, 5.5 kWh/day and 4.9 kWh/day equivalent to 4.9%, 3.0% and 5.4 % of the current daily energy need for Yatri, Bliss and Fren’s respectively. Similarly, the economic implications of the small-scale biogas technology if employed in the hotels and the restaurant was scoped out. It was found that the recommended Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) based 3000 l sized JUAS bio-digesters had positive Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback time of around 5 years on average for all the eateries under study. The monthly life cycle cost of the integrated LPG-JUAS system is found be cheaper for all eateries as compared to the current LPG system. Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) of the JUAS digesters is calculated to be competitive as compared to energy from other renewables in the country. There is, however, need to improve the digester conditions to get higher biogas yields. For the wider adoption of the digesters across urban sectors, the subsidies amount should also be increased together with information dissemination regarding biogas uses and its potential among the stakeholders. / Omkring 83% av den totala energiförbrukningen i Nepal kommer direkt från det fasta bränslet. Importen av flytande petroleumgas (LPG) växer också i exponentiell takt. Underhållningsbranschen (hotell och restauranger), en av de viktigaste ekonomiska delområdena i landet, förbrukar mest energi inom kommersiell sektor, främst för matlagning. Det biologiska avfallet som genereras av växande underhållsbranschen och andra sektorer i Katmandu är dåligt förvaltad. På samma sätt har Nepal en omfattande kunskap och erfarenhet av gödselbaserade anaeroba hushållsbiogasystem, huvudsakligen i landsbygdsområden. Baserat på denna situation undersöker man avhandlingen möjligheterna till anaerob biogasproduktion för att laga mat på hotell och restauranger genom att använda eget organiskt avfall. För närvarande finns biogasteknik, viktiga parametrar som påverkar biogasutbytet, politiska och finansiella stöd och fallstudier av olika intressenter som använder biogasteknik i hotell och restauranger i Nepal. Den mest tillämpliga tekniken för ändamålet valdes sedan. Undersökning av organiska avfallsprov från slumpmässigt utvalt 4-stjärnigt hotell (Yatri Spa and Suites), turisthotell (Hotel Bliss International) och restaurang (Fren's Kitchen) i Thamel, utförs turistområdet Katmandu. På samma sätt samlades olika data som speciellt fokuserade på dagens energibehov, efterfrågan, tillgång, kostnad, organisk avfallshantering av hotellen och restaurangen genom enkäter och intervjuer. Den genomsnittliga mängden dagligt organiskt avfall och organiskt avfallsfraktion för Yatri, Bliss och Fren var visat sig 61,3 kg respektive 63,0%, 18,4 kg respektive 82,7% respektive 16,3 kg respektive 81,8%. På samma sätt bestämdes också variationerna i organiskt avfall per vecka och avfall som genererades per gäst. Baserat på mängden och egenskaperna hos organiskt avfall från provtagningsundersökningen befanns den teoretiska biogaspotentialen hos det organiska avfallet vid kokareutgångshastigheten på 0,27 kWh / kg / dag för JUAS-kokare, den teknik som valts för biogasomvandling, befunnits vara 18,4 kWh / dag, 5,5 kWh / dag och 4,9 kWh / dag motsvarande 4,9%, 3,0% och 5,4% av dagens energibehov för Yatri, Bliss och Fren. På samma sätt scenkades de ekonomiska konsekvenserna av den småskaliga biogastekniken om de anställdes i hotell och restaurangen. Det visade sig att de rekommenderade polyvinylkloridbaserade (PVC) -baserade JUAS-bioförstörare av polyvinylklorid med jämna mellanrum hade positivt nettoförsäkringsvärde (NPV), interna avkastningsräntor och återbetalningstid på cirka 5 år i genomsnitt för alla restauranger som studerades. Den månatliga livscykelkostnaden för det integrerade LPG-JUAS-systemet befinner sig vara billigare för alla matställen jämfört med det aktuella LPG-systemet. Nivånad kostnad för energi (LCoE) hos JUAS-kokare beräknas vara konkurrenskraftig jämfört med energi från andra förnybara energikällor i landet. Det är dock nödvändigt att förbättra kokareförhållandena för att få högre biogasutbyten. För det bredare godkännandet av kokare i städerna bör bidragsbeloppet också ökas tillsammans med informationsspridning avseende biogasanvändning och dess potential bland intressenterna.För det bredare godkännandet av kokare i städerna bör bidragsbeloppet också ökas tillsammans med informationsspridning avseende biogasanvändning och dess potential bland intressenterna.

The proper way to manage biological waste has only recently become a topic of discussion and the public still does not have enough information about it and does not have a comprehensive opinion. In order for bio-waste to be properly managed, knowledge of this topic and positive attitude towards it is necessary, in class this could be achieved by activating pupils through project based education. Teaching in projects is a great way to understand the issue, which can influence pupils' attitudes towards bio-waste management. The aim of this diploma thesis is to create a project on the topic of biodegradable waste, and then to find out how the knowledge and opinions of students about bio-waste have changed. The created project was verified at the lower secondary school, for which it is primarily intended. A total of 54 6th-year pupils was involved in this project. They were given a pretest before the start of the project, finding out the initial knowledge about bio-waste and their opinion on the classification of bio-waste. After the project, the pupils completed a posttest and by comparing the individual answers, it was determined whether and how the knowledge of the tested pupils and their attitude towards the topic changed. The answers of individual pupils in the pretest and posttest were evaluated...

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture. (Soil Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The constant growth experienced by the coffee industry has led to the high-volume production of coffee waste worldwide. One of the main coffee wastes is spent coffee ground (SCG), a residue obtained after the ground coffee beans are treated under pressure. The present study was aimed to investigate the utilization of SCG to amend soil physicochemical properties. This study was conducted at Greenhouse Biotechnologies Research Centre of Excellence, University of Limpopo, South Africa, where the effect of various rates of SCG concentration in volume percentage (vol%) was tested for a period of nine months. The spent coffee ground residue was collected from four restaurants at Haenertsburg, and the application rates were 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 vol%. To evaluate the change in soil physicochemical properties overtime, the incubation period was divided into four test periods namely T1 was after a month, T3 after 3 months, T6 after 6 months, and T9 after 9 months. Physicochemical properties including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), total organic carbon (TOC), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C:N ratio, large macroaggregates (LM), small macroaggregates (sM), microaggregates (m), unaggregated silt and clay (s+c), mean weight diameter (MWD) and soil moisture content (SMC) were quantified at the end of each test period. Results revealed that the interaction between incubation periods and various SCG application rates significantly (p<0.05) increased pHw, EC, MWD, LM, base cations and significantly decreased TOC, heavy metals, SMC, m, and sM. Spent coffee ground increased pHw and EC of the soil at all application rates and reached a maximum of 7.8 units at T6 in treatment SCG-5 and 202.30 S/cm at T9 in treatment SCG-50 above the control respectively. Total organic carbon increased by 548% above control in the highest treatment (SCG-50) at T1, but, however, started declining from T3 in all treatments across the incubation period. SCG’s highest application rates (SCG-20 to SCG-50) reduced the soil Cd toxicity (threshold of >2 mg/kg), but however, also reduced the availability of micronutrients (Cu and Zn) during the incubation period. At T9, Mg, Ca, K, and P increased from mean values of 55.9 to 77.9, 40.9 to 62.2, 77.4 to 112, and 22.0 to 30.0 mg/Kg above control in treatments with high application rates. LM increased whilst sM, and m decreased across the incubation period in all treatments. MWD increased by 46% at T1 and reached its maximum of 56% at T6 in treatment SCG-50 above control. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between LM and MWD. Soil moisture content however increased to 60.26% at T1 in treatment SCG-50 and decreased from T3 across the incubation period. Spent coffee ground has the potential to be used as a liming material, a chelating agent, and for water management in semi-arid areas. It retains and cycles nutrients and improves soil structure through aggregation. However, research should be done in field conditions to access the effectiveness of this residue. / NRF