The objective of this study was to characterize biogas production performance from the co-digestion of food waste and domestic wastewater under mesophilic (35 ± 1 °C) and thermophilic (55 ± 1 °C) conditions. The food waste used as a co-substrate in this study was collected from a main canteen at the Hatyai campus of Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla Province, Thailand. The optimum co-digestion ratio and temperature conditions in a batch experiment were selected for a semi-continuous experiment. Organic loading rates (OLRs) of 0.66, 0.33, and 0.22 g volatile solid (VS) L−1 d−1 were investigated in a semi-continuous experiment by continuously stirring a tank reactor (CSTR) for biogas production. The highest biomethane potential (BMP, 0.78 ml CH4 mg−1 VS removal) was achieved with a ratio of food waste to domestic wastewater of 10:90 w/v at a mesophilic temperature. An OLR of 0.22 g VS L−1 d−1 of co-digestion yielded positive biogas production and organic removal. The findings of this study illustrate how biogas production can be used for operating feed conditions and control for anaerobic co-digestion of domestic wastewater and food waste from a university canteen.
This research aims to investigate COVID-19 preventive behavior and influencing factors among Thai residents during the highest epidemic peak of COVID-19. Nine hundred and forty-six residents in five districts with high COVID-19 infection cases in Thailand were systematically included in this cross-sectional survey. The results showed that 87.2% and 65.2% of the residents had a high level of general knowledge and preventive measures, respectively. As to COVID-19 attitudes, poor levels of attitude among Thai residents were found in risk perception (53.6%) and mistrust issues (70.4%). Moreover, this study presents good preventive behavior (77.0%) among Thai residents. Multiple logistic regression showed that the influence factors of COVID-19 preventive behavior were the young age group (AOR 2.97, 95% CI 1.68–5.25), high income (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.03–1.86), and high level of general COVID-19 knowledge (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.64–2.96). The conclusion was that providing information on COVID-19 via social media was the key mechanism of policy action for increasing the level of COVID-19 preventive behavior during the highest epidemic peak in Thailand. In addition, the pandemic preparedness and response policy, with resident participation and involvement, could be recommended for the resilience of pandemic preparedness.
1 January 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Science and Development
The aim of this research was to assess the water footprint level of Thai banana production. Firstly, the water consumption inventory of banana production was developed. The water consumptions in the banana farms and a case study of banana industry were collected based on the inventory. The results showed that the water consumption of banana plantation was 842.02 m3 including 443.50 m3 of green water, 398.52 m3 of blue water and not found grey water. Moreover, 1638.59 m3/rai was found in the one rai of banana plantation consisted of 863.06 m3/rai of green water and 775.53 m3/rai of blue water. From the finding of this study, the reduction approach of water footprint for banana production should be the reduction of watering the plant in the process of banana growing.
1 January 2022 in International Journal of Environmental Science and Development
The objective of this research was to identify the potential for value-added banana production by adopting circular economy concept. The resource utilization performance of a banana production factory in the middle part of Thailand was collected in 2020. The economic analysis and circular economy were used for developing the potential of banana production waste as value-added products. Finally, potential scenarios of value-added banana production were selected by brainstorming with the factory owner based on the circular economy approach. The result found four types of waste in banana production, including wastewater, rejected banana material, banana peel, empty banana bunch, and waste generated from the production process. Nine scenarios for value-added banana production were developed and proposed by the resource performance, economic analysis and circular economy implementation. After brainstorming with the banana factory owner, four potential scenarios for value-added banana production waste under circular economy concept were selected. The details of potential scenarios were as the following: banana powder form rejected banana, bio-compost from banana peels, re-use of wastewater, and sale of solid waste. From this finding, the circular economy concept should be recommended and implemented for enhancing the efficiency of the banana production process.