In the present work, a suitable experimental setup was developed to successfully apply advanced oxidation processes (AOP) to real groundwater matrices. This setup combines an O₃-bubble column reactor with a carrier-bound TiO₂/UV-system. The degradation of various chlorinated ethene and methane derivatives commonly found of chlorinated volatile organic compound polluted regional groundwater samples was investigated. Because of known issues within water remediation using AOP such as toxification by transformation products, this study aimed at complete mineralization of the contained organic micropollutants. Moreover, the influences of variable process parameters such as flow rate, ozone concentration, and radiation dose on process performance were statistically evaluated and discussed. Parameter optimization using a Box-Behnken experimental design resulted in very promising degradation rates. It was thus possible to achieve a degradation rate of at least 98% for cis-dichloroethene, trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene and 85% for trichloromethane without formation of transformation products. The results of this work open up the possibility of developing innovative technologies based on AOP, which can be universally applied even to challenging matrices such as groundwater.

Escape rooms are an established game genre that has become popular in educational contexts in recent years. Digital escape rooms are variations, which use digital environments and may be played by participants not present on site. Compared to physical escape rooms, digital escape rooms are characterised by lower implementation and application efforts and at the same time by reduced intensity of the experiences. There is little evidence to date as to whether these low-threshold escape rooms are nevertheless sufficiently effective for learning. In this evaluation study, a learning activity based on a digital educational escape room (DEER) that uses the 360°-based spatial visualization (360VR) of a waterworks and a web-based form – contributing guidance and the escape room-specific challenges – is analysed. In the learning activity, students of environmental engineering study programs are asked to explore the 360VR-based waterworks guided by the instructions and challenges in the web-based form. Quantitative results of the study on learning outcomes and variables relevant to learning, such as emotion, motivation, and usability (N=73) are reported. The evaluation is supported by the qualitative results of guided interviews. Remarkably, some participants would have preferred to explore the 360VR environment without the guidance provided by the web-based form. Overall, the results show the learning effectiveness of the DEER, the efficacy of the web-based form as a guidance instrument, and values of learning-relevant variables that are conducive to learning. The DEER also achieved a high level of acceptance among students. Due to the low effort required for the creation of the DEER by lecturers and for application on the part of students, the presented combination of 360VR and web-based forms can be seen as a powerful low-threshold learning tool that enriches teaching.

Supported titanium dioxide‐based photocatalysts were investigated for the degradation of pharmaceuticals under irradiation with UV−A LEDs. Focus of the presented research was placed on the degradation kinetics under different matrix influences and energy flux densities of UV−A radiation. The chemical parameters, pH, orthophosphate, nitrogen concentration and background organic concentration were investigated. The results were evaluated by time‐resolved measurement of the concentrations and by calculating and plotting the first‐order degradation rate. The results showed clear differences in the rates of degradation of each compound, with diclofenac being the most easily degraded and metoprolol the most resistant. When the influence of energy flux density was examined, a linear relationship between degradation rate and the square root of energy flux density was confirmed. The organic background matrix has a strong influence on the degradation kinetics of the compounds. Nitrogen and orthophosphate slow down the degradation much less than the organic background matrix. Investigating the pH influence, it could be shown that almost no degradation is detected in the basic pH range. The results were illustrated with the help of a radar diagram, which can show all dependencies at a glance.

Informal backyard rentals (IBRs) constitute South Africa’s fastest growing housing subsector, flourishing within a relative research vacuum and without national policy intervention to address the vulnerabilities of stakeholders to the health risks potentially presented. This article reviewed the literature on IBRs, focussing on past policies and interventions, general characteristics, infrastructure and service access to inform an analysis of potential health risks from the existing literature to guide future research and policy-making. Research followed a qualitative approach to review IBR literature dating after 2004. Relevant publications were identified from bibliographic databases using Boolean search logic and by reviewing citations in and later citations of these publications. Relevant secondary sources were also included. The review evidenced that IBRs have received increasing policy, but limited research attention, and that health hazards have been particularly neglected. Although issues such as shared water and sanitation, inappropriate waste disposal, poor hygiene practices, high densities and poor quality structures have been referenced extensively – alluding to risks and health concerns – few studies have focussed directly on health, risk and vulnerability. The risk analysis completed based on the literature made potential risks explicit, exemplified by references to specific conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and the coronavirus pandemic, demonstrating pathogenic pathways, contamination and transmission risks conducive to poor health, infection and potential disaster. The review captured and updated the contemporary literature on IBRs, with the subsequent analysis providing a platform for future empirical research on health, infrastructure and IBRs to address potential risks towards positive change in future policies.