The formation of calcium carbonate scale in pipes and devices in water supply networks poses serious problems. Electromagnetic treatment (EMT) is a technology that can prevent the formation of these scales without the need to add chemical reagents, reducing maintenance costs in the installations. In this work, the types of crystals commonly found in water distribution systems are studied, with emphasis on the different techniques that allow their characterization (TGA, XRD, SEM), and the effects that EMT produces on their morphology. Laboratory trials have been carried out with synthetic water prepared from a calcium carbonate solution to study the crystals obtained at different temperatures, with and without EMT. High temperatures cause the production of aragonite instead of the stable form (calcite), as was observed in the samples from the heater resistors. In contrast, in the samples taken in lower temperature zones, a majority presence of calcite was observed. These results have been corroborated with a laboratory-scale evaporation trial, obtaining an increase in the aragonite/calcite ratio with increasing temperature and with the treatment applied, generating crystalline phases that exceed 70% aragonite (needle shape). It is highlighted that the EMT limits the reversion of aragonite to calcite and decreases the formation of scale.

The coffee industry generates wastewater with high organic loads, which represents both an environmental challenge and a potential resource. This study proposes a novel, integrated solution for an instant coffee plant in Ecuador by incorporating anaerobic digestion into the treatment train. The approach uniquely combines rigorous kinetic analysis with a comprehensive techno-economic and sustainability assessment. Long-term operation of upflow anaerobic filters confirmed the superior stability and performance of the mesophilic regime. Under these conditions, the process achieved a methane yield of 200.5 mL_CH4 g⁻¹_COD and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 64.1%. The experimental data fitted to the modified Stover–Kincannon and Grau second-order kinetic models (R² > 0.95) validating the robustness of the mesophilic operation. For the technological proposal, a hydraulic retention time of 7.3 days and an organic loading rate of 1.03 kg_COD m⁻³ d⁻¹ were established. The economic evaluation confirms that a minimum price of USD 171 per 60 kg_bag is required to achieve a positive net present value with a payback period of 5.47 years. Furthermore, the system transitions the facility’s energy profile to net-positive status, with an energy recovery ratio of 1.67, and strengthens the environmental sustainability of the proposal. It is concluded that anaerobic digestion is a viable technology from technical, economic, and environmental perspectives, enhancing the performance of the instant coffee industry and generating added value from highly polluting waste.

The cultivation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is an economic pillar in Ecuador, whose productivity depends largely on nutritional and phytosanitary management. Deficient fertilization can increase susceptibility to diseases, negatively af fecting yield. In this context, sulfur (S) has been proposed as a sustainable alternative to improve crop health. The present study aimed to evaluate the ef fect of dif ferent sulfur doses on disease incidence and the agronomic yield of cocoa, variety CCN-51. The trial was conducted in a 10-year-old plantation using a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with four treatments: T1 (control, 0 kg ha–¹ S), T2 (60 kg ha–¹ S), T3 (90 kg ha–¹ S), and T4 (120 kg ha–¹ S). Sulfur was applied in split applications, and agronomic, yield, and phytosanitary variables were evaluated using visual scales and Leaf Doctor sof tware (Pethybridge y Nelson, 2015). The dose of 60 kg ha–¹ S (T2) stood out by decreasing the severity of both diseases, increasing the number of healthy pods, and presenting a favorable benefit/cost ratio (1.13). However, the ef fect of sulfur on yield requires further research to establish definitive recommendations. This study provides evidence of the potential of sulfur as a bioremediating agent in productive cocoa systems, highlighting its value in reducing fungal diseases without compromising system sustainability. It is concluded that sulfur-based nutritional management can improve crop health, of fering a viable alternative for producers in Ecuadorian soils af fected by phytosanitary problems.