Sludge transportation costs can represent a large fraction of the expenses associated with municipal and faecal sludge management. These costs can be mitigated through the use of thermal drying approaches to reduce the sludge volume. This thesis described the application of a novel microwave-based pilot-scale unit as an alternative technology for the sanitisation and drying of sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plants and on-site sanitation facilities. The potential economic benefits of volumetric heating, moisture levelling, and increased liquid and vapour migration from the interior to the surface of the product underpins the increasing interest in the use of microwave technology during sludge treatment processes. According to the findings of this study, these factors lead to faster processing times, improved drying rates, and a reduced physical footprint. Furthermore, microwave technology operates as a standalone treatment unit. When coupled with mechanical dewatering techniques and membrane separation technology, it can increase the reliability of the technology employed in the treatment of sludge while recovering valuable resources through an agricultural or thermochemical application such as (co-) combustion. The results of this work demonstrate the strong feasibility of applying microwave-based technology within initiatives designed to protect the environment and safeguard public health.

This book is a compendium of knowledge about nanomaterials and strategies for bioremediation over hazardous environmental pollutants. The book is divided into 2 sections. Section 1 deals with the polluted environment, where it explains that soil is in serious danger and highlights the primary hazardous pollutants. Besides, this section covers algae, autochthonous, introduced, or genetically modified organisms that are used to degrade hazardous contaminants. In Section 2, Bio- and Nanoremediation are shown through synthesis, green synthesis and molecular farming, and their applications or impacts. Moreover, this discusses bio- and nano-remediation, working together for better performance, organisms, and nanomaterials for environmental remediation.

This book features a selection of articles from The 2019 International Conference on Information Technology & Systems (ICITS’19), held at the Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas, in Quito, Ecuador, on 6th to 8th February 2019. ICIST is a global forum for researchers and practitioners to present and discuss recent findings and innovations, current trends, professional experiences and challenges of modern information technology and systems research, together with their technological development and applications. The main topics covered are: information and knowledge management; organizational models and information systems; software and systems modeling; software systems, architectures, applications and tools; multimedia systems and applications; computer networks, mobility and pervasive systems; intelligent and decision support systems; big data analytics and applications; human–computer interaction; ethics, computers & security; health informatics; information technologies in education; cybersecurity and cyber-defense; electromagnetics, sensors and antennas for security.

Recently, the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) has increasingly been recognized as crucial for economic prosperity, human development, and well-being, along with sustainable development. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum emphasizes the role of ICT adoption in sustainability, with due regard to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The research has largely documented favorable economic outcomes of increasing the use of ICT. However, the ecological dimensions of ICT have received the least attention in the literature. In effect, ICT has influenced human life from many perspectives including ecological aspects of life. The links of ICT with the environment are rather complex. On the one hand, ICT growth deteriorates the environment by increasing the production, use, and disposal of ICT products. For instance, increasing e-waste and larger use of energy in manufacturing cause adverse effects on the environment. The life cycle theory of ICT suggests that several stages of the life of ICT result in pollution. The life cycle of ICT-related products spans over “production, delivery, transport, use, and disposal”. On the other hand, ICT is considered a solution to reinforce environmental protection, mitigate the adverse impacts created in the environment by human activities, and address key environmental challenges such as climate change and sustainability.