An information technology (it) approach in developing a solution to a local environmental problem

Solid waste (mis)management is one of the most serious local environmental problems in Sri Lanka (Figure 1). It has become a big threat to public health, the beautiful environment and a burden to the national economy

BESTCOMP: expert system for Sri Lankan solid waste composting

A user friendly expert system, BESTCOMP was developed for better management of solid waste composting by local authorities in Sri Lanka. BESTCOMP expert system mainly focussed on the behaviour of the physical, chemical and biological process in composting. The intention had been to provide distant users with scientific and techno-economic information using modern tools but at a much lower cost. This research has put very strong emphasis on allowing the user to browse around the knowledge that has being extracted from books, published research articles, reports, audio, video, Internet, case studies and the domain experts who involved in solid waste management activities, so the user can get an accurate and a real feel for the solid waste management subject

Development of an expert system for better management of solid waste composting by pradeshiya sabhas in Sri Lanka

The increasing population and the ever-changing life style of the public have begun to add to the growing solid waste problem in Sri Lanka. As a solution, Local Authorities, NGOs, researchers and environmentalists have implemented several composting projects. Unfortunately, most of these projects are either abandoned or operating under poor conditions due to social, economic and technical problems encountered and none of options have solved the solid waste management problem itself. A key issue that is highlighted is the lack of qualified personnel (experts) to advise and assist Local Authorities to adopt the best solid waste management practices. Decision Support Systems and Expert Systems are favourable tools to overcome these problems. Therefore by capturing past mistakes, weak points and considering past experience, a user friendly Expert System called BESTCOMP was developed for better management of solid waste composting by Pradeshiya Sabhas in Sri Lanka. This research mainly focused on the behaviour of the physical, chemical and biological process in composting. The model is geared towards decision making as well as providing required expertise to solid waste composting hierarchy

BIOCOM-MSW: A composting system for Sri Lankan solid waste management

Municipal solid waste has become a major problem in every country in terms of public health and environmental damage. As a developing country, Sri Lanka too faces the same challenge not only through public health and environmental damage, but also in finding an affordable yet effective technology, which is socially and economically acceptable. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is qualitatively heterogeneous. Therefore it is difficult to find a unique solution for proper treatment, i.e. the solution is always an integrated one, which consists of sorting, biological/thermal/chemical treatment, recycling and land filling." However quantification and characterization of solid waste in a given area are important factors prior to selecting the suitable technology. Therefore, it is required to find waste quantity, composition, density, moisture content, annual growth rate of waste generation and calorific value of waste etc. in a given area. In Sri Lanka, moisture content and organic fraction being reasonably high, and lack of high thermal value materials in the solid waste stream have lead to an overall low calorific value of MSW. The general practice for handling the MSW is low rate composting systems. Most have failed due to poor process management, lack of knowledge of proper operation (feedstock formulation, process control, end point indicators), poor product quality, long lead-time, weaker community participation and lack of public awareness. In all systems existing at present bad odour and leachate are unsolved issues. These systems have largely been controlled by default rather than by design. Thus, losing public confidence on composting is inevitable

Development and characterization of biocomposite films using banana pseudostem, cassava starch and poly(vinyl alcohol): A sustainable packaging alternative

To meet the need for sustainable packaging, we introduce a novel biocomposite film consisting of banana pseudostem, cassava starch, and poly(vinyl alcohol). We aimed to evaluate the optimal biocomposite film composition, which is characteristic for packaging materials. Using the solvent casting method, we produced biocomposite films with varying proportions (10–40 % w/w) of the lignocellulosic component from both Sour and Ash Plantain banana pseudostems. The resulting biocomposite films were characterized for mechanical, chemical, thermal, water absorption, gas permeability, and morphological properties. At the 25 % lignocellulosic level, a notable drop (P < 0.05) in tensile strength and elongation was observed, while water absorption increased, and gas permeability decreased. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis revealed insights into the structural attributes of lignocellulosic composites. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated an onset temperature of 120 °C for thermal degradation, confirming the biocomposite's thermal stability. A fundamental discovery emerged with the optimal composition at a 30 % pseudostem powder inclusion, offering an exceptional balance of tensile strength, elongation at break, water absorption, and gas permeability. This breakthrough holds significant implications for eco-friendly biocomposite films, particularly in food packaging. Future work may be undertaken to further explore banana pseudostems' potential in creating biocomposite films with advanced functionalities and their broader applications, including characterizations

Compatibilization of Starch/Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer Blends for Packaging Applications: A Review

The health and environmental concerns of the usage of non-biodegradable plastics have driven efforts to explore replacing them with renewable polymers. Although starch is a vital renewable polymer, poor water resistivity and thermo-mechanical properties have limited its applications. Recently, starch/synthetic biodegradable polymer blends have captured greater attention to replace inert plastic materials; the question of ‘immiscibility’ arises during the blend preparation due to the mixing of hydrophilic starch with hydrophobic polymers. The immiscibility issue between starch and synthetic polymers impacts the water absorption, thermo-mechanical properties, and chemical stability demanded by various engineering applications. Numerous studies have been carried out to eliminate the immiscibility issues of the different components in the polymer blends while enhancing the thermo-mechanical properties. Incorporating compatibilizers into the blend mixtures has significantly reduced the particle sizes of the dispersed phase while improving the interfacial adhesion between the starch and synthetic biodegradable polymer, leading to fine and homogeneous structures. Thus, Significant improvements in thermo-mechanical and barrier properties and water resistance can be observed in the compatibilized blends. This review provides an extensive discussion on the compatibilization processes of starch and petroleum-based polymer blends