Rainwater treatment: an approach for drinking water provision to indigenous people in Ecuadorian Amazon

Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. No funding was received for conducting this study.This study is about the use of naturally occurring filtering materials for rainwater treatment for drinking water proposal. Crushed gravel, ceramic spheres from natural clays, silica sand and natural zeolite were used as filtering materials. The mineralogical composition of filtering materials was determined, being the illite and mordenite the major components of ceramic spheres and natural zeolite, respectively. Naturally occurring materials were simultaneous evaluated on two configuration of pilot plant systems (biofilters) for rainwater treatment. Three columns were arranged in series with unstratified flooded beds. The first stage was packed using crushed gravel. The second stage was packed using ceramic spheres. The third stage was packed with silica sand for the first plant and a natural zeolite was used for the second pilot plant system. Finally, a last stage of ultraviolet disinfection was incorporated. The trial period was 90 days, and it was evaluated the removal of Fe+ 2 and Mn+ 2, total coliforms, faecal coliforms and Escherichia col (E. coli). The rainwater treatment system using natural zeolite provided better results than the one using silica sand at third stage. The concentration of Fe+ 2 and Mn+ 2 was below the maximum permissible limits within 45 days. The efficiency of the treatment systems was optimal within 45 days, after the efficiency decreased progressively. Then, it is an attractive proposal for rural areas in developing countries for singlefamily water treatment systems.Universidad de Granada/CBU

Biochar from Agricultural by-Products for the Removal of Lead and Cadmium from Drinking Water

This study reports the adsorption capacity of lead Pb2+ and cadmium Cd2+ of biochar obtained from: peanut shell (BCM), “chonta” pulp (BCH) and corn cob (BZM) calcined at 500, 600 and 700 ◦C, respectively. The optimal adsorbent dose, pH, maximum adsorption capacity and adsorption kinetics were evaluated. The biochar with the highest Pb2+ and Cd2+ removal capacity is obtained from the peanut shell (BCM) calcined at 565 ◦C in 45 min. The optimal experimental conditions were: 14 g L−1 (dose of sorbent) and pH between 5 and 7. The sorption experimental data were best fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model. High removal rates were obtained: 95.96% for Pb2+ and 99.05. for Cd2+. The BCH and BZM revealed lower efficiency of Pb2+ and Cd2+ removal than BCM biochar. The results suggest that biochar may be useful for the removal of heavy metals (Pb2+ and Cd2+) from drinking water.Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja -Ecuado

Efficiency of Flood Control Measures in a Sewer System Located in the Mediterranean Basin

Pollution induced by surface runoff in urban areas constitutes a significant problem. The adoption of control measures aimed at improving the quality of recipient water bodies is a fundamental issue in the management of Mediterranean Basin sewer systems. Previous research in Mediterranean areas using small virtual basins has shown that rainfall regimes have a limited impact on the pollutant load and discharge flowing into a receiving body. The aim of our research was to identify a sizing methodology for stormwater tanks located in the Mediterranean Basin. To achieve this, a numerical model of a sewer system, located in the Southern Iberian Peninsula, was developed. Different patterns related to peak periods of rainfall were considered. Furthermore, efficiency indices were used to evaluate and compare the effects of having a stormwater tank in the system. In our study (which considered a real area), significantly varied values were obtained for the pollution load removal rate (η) and the receiver overflow rate (θ). We nevertheless observed that, in our catchment, at a specific volume of V = 60 m3/ha, h and θ reached constant values without experiencing any significant improvement (η = 0.673 and θ = 0.133). Based on our model, this volume was proposed for the stormwater tank. The ATV (German Association forWater Pollution Control) A 128 standard was applied in order to validate the results, and the specific volume obtained (V = 60 m3/ha) matched with the one proposed. Thus, our proposed methodology is simple and different, and it is very easy to apply by obtaining the values of the efficiency indices η and θ through the development of a Storm Water Management Model (SWMM)

Silver-Derived Antimicrobial Coatings for the Prevention of Microbial Biofilms in Metal Pipes

The authors of this study would like to acknowledge the financial and technical support of the CETAQUA Foundation; without the said support, this work would not have been possible.The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requeBiodeterioration is one of the most important processes in metal pipeline corrosion, and it can be due to physical, chemical, and biological factors. Coatings rich in silver have been used to inhibit this undesirable phenomenon. In this study, the antimicrobial properties of several silver-containing products used as a coating in pipelines were determined on a pilot scale in order to evaluate the ability of silver to inhibit biofilm formation. The results showed that the coating with silver zeolite at a concentration of 2000 mg L-1 inhibited the formation of a microbial biofilm and prevented the biodeterioration process. Therefore, from our study, it can be concluded that silver zeolite shows greater protection capacity than other silver preparations and presents advantages in relation to other silver coatings that are currently availableCETAQUA Foundatio

Mejora del rendimiento académico mediante acciones docentes en la E.T.S.I.C.C.P. de Granada

El equipo de Dirección de la E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos ha emprendido una serie de Acciones Docentes encaminadas a facilitar el proceso de inserción y adaptación de los estudiantes a la titulación, a acercar los alumnos a la Universidad, a la Escuela y a su Plan de Estudios, a mejorar la calidad de la enseñanza y a asegurar que tanto los programas docentes como su coordinación sea la más apropiada para la enseñanza del título. En esta comunicación se describen brevemente algunas de las acciones que la Dirección de la Escuela está llevando a cabo en la actualidad que hacen especial hincapié en los estudiantes de nuevo ingreso, pues es entre ellos donde la tasa de abandono es mayor

El juego de rol como estrategia didáctica para la práctica de la argumentación en un contexto socio-científico con estudiantes de ciencias.

Este trabajo resume los resultados obtenidos tras realizar una actividad de “Juego de Rol”, incluida en un programa formativo para desarrollar la capacidad de argumentación científica, con estudiantes de primer curso de ciencias. Esta actividad fomenta la reflexión y sensibilización tomando como base un problema actual de carácter socio-científico

454-Pyrosequencing Analysis of Bacterial Communities from Autotrophic Nitrogen Removal Bioreactors Utilizing Universal Primers: Effect of Annealing Temperature

Identification of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria by molecular tools aimed at the evaluation of bacterial diversity in autotrophic nitrogen removal systems is limited by the difficulty to design universal primers for the Bacteria domain able to amplify the anammox 16S rRNA genes. A metagenomic analysis (pyrosequencing) of total bacterial diversity including anammox population in five autotrophic nitrogen removal technologies, two bench-scale models (MBR and Low Temperature CANON) and three full-scale bioreactors (anammox, CANON, and DEMON), was successfully carried out by optimization of primer selection and PCR conditions (annealing temperature). The universal primer 530F was identified as the best candidate for total bacteria and anammox bacteria diversity coverage. Salt-adjusted optimum annealing temperature of primer 530F was calculated (47°C) and hence a range of annealing temperatures of 44–49°C was tested. Pyrosequencing data showed that annealing temperature of 45°C yielded the best results in terms of species richness and diversity for all bioreactors analyzed

Intensificación en el desarrollo de competencias en asignaturas de Tratamiento de Aguas a través del análisis de diagramas de flujo de instalaciones mediante el empleo de técnicas de gamificación y estrategias de trabajo colaborativo

El objetivo principal del presente proyecto de innovación docente es el de subsanar una problemática detectada en los últimos años en las asignaturas de Tratamiento y Tecnología de Aguas del Grado en Ciencias Ambientales, Ingeniería Sanitaria en la Construcción Civil (Especialidad Construcciones Civiles) del Grado en Ingeniería Civil, y Tecnologías para el Tratamiento de Aguas del Grado en Ingeniería Química. Los estudiantes de las asignaturas indicadas anteriormente presentan serias dificultades para implementar, interpretar y analizar diagramas de flujo de instalaciones de tratamiento de aguas, ya sean de potabilización, desalación, depuración y/o reutilización. Este aspecto es uno de los de mayor relevancia dentro del temario de dichas asignaturas y se traduce en tasas de rendimiento y de éxito relativamente bajas. La aplicación de la innovación docente desarrollada en el presente proyecto pretende solventar esta deficiencia de los estudiantes en estas asignaturas de tratamiento de aguas mediante estrategias de trabajo colaborativo e introduciendo la evaluación por pares. Asimismo, esta metodología permitirá potenciar el desarrollo de diferentes competencias de las asignaturas en cuestión

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life