Valorisation of Human Organic Waste for Sustainable Domestic Biogas and Fertilizer Synthesis

Thesis

96 Pages Posted: 02 January 2024

Unaro Yauo

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

uyauo62@gmail.com
Mirzi Betasolo

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

mirzi.betasolo@pnguot.ac.pg 

Date Written: November, 2021

Abstract
This study proposed and discussed various “domestic” onsite sanitation (OSS) designs that incorporate anaerobic digestion (AD) process to produce biogas and organic solid fertilizer whilst treating human excreta. The prototype OSS AD Toilet was designed, developed and trialled in the field. Prior to designing the OSS ADT facility, fresh human excreta from 10 test persons between the age range 18 – 29 years were sampled using sampling buckets and analysed to obtain data for mean faecal mass and physico-chemical composition. Median faeces generated was 250 g/cap/day wet mass and 62 g/cap/day dry mass, as well as high solid contents i.e. TS (49 g/cap/day) and VS (91% of TS i.e. 44.59 g/cap/day). Mean value for COD determined was 68 g/cap/day, while the mean nitrogen value from faeces was 1.2 g/cap/day and that of urine was 7 g/cap/day. Residual organic fertilizer deduced was 22g/cap/day. Water boiling test showed that biogas concentration is higher in purified biogas (90 ± 1.53 %) than in raw biogas (68 ± 2.52 %). Cooking time and calorific value of biogas investigated using 1L of water was 6.54 ± 0.04 and 5.45 ± 0.02 for raw and purified gas respectively. Refrigerant reciprocating compressor reduced the biogas volume by a factor of 4.0 with an absolute pressure of 5 bars in total of approximately 12 minutes. This study explored that OSS ADTS is an innovative and most preferable treatment approach for human waste management in rural and peri-urban areas in Papua New Guinea and can be replicated in other places with similar setting and conditions, fostering benefits in the light of Sustainable Development.

Keywords: human organic waste, sustainble domestic biogas, fertilizer synthesis, domestic onsite sanitation, human waste management, sustainable development

Suggested Citation:

Yauo, U., & Betasolo, M. (2024). Valorisation of Human Organic Waste for Sustainable Domestic Biogas and Fertilizer Synthesis [Zenodo]. In Global Journal in Civil Engineering (Vol. 6, Number 1, p. 1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10451314

To Download the full paper:

Available at Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10451314

Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting System in Lae City, A Model for Papua New Guinea

Thesis

190 Pages Posted: 02 January 2024

Carl Anthony Smith

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

carl.smith206@gmail.com
Mirzi Betasolo

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

mirzi.betasolo@pnguot.ac.pg 

Date Written: January, 2016

Abstract
The Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting System (SRHS) is a strategy to harvest rainwater and use the resource sustainably to support the need for water supply in the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNG). Lae City is the Garden City of PNG attributed to its significant rainfall. The vast resource of rainfall, at the moment is not fully harnessed, to support the need for water supply to the population today and the future. The methodology to a SRHS covers four phases. Phase 1 covers the assessment of parameters about rainwater harvestings: such as regulations, catchment location including its topography, and rainfall availability. Phase II, deals with Design of the SRHS facility that is non-energy intensive. Phase III discusses how to maintain and managed a SRHS. Phase IV- is the prototype of the facility. A prototype is a scaled visual presentation of the project study. It will also serve as a basis for funding proposal presentations. The study found that the feasibility of the project requires an attributed characteristic of a rainforest to harness rainwater supply as accounted for by the hydrologic cycle. The location chosen is adjacent to the Rainforest Habitat on the Papua New Guinea University of Technology campus. The facility will also support on providing groundwater surcharged. The study provides a framework that will support sustainable rainwater harvesting in the country based on SRHS model. The project will serve as a model to a sustainable rainwater harvesting systems as a viable alternative in harnessing natural resource (water) of the country.

Keywords: bioremediation, sewage pond, sewage pond rehabilitation, sustainability of sewage pond project, environmental impact

Suggested Citation:

Smith, C., & Betasolo, M. (2024). SUSTAINABLE RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN LAE CITY, A MODEL FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA [Zenodo]. In Global Journal in Civil Engineering (Vol. 6, Number 1, p. 1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450251

To Download the full paper:

Available at Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450251

Assessment of a 49 Year Old Sewage Pond for Rehabilitation through Bioremediation

Thesis

59 Pages Posted: 02 January 2024

Charles Feriwok

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

charles.feriwok@pnguot.ac.pg
Mirzi Betasolo

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

mirzi.betasolo@pnguot.ac.pg 

Date Written: March 30, 2022 

Abstract
The study evaluates the effects of plant species in the sewage pond area. The research design employed statistics and primary data for the findings. The data were collected using qualitative and quantitative instruments, which focused on actual transect data, survey questionnaires and field observations. The primary data were processed using spreadsheets on MS Excel and MS Word as well as SPSS software. The research evaluated environmental hazards to the nearby communities, the effect of overflow, contaminated stream, soil, air and heavy metals uptake by plants as the risk to surrounding livelihood and lifestyle, and the effect of plants, behaviours and perceptions. The plant abilities evaluation was based on leaf and stem evaluation impact. The research into sewage ponds shows that plants do neutralize heavy metals after the effluent pond is a priority and needs attention for the sustainability of the pond project development in Unitech is required. A study into the sewage impact reveals that pond input, environmental impact, social impact and economic impact of sewage ponds are classified as a priority and need attention. The evaluation shows that plants benefit from both affluence and soil. The research reveals the likelihood that farmers using nearby land may have received the sewage pond effluent into the food chain. The study into sewage assessment perception, views and reaction show the community grievances and complaints generated by the effects of lack of pond maintenance. The research recommends broader pond maintenance, institution consultation and participation in rehabilitation project development.

Keywords: bioremediation, sewage pond, sewage pond rehabilitation, sustainability of sewage pond project, environmental impact

Suggested Citation:

Feriwok, C., & Betasolo, M. (2024). Assessment of a 49 Year Old Sewage Pond for Rehabilitation through Bioremediation [Zenodo]. In Global Journal in Civil Engineering (Vol. 6, Number 1, p. 1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450722

To Download the full paper:

Available at Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450722

Structural Health Assessment of Steel Girder Bridge: A Case of Butibam and Bumbu Bridge in Lae City

Thesis

156 Pages Posted: 02 January 2024

Grace McCoy Wantepe

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

grace.wantepe@pnguot.ac.pg
Mirzi Betasolo

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

mirzi.betasolo@pnguot.ac.pg 

Date Written: November 15, 2021 

Abstract
Bridge inspection and condition assessment is an essential element in any Bridge Management System (BMS) particularly for aged and deteriorated bridges, and a path way to condition rating. Majority of the bridges in Lae City and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have exceeded their design lives and are at risk of collapse according to one of the Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report, Cardno Emerging Markets (Australia) Pty Ltd, in 2011. Almost about 152 bridges were inspected along the nominated five priority national roads in PNG. This indicates that effective bridges condition assessment and management is of crucial importance to maintain bridges in a sufficient condition and preserve them from deteriorating. A major part is bridge condition rating and simulation, which is an important aspect in their service lives to forecast bridge durability and their need for repair and maintenance. In this pilot study, three levels of bridge inspection and condition assessment forms for steel girder bridge have been developed for Bumbu and Butibam Bridge of Lae City in the Morobe Province of PNG. The bridge evaluation and condition assessment emanate from visually recorded inspection data specifically on the two bridges. There are three main important factors considered in the evaluation of bridge element structural index condition assessment. They are structural importance, material vulnerability, and casual factors such as road class, age, environment and inspection. These parameters were adopted and incorporated for a more holism and objectivity to the current approaches. The casual factors are implemented as a coefficient to the overall structural index, which illustrates the capability of the developed forms. Moreover, the results obtained from the developed forms and stress analysis and displacements on bridge model using solid works complements the results. Additionally, the forms developed and applied including simulation results has been used to evaluate the current stage of the steel girder bridges of Bumbu and Butibam of Lae City.

Keywords: structural health, steel Girder bridge, bridge inspection, bridge condition assessment, bridge management

Suggested Citation:

Wantepe, G. M., & Betasolo, M. (2024). Structural Health Assessment of Steel Girder Bridge: A Case Study of Butibam and Bumbu Bridge in Lae City [Zenodo]. In Global Journal in Civil Engineering (Vol. 6, Number 1, p. 1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450865

To Download the full paper:

Available at Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450865

Phytoremediation Characteristics: Tailing Waste Rehabilitation at OK TEDI Mining Limited, Western Province Papua New Guinea

Thesis

83 Pages Posted: 02 January 2024

Nathaniel Dasyal

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

Nathaniel.Dasyal@oktedi.com
Mirzi Betasolo

School of Civil Engineering, Papua New Guinea University of Technology

mirzi.betasolo@pnguot.ac.pg 

Date Written: November 15, 2021 

Abstract
In recent years, researchers and engineers have begun to develop low-cost technologies and mechanisms, such as purifying contaminated areas with microorganisms / biomass and live plants. Of these, phytoremediation mechanisms are emerging and are promising green mechanisms that can be used to remediate heavy metal contaminated soils through various means such as phytoremediation, phytostablisation, phytovolatilization and rhizofiltration. Decontamination of contaminants warrant various choices and strategies in phytoremediation, and include soil properties, heavy metal levels and characteristics, plant species, and climate. Heavy metals like Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Co are non-essential metals. Many of them are highly toxic both in elemental and soluble salt forms. The phytoremediation mechanisms that were used in this study were phytoextraction, phytostabilisation and phytomobilization (phytoaccumulation); as these are cost effective, and have aesthetic advantages and long-term applicability. Certain species of plants especially; shrubs, primary trees, secondary trees, weeds and grasses were studied because of their tolerance for high heavy metal levels in trials with tailing dumps in OK Tedi, in Papua New Guinea (PNG).The challenge in the study was aimed at investigating plant species that have phytoremedial characteristics by possessing the attributes of exceptionally high metal- accumulating capacity or are hyper accumulators, having roots possessing unique and selective capability to absorb, have entire structures that can translocate bio accumulate and degrade the heavy metals, plants according to evidence have large above ground biomass and also possess extensive shallow rooting systems and

having the ability to take up both essential and non-essential heavy metals. This study revealed that several plant species such as white clover and typha can withstand heavy metal concentration whilst other species tend to decline over time. The investigation indicated high mortality rates from homalantus, kikuyu, trema and lupin, compared with struggle and survival rates demonstrated by Typha, White Clover and Tephrosia in the high concentrated tailing stored divans. Heavy metals that were not too concentrated were zinc, copper and cadmium, whilst lead and nickel were highly concentrated, and so plants did not seem to tolerate their presence in large quantities. The main factors that influenced morphology of plant species were plant spacing and growth medium, tailings chemistry in terms of different interactions and reactions due to their different characteristics and concentration levels, weather conditions through wet and dry patterns and periods along with the plants natural ability to acclimatize.

Keywords: phytoremediation, tailing waste, mining rehabilitation, OK Tedi Mining Limited, mining waste, environmental

Suggested Citation:

Dasyal, N., & Betasolo, M. (2024). PHYTOREMEDIATION CHARACTERISITICS: TAILING WASTE REHABILITATION AT OK TEDI MINING LIMITED, WESTERN PROVINCE PAPUA NEW GUINEA [Zenodo]. In Global Journal in Civil Engineering (Vol. 6, Number 1, p. 1). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450863

To Download the full paper:

Available at Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10450863