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As the human population continues to grow, the global growth of the livestock sector will continue to rise as well. In the Philippines, the demand for chicken meat is projected to triple by 2050. In this study, the increasing consumption and long-term sufficiency were evaluated with the use of the system dynamics concept. With system modeling and computer-based simulation techniques, the available data on chicken meat supply chain were processed considering that factors behave dynamically. The simulated model facilitated the forecasting of key variables which may drop sufficiency from 87% in 2015 to 60% by 2050 if no proper actions take place in the areas of production and consumption. As a whole, this study developed and demonstrated preliminary system dynamics-based and computer based-approaches in order to understand the chicken meat sector. This showed that a dynamic systems-based paradigm shift in food and agricultural systems analysis can help address operational and strategic issues regarding food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its small share of 0.15% in the global market, the oil palm production in the Philippines is being contested with environmental issues on continued deforestation, increased emissions from illegal burning of trees, and the marginalization of indigenous communities. As a developing industry, there is a need to further conduct of social and environmental impact studies to gain more acceptance, thereby, pursue growth and expansion. In view of the environmental concerns, this study aimed to conduct a life cycle assessment of the crude oil palm with North Cotabato, Philippines as the case study. Using cradle to gate approach, the potential environmental impacts were established: non-renewable energy of 0.394 MJ/kg oil, carbon footprint of 1.150 kgCO2/kg oil, ozone creation potential of 2.429×10-3 kg NOx /kg oil, acidification potential of 0.0138×10-3 kg SO2 /kg oil and water footprint of 5,797.3 L/kg oil. Compared to six locations in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, the environmental impacts and performance of the oil palm production in North Cotabato were satisfactory given the same topographical conditions. Opportunities to mitigate and decrease the impacts were also identified, namely improving oil extraction rates; increasing ratio of shell as biomass fuel; prudent application of nitrogen fertilizers and optimizing delivery loads and schedules. The results of this study can be a reference for future environmental assessments in other locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonbiodegradable pollutants and high-strength nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds found in the wastewater from the thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT-LCD) screen industry are difficult to degrade. An electro-Fenton procedure has been developed to increase the efficiency of the ferric reduction. The organic compounds are ionized or oxidized by direct electrolysis on the anode in the electrolytic cell of the electro-Fenton process. The effects of operating parameters such as concentrations of Fe2+ and H2O2, pH, and current density on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were determined. The degradation of the TFT-LCD wastewater was faster by the electro-Fenton process than the conventional Fenton process. The highest COD removal efficiency was 100% at 120 min; pH = 4; [Fe2+] = 3.5 mM; [H2O2] = 285 mM; and 1.5 A/dm2 of current density. The energy cost of the electro-Fenton process for treating TFT-LCD wastewater was approximately US$0.1/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TFT-LCD screen (thin film transistor liquid crystal display) industry has been growing rapidly in Taiwan in recent years. The wastewater from this industry contains many non-biodegradable pollutants and high strength nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds which are difficult to degrade. Fenton and electro-Fenton with double-cathode processes were used to treat the high COD content of real TFT-LCD wastewater which cannot be removed by conventional processes. The effect of operating parameters such as pH, Fe2+, H2O2 concentration and electrical current on COD removal were determined. The electro-Fenton process rapidly degraded the TFT-LCD wastewater in the first 20 minutes while in the Fenton process, the rapid degradation occurred in the first 60 min. This showed that electro-Fenton process could degrade the TFT-LCD wastewater faster than the Fenton process. The highest COD removal efficiency was found to be 100% at 120 min at pH = 4, [Fe2+] = 3.5 mM, [H2O2] = 285 mM and 1.5 A of electrical current of electro-Fenton process. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 368-373, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach for increasing ferric reduction efficiency by the use of UVA lights and electric current as electron donors in a Fenton process has been developed to degrade organic toxic chemicals. The process can be applied to treat emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Acetaminophen (ACT) was the target compound in this study. Effects of initial pH, Fe2+loading, and H2O2concentration were determined to test and validate a kinetic model for the oxidation of ACT by the photoelectro-Fenton process (PEF). Increasing the ferrous ion concentration from 0.01 to 0.1 mM increased the hydroxyl radicals and then increased the degradation efficiency of ACT. The optimal H2O2concentration for ACT degradation in this study was 25 mM. The ACT removal efficiency for electro-Fenton and PEFs were 90% and 91%, respectively, as compared to 12% ACT removal efficiency using Fenton process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a natural lagoon, rich in biological resources including fish, crabs, and bivalves, Da-Peng Bay Lagoon receives the discharges from the neighboring rivers, Kao-ping, Dong-gang, and Lin-Bian, which have harmed the ecology and reduced the water quality of the lagoon. This study analyzes seasonal variation of heavy metals concentration (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the muscle and viscera of the green-lipped musselPerna viridisfrom Da-Peng Bay Lagoon. Data from this study may provide information on the use ofPerna viridisas a bioindicator for heavy metals pollution in the lagoon. The heavy metals concentrations were greater in viscera than in muscles of the green-lipped musselPerna viridis.Results showed that the mussel is capable of accumulating high contents of Cu and Zn. Generally, the order of concentrations in the muscle by season was Zn > Cu > Cr or As. In viscera, the general order of concentrations was Zn > Cu > Pb or Cr or As. Mercury was not detected in winter and spring in muscle and viscera. Cadmium displayed significant variation with season. There was also significant correlation between tissue concentration and heavy metals, including Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, and As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempted to purify eutrophic landscape water under a low pollutant concentration and high hydraulic volume loading using an embedded subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetland (CW). Three species of aquatic plants (i.e., Cyperus alternifolius subsp. flabelliformis, Canna indica, and Hydrocotyle verticillata) were found to be conducive to the requirements of purifying the low-polluted water. Field results of nearly 2 years of experiments showed that SSF CW purified the eutrophic water and maintained the landscape water in a visibly clear condition. In an environment approaching the SSF CW background concentration, pollutant removal processes were divided into modulation and optimum performance periods. Average concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4 (+)-N), and total phosphorous (TP) in the optimum performance period were 0.69-1.00, 0.35-1.42, and 0.19-0.23 mg/L, respectively. Almost 500 days of BOD and NH4 (+)-N removals were necessary to perform optimally. A shorter period, 350 days, was required for TP optimum removal. This feature of two stage removals was not found in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and suspended solids (SS), whose averages were 11.86-17.98 and 13.30 μg/L, respectively. Filter cleaning and water replacement were unnecessary, while only water recharging was needed to compensate for the water lost by evapotranspiration. The field SSF CW has maintained its performance level for over 7 years.