Due to excessive use of agrochemical substances during the last decades, pesticides present in wastewaters are of increasing environmental concern. Wastewaters contaminated by pesticides can lead to a breakdown of the biological treatment in a wastewater treatment plant as pesticides are toxic towards micro organisms. New technologies of pre-treatment of such wastewaters are advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), which are based on the production of highly-reactive hydroxyl radicals. Hydroxyl radicals are able to oxidize organic compounds like pesticides and break them down to harmless material...

Residential applications of renewable energy can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving the quality of life for households. Thermosiphon solar water heaters are passive systems using solar energy to supply hot water for residential or industrial use. Replacing fuels or electricity for heating, solar water heating systems can substantially reduce a household's energy demand. Despite the economic and environmental benefits, several barriers hinder the broader adoption of solar water heating in Bolivia. These include an investment barrier due to the high upfront costs,...