x Preface
recycling programs implemented in several countries. New sections on: cleaner
production is added in chapter 2, ethanol production in chapter 4, chitin and
chitosan production in chapter 6, and constructed wetlands in chapter 7. Chapter
10 has been revised to cover management aspects of organic waste recycling
programs including the planning, institutional development and regulatory
standards. More examples and exercises are given in each chapter to help the
readers understand the technical principles and their application.
This book is intended to be used as a text for students majoring in
environmental sciences and engineering and for graduate students conducting
research in the related fields. Many universities worldwide have developed new
curricula on environment and sustainable development or are offering
specialized courses on sustainable waste management, all relating to the subject
contents of this book. Environmental professionals and policy makers should
find this book a useful reference source for planning, design and operation of
organic waste recycling programs.
In the preparation of the third edition, I am grateful to my graduate students
at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand and the UNESCO-IHE
Institute for Water Education, Delft, the Netherlands, for the constructive
suggestions on the book contents and feedbacks on the use of the book in
teaching and application of these organic waste recycling technologies in their
home countries. The book reviewers, Professor Dr. Hubert Gijzen, Director and
Representative of UNESCO office, Jakarta, Indonesia and Dr. Rao Surampalli,
Engineer Director of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas, U.S.A.
and adjunct Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of
Nebraska, U.S.A., gave useful and constructive suggestions on the content of
the revised book. I am thankful to Professor Dr. Shigeo Fujii who invited me to
spend a sabbatical leave at the Reseach Center for Environmental Quality
Management, Kyoto University, Japan, which allowed me to finalize the book
revision. My student assistants, Warounsak Liamleam and Robert Dongol, did
an excellent job in assisting me in the overall revision of the book.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Aeon Group
Environment Foundation, Japan, for the generous support of the endowed
professorial chair which has enabled me to complete the revision of this book.
Grateful acknowledgement is expressed to Alan Click of IWA Publishing,
London, for his professional support in the publication of the third edition. The
inspiration and encouragement I always receive from Nantana, Jim and Jeed
made this project possible.
Chongrak Polprasert
Bangkok, Thailand
January 2007