The Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Structural Changes in Hydrophobic Silica Aerogels upon Encapsulation of the LCC ICCG Enzyme.

Silica aerogels are highly porous materials known for their low density and extensive surface area, making them ideal for applications in thermal insulation, catalysis, and environmental remediation. This study investigates the structural changes of functionalized hydrophobic silica aerogels used as carriers of the LCC ICCG enzyme. The aerogels were synthesized using the sol-gel method, with trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) as a functionalizing agent to enhance hydrophobicity.

Occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms in small drinking-water systems in Costa Rica.

This study describes the quality of drinking water sampled over 2 years (2018 and 2019) from 20 ASADAS (Spanish acronym for Administrative Associations for Water and Sewer Systems) in Costa Rica. The analysis included Rotavirus (RV), somatic coliphages, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli. The ASADAS were categorized into three regions as temperate rainy (region 1), tropical rainy (region 2), and tropical rainy and dry (region 3) according to biogeographic classification.

Modeling the formation of trihalomethanes in rural and semi-urban drinking water distribution networks of Costa Rica.

Chlorination is one of the most important stages in the treatment of drinking water due to its effectiveness in the inactivation of pathogenic organisms. However, the reaction between chlorine and natural organic matter (NOM) generates harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as trihalomethanes (THMs). In this research, drinking water quality data was collected from the distribution networks of 19 rural and semi-urban systems that use water sources as springs, surfaces, and a mixture of both, in three provinces of Costa Rica from April 2018 to September 2019.