Disposal of Human Waste using Eco-friendly Technology

Soumya Chatterjee, PhD, DRDS

Scientist D DRDO, MoD, Govt. of India

Defence Research Laboratory Post Bag no 2, Tezpur 784001, Assam

[drlsoumya@gmail.com; 09435738428]

sanitaion: issues

Sou

mya

Ch

atte

rjee

, 20

06

Sanitation: Issues • A major concern

– Plains

– High altitude areas

• Water borne diseases

– About 1/7th of world population openly defecate due absence of any toilet , of which 60% live in India.

– ~ 10 million childs <5yr - die globally/ year - out of which 2.4 million are in India

– Children in India: 48% (62 million) with underweight and stunted growth due to frequent infections

– Diarrhea kills 1600 (below 5yr) Indian children daily.

– 100 cases of viral hepatitis per 100 000 people

– epidemics of viral gastroenteritis, typhoid, cholera very common

• Every year 30% of marginalised women who travel long distances to access public facilities were physically and sexually assaulted ('Squatting Rights', a research by philanthropic foundation Dasra).

• 70 % of girls experience humiliation every day in Delhi slums.

• Lack of sanitation is detrimental to women's health, their dignity and to their education

• Poor Sanitation: costing India 6.4 per cent of its GDP

• Source: – http://ibnlive.in.com/news, Sep 29, 2012 – http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/, Feb 14, 2013

Sanitation: Issues

Sanitation: Issues

Indian Railways • World’s largest rail

network 115000 km

• Runs 10000 trains daily

• 20 million passengers travel by train every day

• 59713 passenger coaches

World’s Largest Mobile Toilet

Sanitation in India

• < 30% Indians have bathrooms in homes or easy access to public toilets.

• ~ 250 of 4,000 cities/ towns have sewer systems- many without treatment plants.

• Bulk of sewage -- even from metro cities flows untreated into rivers, lakes or the sea.

• In rural areas, (70% Indians) fewer than 10% of homes have toilets.

• ~2/3 of urban dwellings have bathrooms, still, public health risks are greater in cities than in rural areas because of cramped conditions in slums

Priorities are Different

Telephone statistics - May 2012 ( Source: trai.gov.in )

Telephone Subscribers (Wireless and Landline): 960.0 million Land Lines: 31.53 million Cell phones: 929.37 million Monthly Cell phone Addition: 8.35 million Tele density: 79.28% Annual Cell phone Addition: 227.27 million Projected Tele density: 1.159 billion, 97% of population by 2013

• 60% (626 million) in India do not have toilet

• This makes India the number one country in the world where open defecation is practiced

Indonesia with 63 million is a far second!

Less than 10% of Gram Panchayats in India are ODF

Human Waste Disposal

UNDECOMPOSED HUMAN WASTE * AESTHETIC NUISANCE * INFECTIOUS DISEASES * ORGANIC POLLUTION OPTIONS * TRANSPORTATION

* INCINERATION * CHEMICAL TREATMENT * DTL

* BIODEGRADATION (AEROBIC/ ANAEROBIC)

Problems of Open Defecation

Pollution of fecal matter with drinking water leads to contamination of food, fruits & vegetables, animals (direct contact, flies & rodents)

Open defecation

Individual houses toilets – dry, soak pit, twin pit & septic tank

Flush & Forget

Defecation

10

DRY PIT TOILETS

Most commonly used

Ventilated

Dry pit toilet

Twin (Dry)

pit toilet

The pits needs periodical evacuation Manual scavenging problem not solved

TWIN-PIT POUR-FLUSH Toilet (Leach Pit Toilets)

The pits are constructed in brick line (much like a honeycomb to facilitate the liquid to flow out) or with perforated concrete tubes (e.g. pre-fabricated)

A wooden or concrete slab to prevent people falling into them

The pit shape can be circular or rectangular, but circular pits are more stable

Pits should be placed symmetrically at the back of the latrine pan and have a minimal distance of the pit depth to prevent cross-contamination.

If the spacing between the two pits is to be reduced, an impervious barrier should be provided between them

Courtesy: SSWM

Distance not

less than the

pit depth

Junction /

Inspection

chamber

Adapted from

http://www.k4rd.or

g/ruraltech_pit.htm

[Accessed:

01.06.2010]

PRESENT SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS :-

BIGGER VOLUME

REQUIRES LARGER SPACE

COSTLY TO BUILD

NOT EFFICIENT

OBNOXIOUS SMELL

MAINTENANCE INTENSIVE

UNHYGIENIC DISPOSAL

SEPTIC-TANK (Conventional technology)

22-Dec-2014

Percentage of Households Having No Latrine India, 2001-2011

10.5 % improvement in 10 years

Percentage of Households Having Pit Latrine India, 2001-2011

Percentage of Households Having Other Latrine India, 2001-2011

Wide variation in temperature: -50oC to 50oC

Variety Of Terrain: High Altitude, Hilly, Plains, Coastal Areas & Islands

Water Conditions: Low / High Water Table Dry / Flooded / Water Logged Areas Sweet / Salty Water

Economic Constraints, Awareness, Casual Approach Lack Of Concern

Waste Treatment Challenges

anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion

• It is a series of processes in which a consortia of microorganisms break-down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.

• Used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to release energy (to methane and carbon dioxide).

• Stabilization process: reducing odor, pathogen and volume.

Advantage of anaerobic processes

1. Less/ No energy requirement as no aeration is needed

0.5-0.75 kWh energy is needed for every 1 kg of COD removal by aerobic processes

2. Energy generation in the form of methane gas

1.16 kWh energy is produced for every 1 kg of COD fermented in anaerobic process

3. Less biomass (sludge) generation

Anaerobic process produces only 20% of sludge compared with aerobic process

Soluble BOD 1 kg

Aerobic process

CO2 + H2O 0.5 kg

New biomass 0.5 kg

Biodegradable COD 1 kg

Anaerobic process

CH4 gas > 0.9 kg

New biomass < 0.1 kg

4. Less nutrients (N & P) required

Lower biomass synthesis rate also implies less nutrients requirement : 20% of aerobic

5. Application of higher organic loading rate

Organic loading rates of 5-10 times higher than that of aerobic processes are possible

6. Space saving

Higher loading rates require smaller reactor volumes thereby saving on disposal cost

7. Ability to transform several hazardous solvents including

chloroform, trichloroethylene and trichloroethane to an easily degradable form

…Advantages of anaerobic processes

Hydrolysis

Acidogenesis

Acetogenesis

Methanogenesis

Particulates solubilized and large polymers converted to simpler monomers

Simple monomers converted to volatile fatty acids

Volatile fatty acids converted to acetic acid, CO2 and H2

Acetate converted into CH4 and CO2 while H2 consumed

Robust

Sensitive

A simplified generic chemical equation for the overall processes outlined above is as follows: C6H12O6 → 3CO2 + 3CH4

Anaerobic digestion: Steps

Bacteria : Environmental Conditions

strict

aerobes

Dissolved Oxygen

strict

anaerobes

facultative

anaerobes

tolerant

anaerobes

Toxicity (NH3, H2S, metals)

Functional Fatal Inhibitory

methanogens acidogens 6.8 - 7.2

pH 5.5-6.5 7.2-8.4

thermophilic

Temperature

mesophilic

30 – 35 oC 50 – 60 oC

psychrophilic

< 20 oC

drdo biotoilet

How a digester functions

Laboratory Findings DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM

Screening & gradual adaptation Isolation of psychrophilic bacteria

BIOAUGMENTAION OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM VFA degrading bacteria

Psychrophilic proteolytic bacteria

CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM HRT (25 days at 10°C)

Temp range (5-50°C) Freeze-thaw resistance (two cycles)

PROCESS ENHANCEMENT Immobilization

CaCO3 Sulphate

Anaerobic Microbial Consortium (Developed and maintained by DRDO)

• Selection of microbial culture from different regions including low temperature regions

• Adaptation to night soil

• Adaptation to low temperature

• FEATURES

Lowest temperature: 5 C

HRT: 25 days

BOD/COD reduction: > 90%

Pathogens reduction: > 99%

Freezing/thawing resistance- 3 cycles

Temperature fluctuation: 5-30 C

DRDO TECHNOLOGY - BIOTOILET

BACTERIA (INOCULUM) Anaerobic microbial consortium developed by acclimatization / enrichment of microbes at low temperature and bio-augmentation with critical group of bacteria

BIO-TOILET Fermentation container made of mild steel / SS / FRP / bricks.

The dimensions and internal design varies with no. Of users, water availability and geo-climatic conditions

Types of BIOTOILET

High Altitude:

• Metal - 1 m3 & 2 m3

• FRP (Heating) - 1 M3

•Rail:

• Stainless Steel (SS) – 400 L

•Plain:

• FRP – 700 L

• Biotank – Any size (from 1 m3 to--

Biodigester Development High Altitude

Metal – 10-20 men

FRP – 10-20 men

Temp controlled: 20-25 men

Soil Glacier

Biodigesters

Metal Biodigesters Biodigesters at Army Transit Camp Pang (Altitude: 15200 Ft)

Spot test for inflammability of biogas Biodigester at Siachen

Modular Biodigesters for Glaciers

Temperature Controlled Hybrid Biodigester

Working at North Pullu (16400ft) since July 2006

Digester Solar Panel Grinder & Toilet Grinder

Kitchen waste and human waste degradation

Biodigesters In Islands - Lakshadweep

12000 biotoilets are being installed

FRP: 5-6 users

Size: 700 L

Onboard Treatment of Human Waste in Indian Railways

Lifeline to the nation ….

35

Railway Biodigester

Advantages

Eco-friendly & cost-effective

Wide applicability under different climatic conditions

Customized & easily adaptable

Maintenance free

Minimizes water consumption

Recycling of effluent water

Reduction in organic waste by more than 90%

More than 99% pathogens reduction

Generation of odourless and inflammable biogas

Detergents/ Antiseptics for Cleaning

• Phenyl upto 84ppm

• Harpic upto 250ppm

• Domex upto 250ppm

• TASKI R6 upto 250 ppm*

• TASKI Duck fresh upto 250ppm*

• TASKI Clonet W4 upto 100ppm*

• TASKI MM65 upto 100ppm*

• TASKI MM60 upto 250ppm*

Routine toilet cleaning agents available in market are compatible with Biotoilet

drdo biotank-reed bed system

PRINCIPLE

Biodegradation of Human Fecal Matter by Microorganisms in Absence of Oxygen HUMAN WASTE METHANE + CO2+ WATER

(BIOGAS)

COMPONENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY

• Consortium of acclimatized microorganisms

• Bacteria immobilization Matrix

• Reaction Vessel

• Reed Bed for secondary treatment of water (Optional)

STEPS

BIOTANK CUM REED BED: TECHNOLOGY (Biodegradations by Anaerobic bacteria)

Study on Bacterial Consortium

STUDY PLAN: Parallel Sequencing of Total DNA; Illumina GAIIX platform used •Quality control, clustering and similarity-based annotation & prediction done •Out of 17882386 reads, species and proteins were predicted using latest database servers

Four Functional Groups Identified: Hydrolytic (eg. Bacteroides vulgates, B. fragilis), Acidogenic (eg. Prevotella copri, Acinetobacter sp.)

Acetogenic (eg. Clostridium saccharolyticum) , Methanogenic (eg. Methanobacterium bryantii)

Diversity of bacterial end users in the system: •Play a crucial role in generating methane & CO2

• Utilization of H2, Fatty acids, formates, acetates

AIM: #Characterization of anaerobic bacteria in the consortium #Required to know the functioning of the system #Mandatory for the quality control

On-site construction Design and construction very

simple (masonry work, brick wall/ RCC structure).

The size of the Bio-Tank: approximately 1/3rd to 1/10th of conventional septic tank

Less space requirement Low material/ construction cost Can be of different sizes, either

for single house or multi-storeyed complexes as per the requirement

Maintenance free

Biotank Cum Reed Bed System

Biotank Cum Reed Bed System

• Reed bed can be added on top of BioTank for secondary treatment

• Comprises of bed of sand and pebbles along with reed plants

• Treats Human Waste Alone or Human Waste Plus Bathroom & Kitchen Waste Water

Septic Tank Biotank + Reed bed

pH 6.7-7.5 7.0-7.5 Turbidity (NTU) 500-800 2-5

DO(mg/L) 0.2-0.3 1-1.8 Total Suspended Solids

(mg/L) 150-300 50-80

TDS(mg/L) 500-850 300-500 VS (mg/100ml) 50-60 5-12

COD (mg/L) 1200-2200 15-45

Fecal Coliforms (MPN/ 1 ml in McKonkey agar @ 42C)

>3000 0-12

Available N2 mg/L 600-700 50-70

BioTank cum Reed Bed system: Water quality

(Identify the Tap water here!)

BioTank cum Reed Bed system Water Quality

(Identify the Tap water here!)

Water Quality

BioTank cum Reed Bed system

(Identify the Tap water here!)

Water Quality

Water Quality

BioTank cum Reed Bed system

Vendors: Name & addresses of Vendors for Biotoilet technology

M/S BANKA ENTERPRISES, A-111, Express Apartment, Lakdi-Ka-Pool, Hyderabad – 500 004., Phone (040) 66688028, 91-9246880060

M/S ALFA THERM LIMITED , 6, Community Centre, Mayapuri, Phase-I, New Delhi – 110 064., Ph. 28115222, 2811622 2 Mob. 9810060029, Fax 91-1-28115396

M/S WATERLIFE Ltd, Plot No.9, SAI NIDHI, 2nd Floor, Krishnapuri Colony , West Marredpally Secunderabad- 500 026. ,Phone: 040 27709889, Fax: 040 27709889

M/S AIRFLOW EQUIPMENTS (INDIA) P.LTD., CHENNAI-600117 , 9, Chelliamman Koil Street, , Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 600117. Phone: 044-22470350

M/S INUS , 215, M.B. Road, Birati, Kolkata, West Bengal, Pin- 700 051, 09331642340 (mob); 033-65226832 (tel); 28441333 (fax); inuswater@gmail.com M/S INDUSTRIAL SERVICES , 93, Dakshindari Road, Kolkata, Pin- 700 048, 09830029178 (mob); 033-25214561 (tel); 25214294 (fax); indserv@vsnl.net M/S SINGH STEELWORKS ,Mission Charali, Post Box No.30, Tezpur, Assam, Pin- 784001,09435380382 (mob); 255702, 237302 (fax); vikas@singhsteel.com

M/S BUHANIA BROS., D-56, Sitapuri Part-1, Gali No.18, Near Pankha Road, New Delhi, Pin- 110 045, 09810734236 (mob); website: info@buhania.com

M/S BSA CORPORATION LIMITED, 18-20 Sukhwani fortune, Morwadi Road, Pimpri, Pune 411018, Tel: 91-020-27474997, telefax: 91- 020 27474962

M/S REAL INDIA LIFETECH PVT LTD, Vasantha Chambers, Pent house, 50-10-173, Hyderabad 500004 91- 9959799334 (mob); sharath@realindialifetech.in

M/S SVK GREENTECH PVT LTD, B121 Sec 71, Noida 201303, Tel: 91- 120-2484101-05; Fax: 91-120-2484107;email: prashant@svkgreentech.com) M/S SRIKAR GROUP OF COMPANIES, Polt no. 178/F/2, Road no. 19 & 22 IDA Mallapur, Uppal, Hyderabad, AP, Tel+Fax: 040 27176685 Mail: drlinga@gmail.com) M/S ERAM SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS PVT LTD, Devi Gardens, TC9/1615 (1), (2), (3), SRKM Hospital Road, Thiruvanthapuram 695010, Tel: 471-4062125, M/S MAK CONTROLS & SYSTEMS (P) LTD 7/41B Avinashi Road, Civil aerodrome Post, Coimbatore 641014 Tel: 0422-4305000; Fax: 0422-4305060;

Landmarks of this technology

Memorandum of Understanding DRDO - IR

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has

been signed between DRDO and Ministry of Railways,

Government of India

MARCH 09, 2010

Memorandum of Understanding DRDO- MDWS

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has

been signed between DRDO and Ministry of Drinking

Water and Sanitation, Government of India for

successful implementation of this technology on

national level.

JULY 26, 2012

MoU Function: DRDO - MDWS

BIOTOILET Inauguration at Orissa

53

“I was very happy to learn that DRDO in collaboration with FICCI has commercialised bio-toilet that promises to solve the problem of open defecation in rural India. If this green, cost effective “flush and forget”

technology is successfully implanted, it will give a big boost to our Total Sanitation Campaign. Application of technology to social benefit

programmes should be expanded further.”

PM’s Address at DRDO Award Function (July 12)

Memorandum of Understanding DRDO -GAP

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between DRDO, FICCI and Ganga Action Parivar, Parmarth Niketan for

Clean Ganga Action Plan

NOVEMBER 03, 2012

For any enquiry pls. contact

• Dr Vijay Veer, Director, Defence Research Laboratory, Tezpur 7584001, Assam, Tel: 03712-258836

• Dr Lokendra Singh, Dir, Life Sciences, DRDO HQ, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi – 110011

• Dr. MP Kaushik, Dir, Defence R&D Establishment, Jhansi Rd, Gwalior, MP

• Mr S Radhakrishnan, Director, Directorate of Industry Interface & Technology Management (DIITM), DRDO HQ, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi – 110011

• Mr Nirankar Saxena, Senior Director, FICCI Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi

Thank You Sou

mya

Ch

atte

rjee

, 20

07

…for better Health & Hygiene & Environment