Fecal sludge to biodiesel – production of chemicals, pathogen reduction and feedstock variability Developing a technology based on anaerobic fermentation and digestion to convert faecal sludge into biodiesel precursors and biogas and setting up a social enterprise model that reinvests the revenues into improving sanitation for the urban poor.
This project focuses on the development of a resource-recovery based sanitation technology. which uses fecal sludge as a feedstock for producing biodiesel and biogas. The technology development is being conducted by a team of nine American and Ghanaian engineers based in Kumasi, with the oversight of Prof. Kartik Chandran of Columbia University. Technology development is accompanied by development of a social business model that aims to use revenue from energy products to help finance and incentivize complete and sustained urban sanitation.
Mission
1) Developing a bioprocess technology to convert the organic compounds present in fecal sludge to biodiesel and biogas. 2) Piloting the technology in Kumasi, Ghana at a design capacity of 10,000 L fecal sludge per day 3) Integrating the bioprocess technology component into a social enterprise business model that will further promote widespread implementation of this approach and technology across the globe.Approach
Research or implementation partners: Kartik Chandran Laboratories at Columbia University School of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, and the Ghanaian company Waste Enterprisers Ltd.Answer questions about the project
Filter / Tags
Renewable energies and climate changeProduct design and engineeringGlobalTreatment of wastewater or greywaterResource recovery Renewable energies and climate change (WG3)Biogas systems Faecal sludge treatment processesFundamental research and engineeringOtherBill & Melinda Gates FoundationEnergy: fuel (liquid or solid)University, education or research institution
Related Countries
GhanaUnited States
Project location
