Electrochemical disinfection with integrated biomass oven for solid waste processing and energy harvesting Developing a fully integrated toilet system that combines electrochemical disinfection technology for liquid waste processing and recovery, with a revolutionary new biomass energy conversion unit.
RTI International
RTI
The RTI-led team — which includes individuals at Colorado State University and Duke University — is developing a fully integrated toilet system that combines electrochemical disinfection technology for liquid waste processing and recovery, with a revolutionary new biomass energy conversion unit to both process the solid waste and convert it into energy.
Mission
The core project objectives are: 1) develop a sewage separation and conversion unit that produces combustable fuel from human feces and other solid wastes; 2) develop a biomass combustion module that uses thermoelectrics to generate electrical energy from the combustion of fuel created from human waste; 3) Develop an electrochemical disinfection system that prepares liquid recoveres from mixed human waste for disposal or reuse in an environmentally responsible manner; 4) Integrate all operational systems and achieve system TRL6 *; and 5) achieve incentive target of TRL7. * TRL stands for Technology Readiness LevelApproach
Duke University and Colorado State University are our key research partners. We are currently developing implementation partners based on a variety of discussions we have held with potential partners before, during, and after the design conference in Barcelona in April 2013 and a recent trip made by several RTI staff to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, and Mumbai in India in May 2013. This was an RTTC grant.Project website (A better toilet for a cleaner world)
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Filter / Tags
Product design and engineeringGlobalToilets or urinals (user interface)Treatment of wastewater or greywaterResource recovery Renewable energies and climate change (WG3)Fundamental research and engineeringOtherBill & Melinda Gates FoundationEnergy: fuel (liquid or solid)University, education or research institution
Related Countries
IndiaUnited States
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