2011 - 2015 Fecal sludge extraction and disposal system in situ Disposal of human waste in situ by an column-like facility; evaporating liquid from raw sewage powered by solar-thermal energy; removing pathogens by raising temperature over 140C

Disposal human waste in situ by an column-like facility; Evaporation liquid from raw sewage powered by solar-thermal energy; remove pathogens by raising temperature over 140C; preferred on existing, inexpensive, practical, multi-disciplinary techniques and methods to solve the great challenge in limited term. Phase II proposes a waterless toilet with a complete Mini Waste Processor (MWP) that dries and sterilizes the human wastes in an automatic system. […]

2011 - 2014 Vortex bioreactors for the processing of fecal sludge and waste water Sterilizing pathogen contaminated water through bringing a destructive agent (e.g. a fully recyclable copper-alginate bead) into intense contact with the microbial fraction

Short description of the project: The bioreactor will find application in a wide variety of sanitation systems in a large number of countries: it is an extremely versatile tool for water sterilization. In this project, we will be focusing on testing the bioreactor as a means of treating the effluent separated from high BOD load sludge before further treatment, reuse or discharge.

2011 - 2016 New concepts for on-site sanitation based on bio-additives and pit design The project assesses the potential of modern biotechnology to deliver effective bio-additives which can accelerate decomposition processes and extend the lifetime of pit latrines.

The project assesses the potential of modern biotechnology to deliver effective bio-additives which can accelerate decomposition processes and extend the lifetime of pit latrines. It will also build a sound scientific understanding of the key factors influencing decomposition processes, including the potential of pit design to improve fill rates and longevity. At the same time, research will be undertaken to build a deeper understanding of […]

2012 - 2018 Nano membrane toilet To produce and field test a fully integrated working prototype of the Cranfield Nano Membrane Toilet, a sanitation system designed for household use in slum dwellings

Phase 3: To produce and field test a fully integrated working prototype of the Cranfield Nano Membrane Toilet, a sanitation system designed for household use in slum dwellings in developing countries Cranfield University is developing the Nano Membrane Toilet which will be able to treat human waste on-site without external energy or water. The Cranfield toilet is designed for single-household use (equivalent to 10 people) and […]

2011 - 2015 Unit operations approach for rapid disinfection of human waste based on drying/smoldering of solid and sand filtration/UV disinfection of liquid waste (Toronto Toilet) Household scale wastewater treatment plant through sanitizing feces within 24 hours through mechanical dehydration and smoldering and sanitizing urine through membrane filtration and ultraviolet disinfection.

To describe how it works, one needs to follow the process from beginning to end: the waste is collected through a squat-style toilet (the target market is Asia and Africa, where such toilets are common). Waste will then be separated into liquid and solid streams using standard de-watering techniques. Disinfection of the solid stream will proceed by means of smouldering, a flameless combustion process similar […]

2011 - 2015 Solar steam sterilizer for treatment of human waste Light-absorbing nanoparticles dispersed in water and illuminated by sunlight produce steam that is used to treat human excreta.

Solar steam generation, a recent discovery from the Halas lab at Rice University, is the technological breakthrough upon which this project is based. Light-absorbing nanoparticles, when dispersed in water and illuminated by sunlight, produce steam with only secondary heating of the fluid volume: more than 80% of the solar energy absorbed by the nanoparticles is converted directly into steam, with less than 20% contributing to […]

2011 - 2014 Shear extrusion to treat fecal waste (viscous heating effect on deactivation of helminth eggs) To develop a small-scale device in which an auger forces feces and other solid wastes device through a die that results in high temperatures and pressure that dewaters the waste and destroys microorganisms.

We have built and tested a laboratory scale device that can heat fecal and simulant materials up to 190C by friction generated between a rotating inner core and a fixed outer core. Current efforts focus on reclamation of water vaporized from the waste.

2011 - 2013 Sewage containment and mineralization device (SeCoM) To develop a fully autonomous, low maintenance, micro-sanitation and water re-purification system that will mineralize the organic matter from a single defecation and repurify the urine and flush water by entirely physical (non-microbial) processes.

2011 - 2018 Self-contained, PV-powered domestic toilet and wastewater treatment system Solar-powered electrochemical wastewater treatment system with recycle of the treated water back into the toilet flushing system.

The project is currently about ongoing development of the Caltech Solar Toilet technology and to identify and test further cost reductions in order to help make the technology available and accessible to the poor in developing countries

2011 - 2013 Overcoming a strategic roadblock to idealized sanitation The project works with Injection Molding Techniques. It will create an inherently low friction

The project is to create an inherently low friction "liquid ring type compressor" for waste water treatment in the developing world context.

2013 - 2015 Neighborhood-scale treatment of fecal sludge by supercritical oxidation The project seeks to demonstrate that both, supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) and supercritical water gasification (SCWG), a related technology, have prominent roles to play in solving the world’s sanitation challenges.

Engineers at Duke University and the University of Missouri are designing a unit that addresses the treatment of human waste and possible reuse of the system’s byproducts. It will sanitize the collected waste of approximately 1000-1200 people — a neighborhood-scale solution. The technology being employed, supercritical water oxidation (SCWO), is promising because it works quickly and generates energy in the forms of hot water and steam […]

2011 - 2012 Mobile waste to liquid fuels conversion plants The goal of this project is to design and construct a small-scale waste treatment plant for faecal sludge and municipal solid waste mixtures based on plasma gasification

Waste to energy conversion is a promising route for reducing the fossil fuel dependency of the world. Fermentation, chemical processing, pyrolysis and gasification have been the main processes used for transforming biomass and other “burnable” wastes into useful fuels like ethanol, methanol, biogas, bio-diesel, bio-oil, bio-hydrogen etc. Most works on the subject are focused on power generation or on the production of alternative fuels, while […]

2011 - 2013 Microorganisms with semiconducting membranes Introducing artificial molecular wires into the membranes of microbes within a waste treatment system as a way to break down organic contaminants and catalytically convert the metabolic energy in those microbes into electrical energy.

Our idea is to use naturally occurring microorganisms in order to turn sanitary waste into electricity. The main innovation is the use of synthetic conducting molecular wires that self assemble within microbial membranes, thereby increasing electrical conductivity and enabling extraction of electricity from contaminants in sanitary wastewater. Creating a technology that utilizes these modified microorganisms in conjunction with bioelectrochemical devices offers an innovative solution for […]

2011 - 2012 Hybrid microbial-electrochemical system for waste utilization A self-sustainable system for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity/biogas generation. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) generates electricity to power a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) system to produce biogas.

This project aims to develop a self-sustainable system for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity/biogas generation. This hybrid system is composed of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) to generate electricity from wastewater to directly power a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) system to produce biogas (biomethane and biohydrogen) for clean combustible fuel. Recent developments in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) such MFCs and MECs enabled clean production of electricity […]

2011 - 2017 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.

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.

2011 - 2013 Effective sewage sanitation with low CO2 footprint Provide proof of concept of anaerobic digestion coupled with heat sterilization for a self-sanitizing system for developing communities.

The overall objective of our project is to develop and demonstrate the proof of concept a novel self-contained and energy neutral sanitation technology that relies on anaerobic digestion of the wastes to generate biogas and utilization of the biogas thus produced to heat-sterilize the treated effluent. The system utilizes simple and reliable equipment so that it does not require a skilled operator or any special […]

2011 - 2013 Disinfection of latrine faecal sludge with ammonia naturally present in excreta (Safe Sludge) Ammonia (NH3) is a powerful disinfectant that can be produced from mixing urine and feces and adding an alkalinizing agent to raise the pH level. The safe sludge is compatible with downstream treatment and resource recovery.

Ammonia (NH3) is a powerful chemical disinfectant that previous research shown to inactivate pathogens. NH3 can be produced from mixing urine, which contains urea, and feces, which contains the enzyme urease. Urease is a catalyst that converts (via hydrolysis) urea into NH3. The safe sludge can then be converted to fertilizer or fuel. The goal of this project is to disinfect excreta in latrines by converting […]

2010 - 2012 Decentralized next generation sanitation for diarrheal pathogens: Windmill-driven ATAD (Autothermal, thermophilic aerobic digester) for increased pathogen removal To test an air-pumping windmill sanitation system using normal, existing flush toilets in actual variable weather conditions for its ability to raise and maintain temperatures in an insulated container for wet composting.

The goal of this project is to test an air-pumping windmill sanitation system using normal, existing flush toilets in actual variable weather conditions for its ability to raise and maintain temperatures in an insulated container for the removal of pathogens in human waste.

2011 - 2012 Cocopeat for treating septic tank effluent To test and commercialize an innovative biofilter medium harvested from crushed coconut shells. Cocopeat, the dust that remains after the coir (fibers) are removed, is proving to be an effective medium for treating wastewater.

We recently launched the first of several demonstration units for our cocopeat wastewater bioreactor technology project. For this component of the study, schools were chosen as the wastewater source for demonstrating the suitability of the technology for difficult applications. Schools represent a bigger challenge than many other sources for wastewater treatment technologies due to their highly variable flows. Systems must be able to function under […]

2011 - 2015 Breathable membrane enclosures for fecal sludge stabilization To test the use of breathable membranes to protect surrounding groundwater or floodwaters from contamination, while allowing fecal sludge to condense and stabilize.

We’re using “breathable membranes” to improve the performance and usability of basic latrines. Unlike most membranes used in environmental applications, these are hydrophobic in nature, which means they block the passage of liquid water and anything dissolved or suspended in the water, including pollutants and pathogens. However, they do allow water vapor to pass through. Because of this property, the membranes can be used as […]