Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7453852 | Energy for Sustainable Development | 2015 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Improving access to sanitation is one of the most effective means to improve public health. Anaerobic digestion of high-strength undiluted human simulant excreta was investigated in laboratory systems. The focus was on demonstrating the suitability of using simple unmixed anaerobic digesters for the treatment of a simulant high-strength undiluted human excreta and to quantify the effects of high ammonia concentration on the biogas yield. A maximum biogas yield of 0.44 NLbiogas gâ 1COD was obtained in batch experiments, while yields of 0.38 and 0.24 NLbiogas gâ 1COD were obtained at 5 and 8 g total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) Lâ 1, respectively. Using an inoculum acclimated to high ammonia concentrations was critical to successful biogas production at these high TAN concentrations. Stable long-term anaerobic digestion of simulant human excreta at ammonia concentrations ranging from 5.20 to 7.15 g-N Lâ 1 was obtained in a scaled-down mimic of a low cost floating dome anaerobic digester. Overall, the results demonstrate that anaerobic digestion of undiluted human simulant excreta in simple unmixed digesters is feasible and yields biogas, which is a valuable commodity. When combined with proper hygienization of its effluent, anaerobic digestion could contribute to effective sanitation in developing countries with limited water availability.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Energy
Energy (General)
Authors
Joan Colón, Aaron A. Forbis-Stokes, Marc A. Deshusses,