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Jothinathan H, Singh AP. Fecal sludge characterization, treatment, and resource recovery options: a state-of-the-art review on fecal sludge management. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:119549-119567. [PMID: 37945951 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30539-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
A rise in population and urbanization demanded that a robust fecal sludge management (FSM) value chain be used to restructure the sanitation system throughout the world securely. A significant global need exists to adopt efficient and sustainable FSM. On-site sanitation systems (OSS) produce fecal sludge (FS). FS is produced when excreta and blackwater are combined and stored or treated, either alone or in combination with greywater. FS can be semisolid or slurry and raw or partially digested. Critical examination of FS characteristics, i.e., biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), and pathogen count, varies from 600-56,836 mg/l, 6656 to 201,200 mg/l, 830-123,000 mg/l, and 105 to 109 E. coli/l of FS respectively. Helminth eggs range from 2500-25,000/l of FS. Public health and the environment are negatively impacted by septic tank overflows and the careless discharge of FS into open spaces affecting groundwater quality, water bodies, irrigation fields, open drains, places outside villages, etc. Thus, deciding on a proper treatment technology for FS before discharging it into open land or reusing FS is essential to create a pollution-free environment. This paper highlights the practices adopted for FSM under its different processes, such as collecting, characterization, treating, and reusing of on-site FS and bibliometric analysis on documents on fecal sludge. A thorough analysis has been carried out by reviewing all important literature available globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harishvar Jothinathan
- Civil Engineering Department, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Ajit Pratap Singh
- Civil Engineering Department, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, India.
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2
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Kachoria P, Sasidaran S, Welling CM, Rosario P, Zhou J, Chakrabarty K, Gründl H, Kristoferitsch L, Grego S. Sensor-based evaluation of a Urine Trap toilet in a shared bathroom. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159178. [PMID: 36202366 PMCID: PMC9742848 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Urine diversion in a No-Mix Toilet is a promising approach for sustainable fertilizers and reduction of the nutrient load for wastewater treatment; however, user adoption remains a challenge. This study evaluates the Urine Trap, a passive No-Mix toilet design based on the teapot effect, wherein the urine stream inlet is invisible to the user and therefore it does not impact the user experience for increased adoption. This study evaluated the nutrient separation performance of a Urine Trap flush toilet in a bathroom shared by women in two sites in India. Over three different testing periods, 841 uses of this squat plate were recorded in 50 days. Analytical measurements found 36 % separation efficiency for total nitrogen (TN). While effective, the Urine Trap under test by users did not yield a 70-80 % TN separation efficiency observed under engineering characterization. High temporal resolution data from sensors on waste collection tanks, the opening of the bathroom door, and cleansing water flow were used to gain insights into hygiene practices. The data showed a frequent habit of wetting the squat plate during physiological excretion, a hygienic practice that eases cleaning but degrades the teapot separation effect of the Urine Trap design. By using sensors, we demonstrate a method to non-invasively gain quantitative insights into hygiene practices to inform sanitation technologies deployment strategies for improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Claire M Welling
- Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WASH-AID), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Jin Zhou
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Harald Gründl
- EOOS Design GmbH, Zelinkagasse 2/6, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Sonia Grego
- Center for Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Infectious Disease (WASH-AID), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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3
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Purkayastha D, Sarkar S. Performance evaluation of black soldier fly larvae fed on human faeces, food waste and their mixture. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 326:116727. [PMID: 36372040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL)-based technology has been proposed and tested for treatment and valorization of human faeces, food waste and a mixture of 75% human faeces with 25% food waste. Experiments were conducted between 15 and 45 °C and 55-75% relative humidity. BSFL's performance for the degradation of the mixed waste was significantly better than their performances when used for the degradation of either human faeces or food waste fed alone, primarily due to the availability of more conducive pH, and better microbial and nutrient balance. The abiotic factors, temperature and relative humidity impacted the decomposition rate and weight gain pattern of BSFL when they were fed on the waste streams. The results showed that the optimum conditions to conduct the proposed BSFL-based treatment was 31-35 °C and 55-75% RH. The protein content in the BSFL was not impacted significantly by the quality of the waste stream, whereas the fat content varied substantially. The abiotic factors also impacted the protein and fat content of BSFL. The investigation led to the estimation of the decomposition rates over a wide range of temperature and relative humidity conditions, which could be useful for the design of large-scale BSFL-based treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasree Purkayastha
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
| | - Sudipta Sarkar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India.
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Stakeholder Assessment on Closing Nutrient Cycles through Co-Recycling of Biodegradable Household Kitchen Waste and Black Water between Rural and Urban Areas in South India. RECYCLING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/recycling7040049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural land degradation, urban migration, increasing food demand and waste, and inadequate sanitation systems all affect farmers, local society, and the environment in South India. Joint recycling of biodegradable secondary household resources to close nutrient cycles between urban and rural regions can address all these challenges and thus several SDGs at the same time. Efforts are being made to this end, but many attempts fail. The central research question is, therefore: how can co-recycling concepts be evaluated in this context? For this purpose, composting plants, biogas fermenters, and a high-tech concept to produce plant charcoal, design fertilizer, and biopolymers are considered. The aim of this study is to evaluate the recycling concepts from the stakeholders’ perspective to avoid gaps between theory and practice. Six expert and one focus group interviews on two successful on-site case studies and 15 online expert interviews with thematic actors were qualitatively evaluated and presented in a social network analysis to identify preferences and indicators for the further evaluation of co-recycling concepts. The results show that the focus is on mature technologies such as compost and biogas. High-tech solutions are currently still in rudimentary demand but will play a more important role in the future. To evaluate such concepts, seven key indicators and their measured values were identified and clustered into the categories ecological, social, technical, economic, and connective. The results show that this methodology of close interaction with stakeholders and the evaluation of successful regional case studies minimize the gap between practice and theory, contribute to several goals of the SDGs, and thus enable such concepts to be implemented sustainably.
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Quantifying Total Phosphorus and Heavy Metals in Residential Septage. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12073336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Septic systems are used for wastewater treatment in rural areas. Septic tanks promote stratification of wastewater into solid (sludge and scum) and liquid layers. Pollutant concentrations in the layers of residential septic tanks may be highly variable, and thus septage pumped from tanks with different layer thicknesses may also be variable. The goal of this study was to quantify the total phosphorus (TP) and heavy metal concentrations and masses of residential septage. The solid and liquid layer thicknesses were measured in 37 septic tanks. Samples were collected from each layer for pollutant concentration analysis. The median TP concentration (10.6 mg L−1) was greatest in the sludge layer, followed by the scum (5.3 mg L−1) and liquid (1.8 mg L−1) layers. Concentrations of heavy metals were highly variable for each layer type. The masses of the TP, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc contained median (range) values of 19.4 g (0.9–1041 g), <0.01 g (<0.01–1.99 g), 1.3 g (0.1–520 g), 1.8 g (<0.01–44.2 g), 1.3 g (<0.01–4.3 g), and 13.8 g (0.3–788 g), respectively. Since septage is typically applied on land as a soil amendment for crop growth, it is important that representative composite samples are collected to prevent excess buildup of TP and metals, which may harm yields or environmental health.
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Pagsuyoin SA, Luo J, Chain FJ. Effects of sewer biofilm on the degradation of drugs in sewage: A microcosm study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127666. [PMID: 34774351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A thorough understanding of the in-sewer stability of chemical biomarkers is critical in applying wastewater-based surveillance of community drug use. In this study, we examined the effects of sewer biofilm on the degradation of commonly abused drugs, namely, morphine, fentanyl, cocaine, and amphetamine, in wastewater using 48-h batch degradation tests. The experiments were designed to distinguish among abiotic, biochemical, and physical degradation processes, and used mature biofilm obtained from an actual sewer line. Parallel microcosm tests were conducted using wastewater with and without suspended biofilm. Results indicate that first order kinetics describe the degradation of the drugs in both wastewater and wastewater-biofilm microcosms. Amphetamine was most stable in all microcosms, with a maximum removal of only 34% after 48 h. Abiotic chemical transformation played a major role in the degradation of morphine (kab = 0.018 h-1), fentanyl (kab = 0.022 h-1) and cocaine (kab = 0.049 h-1) in wastewater. Fentanyl removal from wastewater was also influenced by the presence of biofilm (kf = 0.015 h-1). This study is the first to report on the effect of sewer biofilm on fentanyl degradation, and highlights the need to account for in-sewer drug stability in wastewater-based drug use estimation, particularly for chemicals with high affinity for organics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheree A Pagsuyoin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
| | - Jiayue Luo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
| | - Frédéric J Chain
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
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Chandana N, Rao B. A critical review on sludge management from onsite sanitation systems: A knowledge to be revised in the current situation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111812. [PMID: 34363803 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Access to safe excreta disposal is a basic human right and an essential element of human development. Developing countries (like India) have constructed millions of toilets with on-site sanitation technologies (OSTs). However, these OSTs lack the required management system for collection, transportation and disposal of Faecal Sludge (FS, sludge getting accumulated in OST), leading to considerable water and soil pollution. The major challenge in FS Management is the collation of scattered data and concentrated experiences (i.e., existing knowledge remains with the practitioners in the field without a written record). Therefore, a critical review of existing knowledge on OST, FS collection, transportation, and its utilisation is essential. This study highlighted shortcomings associated with existing OST, FS collection, transportation, and treatment systems. Furthermore, this study provided a framework for appropriate selection of OST based on available sanitation chains, and a critical analysis of FS characteristics (i.e., total solids, pH, electrical conductivity, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and pathogens of FS ranged from 830 to 72000 mg/L, 6.8 to 7.8, 1.9 to 3.5 mS/cm, 500-5000 mg/L, 100 to 49,000 mg/L, and 106 to 107 E-coli and 103 to 104 parasitic worms per litre of FS, respectively) to design treatment systems for FS utilisation as a resource in agricultural, aqua-culture, and construction application.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Chandana
- Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.
| | - Bakul Rao
- Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.
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Forbis-Stokes AA, Kalimuthu A, Ravindran J, Deshusses MA. Technical evaluation and optimization of a mobile septage treatment unit. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 277:111361. [PMID: 32950778 PMCID: PMC7695683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A mobile septage treatment unit was built in India using readily available filters and membranes (mesh fabric, sand, granular activated carbon (GAC), microfilter, ultrafilter) and installed on the bed of a small truck. The target application was emptying of septic or sewage holding tanks and concentration of suspended solids while generating a liquid that could be discharged. The system was evaluated for operational and treatment performance while processing septage in the field at 108 sites in Tamil Nadu, India. After one phase of evaluation (Phase I), the system was improved and three replicate systems with slight modifications were fabricated for a second round of evaluation (Phase II) alongside the original, but modified unit. In Phase I, 105 m3 of septage was processed at an average flow of 623 L h-1 and with high removal efficiencies: 83% chemical oxygen demand (COD), 75% total suspended solids (TSS), and 98.4% total coliform (TC). In Phase II, the original and three new systems combined treated 168 m3 of septage. One of the new systems doubled in capacity and processed septage at an average flow of 2700 L h-1 while the other three averaged 1290 L h-1. The removal efficiencies in Phase II were 80% COD, 81% TSS, and 99% TC averaged between the four systems. Pass through of soluble contaminants (e.g. soluble COD, NH3-N) remain the primary challenge for treatment performance. Success may be limited with some septage due to seasonality, location, or septage age, and further validation and optimization may be necessary. However, the septage in this study was treated to local standards, and the system offers a method of onsite treatment while reducing the need of costly and often inefficient septage emptying services. Further, the system can be produced at a cost competitive to traditional septage hauling trucks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron A Forbis-Stokes
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Triangle Environmental Health Initiative, Durham, NC, USA.
| | | | | | - Marc A Deshusses
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Welling CM, Sasidaran S, Kachoria P, Hennessy S, Lynch BJ, Teleski S, Chaudhari H, Sellgren KL, Stoner BR, Grego S, Hawkins BT. Field testing of a household-scale onsite blackwater treatment system in Coimbatore, India. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136706. [PMID: 32019042 PMCID: PMC7043008 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
4.2 billion people live without access to safely managed sanitation services. This report describes the field testing of an onsite prototype system designed to treat blackwater from a single flush toilet and reuse of the treated effluent for flushing. The system passes wastewater through a solid-liquid separator followed by settling tanks and granular activated carbon columns into an electrochemical reactor that oxidizes chloride salts from urine to generate chlorine to remove pathogens. The objectives of the study were to verify the functionality of the system (previously demonstrated in the laboratory) under realistic use conditions, to identify maintenance requirements, and to make a preliminary assessment of the system's user acceptability. The prototype was installed in a women's workplace and residential toilet block in Coimbatore, India, and tested over a period of 10 months. The treated water met stringent disinfection threshold for both E. coli and helminth eggs and produced a clear, colorless effluent that met or nearly met local and international discharge standards for non-sewered sanitation systems. The effluent had an average chemical oxygen demand of 81 mg/L, total suspended solids of 11 mg/L, and reduction of total nitrogen by 65%. These tests determined the recommended service lifetimes and maintenance intervals for key system components including the electrochemical cell, granular activated carbon columns, and solid-liquid separator. User feedback regarding the use of treated blackwater as flush water was positive. These findings will inform the design and implementation of next-generation systems currently under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M Welling
- Duke University Center for WaSH-AID and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Sarah Hennessy
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Triangle Environmental Health Initiative, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Katelyn L Sellgren
- Duke University Center for WaSH-AID and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian R Stoner
- Duke University Center for WaSH-AID and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sonia Grego
- Duke University Center for WaSH-AID and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian T Hawkins
- Duke University Center for WaSH-AID and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Durham, NC, USA.
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Barani V, Hegarty-Craver M, Rosario P, Madhavan P, Perumal P, Sasidaran S, Basil M, Raj A, Berg AB, Stowell A, Heaton C, Grego S. Characterization of fecal sludge as biomass feedstock for thermal treatment in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Gates Open Res 2020; 2:52. [PMID: 32803126 PMCID: PMC7383100 DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.12870.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Transformative sanitation technologies aim to treat fecal sludge (FS) by thermal processes and recover resources from it. There is a paucity of data describing the relevant properties of FS as viable feedstock for thermal treatment in major geographical target areas, such as India. Methods: This study characterized FS collected from septic tanks in two cities located in the Indian southern state of Tamil Nadu. FS samples were obtained at the point of discharge from trucks in Tiruppur (n=85 samples) and Coimbatore (n=50 samples). Additionally, biosolids obtained from sewage treatment plants (STP) in the cities of Coimbatore and Madurai were characterized. Total solids (TS) were measured, and proximate and ultimate analysis were conducted according to methods used by the fuel industry. Additionally, the ash content was analyzed for heavy metal using standard methods. Results: The average higher heating value (HHV) across all FS samples in Tiruppur (13.4 MJ/kg) was significantly higher than in Coimbatore (5.4 MJ/kg), which was partially attributed to the high ash content of 69% in the latter samples. The HHV of the biosolids samples ranged from 10 to 12.2 MJ/Kg. The average total solids (TS) content for FS was 3.3% and 2.0% for Tiruppur and Coimbatore respectively, while the median TS content for the two cities was 2.3% and 1.2%. The heavy metal content of the ash was found to be below the thresholds for land disposal. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies that has systematically characterized the calorific and mineral content of septage and biosolids in several cities in India. We expect these data to serve as input data in the design of thermal processes for fecal sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viswa Barani
- PSG Institute for Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, TN, 641004, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Milan Basil
- RTI International - India, New Delhi, 100037, India
| | - Antony Raj
- RTI International - India, New Delhi, 100037, India
| | - Adrian B. Berg
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Andrea Stowell
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Camille Heaton
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Sonia Grego
- Center for WaSH-AID, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
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Barani V, Hegarty-Craver M, Rosario P, Madhavan P, Perumal P, Sasidaran S, Basil M, Raj A, Berg AB, Stowell A, Heaton C, Grego S. Characterization of fecal sludge as biomass feedstock in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Gates Open Res 2018; 2:52. [PMID: 32803126 PMCID: PMC7383100 DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.12870.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Transformative sanitation technologies aim to treat fecal sludge (FS) by thermal processes and recover resources from it. There is a paucity of data describing the relevant properties of FS as viable feedstock for thermal treatment in major geographical target areas, such as India. Methods: This study characterized FS collected from septic tanks in two cities located in the Indian southern state of Tamil Nadu. FS samples were obtained at the point of discharge from trucks in Tiruppur (n=85 samples) and Coimbatore (n=50 samples). Additionally, biosolids obtained from sewage treatment plants (STP) in the cities of Coimbatore and Madurai were characterized. Proximate and ultimate analysis as conducted by the fuel industry was carried out. Results: The average higher heating value (HHV) across all FS samples in Tiruppur (13.4 MJ/kg) was much higher than the value for FS in Coimbatore (5.4 MJ/kg), which was partially attributed to the high ash content of 69% in the latter samples. The HHV in the biosolids samples ranged between 10 and 12.2 MJ/Kg. The average total solids (TS) content for FS was 3.3% and 2.0% for Tiruppur and Coimbatore respectively, while the median TS content for the two cities was 2.3% and 1.2%. The heavy metal content of the ash was found to be below the thresholds for land disposal. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies that has systematically characterized fecal sludge in cities in India and determined its calorific content. We expect these data to serve as input data in the design of thermal processes for fecal sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viswa Barani
- PSG Institute for Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, TN, 641004, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Milan Basil
- RTI International - India, New Delhi, 100037, India
| | - Antony Raj
- RTI International - India, New Delhi, 100037, India
| | - Adrian B. Berg
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Andrea Stowell
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Camille Heaton
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Sonia Grego
- Center for WaSH-AID, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
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12
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Grego S, Barani V, Hegarty-Craver M, Raj A, Perumal P, Berg AB, Archer C. Soil-transmitted helminth eggs assessment in wastewater in an urban area in India. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2018; 16:34-43. [PMID: 29424716 PMCID: PMC7734373 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2017.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Water quality and sanitation are inextricably linked to prevalence and control of soil-transmitted helminth infections, a public health concern in resource-limited settings. India bears a large burden of disease associated with poor sanitation. Transformative onsite sanitation technologies are being developed that feature elimination of pathogens including helminth eggs in wastewater treatment. We are conducting third-party testing of multiple sanitation technology systems in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) India. To ensure stringent testing of the pathogen removal ability of sanitation technologies, the presence of helminth eggs in wastewater across the town of Coimbatore was assessed. Wastewater samples from existing test sites as well as desludging trucks servicing residential and non-residential septic tanks, were collected. The AmBic methodology (based on washing, sieving, sedimenting and floating) was used for helminth egg isolation. We tested 29 different source samples and found a 52% prevalence of potentially infective helminth eggs. Identification and enumeration of helminth species is reported against the septage source (private residential vs. shared toilet facility) and total solids content. Trichuris egg counts were higher than those of hookworm and Ascaris from desludging trucks, whereas hookworm egg counts were higher in fresh wastewater samples. Surprisingly, no correlation between soil transmitted helminth eggs and total solids was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Grego
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina NC-27709, USA E-mail:
| | - Viswa Barani
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Peelamedu, Coimbatore 641004, India
| | - Meghan Hegarty-Craver
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina NC-27709, USA E-mail:
| | - Antony Raj
- RTI Global India, 21 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019, India
| | | | - Adrian B Berg
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina NC-27709, USA E-mail:
| | - Colleen Archer
- Pollution Research Group, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
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Karolinczak B, Dąbrowski W. Effectiveness of septage pre-treatment in vertical flow constructed wetlands. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2017; 76:2544-2553. [PMID: 29144312 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2017.398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Septage is wastewater stored temporarily in cesspools. A periodic supply of its significant quantities to small municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may cause many operational problems. In the frame of the research, it has been proposed to utilize vertical flow constructed wetlands for pre-treatment of septage prior to its input to the biological stage of a WWTP. The aim of the work was to assess the effectiveness of pre-treatment in relation to factors such as: seasonality, hydraulic load, pollutants load of the VF bed and interactions between these factors. The results proved that application of a VF bed to septage pre-treatment can significantly reduce the concentration of pollutants (biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5): 82%, chemical oxygen demand (COD): 82%, total suspended solids (TSS): 91%, total nitrogen (TN): 47%, ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N): 70%), and thus decrease the loading of the biological stage of a WWTP. The mathematical models of mass removal process were created. They indicate that in case of all analysed parameters, removed load goes up with the increase of load in the influent. However, with the increase of hydraulic load, a decrease of the removed BOD5, COD, TSS and total phosphorus, and in vegetation period an increase of TN, can be observed in terms of load. There are no statistically significant effects of seasonality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Karolinczak
- Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 20, Warsaw 00-653, Poland E-mail:
| | - Wojciech Dąbrowski
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, 45A Wiejska St., Bialystok 15-351, Poland
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Dewatering and Treatment of Septage Using Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands. TECHNOLOGIES 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/technologies5040070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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