|
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/23288
|
Title: | Microwaving human faecal sludge as a viable sanitation technology option for treatment and value recovery |
Authors: | Afolabi, Oluwasola O.D. Sohail (Khan), M. |
Keywords: | Human faecal sludge Microwave Sanitation Waste management Resource recovery Low- and middle-income countries |
Issue Date: | 2017 |
Publisher: | © Elsevier |
Citation: | AFOLABI, O.O.D. and SOHAIL, M., 2017. Microwaving human faecal sludge as a viable sanitation technology option for treatment and value recovery. Journal of Environmental Management, 187, pp.401-415. |
Abstract: | The prolonged challenges and terrible consequences of poor sanitation, especially in developing economies, call for the exploration of new sustainable sanitation technologies. Such technologies must be: capable of effectively treating human faecal wastes without any health or environmental impacts; scalable to address rapid increases in population and urbanization; capable of meeting environmental regulations and standards for faecal management; and competitive with existing strategies. Further and importantly, despite its noxiousness and pathogenic load, the chemical composition of human faecal sludge indicates that it could be considered a potentially valuable, nutrient-rich renewable resource, rather than a problematic waste product. New approaches to faecal sludge management must consequently seek to incorporate a ‘valuable resource recovery’ approach, compatible with stringent treatment requirements. This review intends to advance the understanding of human faecal sludge as a sustainable organic-rich resource that is typically high in moisture (up to 97 per cent), making it a suitable candidate for dielectric heating, i.e. microwave irradiation, to promote faecal treatment, while also recovering value-added products such as ammonia liquor concentrate (suitable for fertilizers) and chars (suitable for fuel) – which can provide an economic base to sustain the technology. Additionally, microwaving human faecal sludge represents a thermally effective approach that can destroy pathogens, eradicate the foul odour associated human faecal sludge, while also preventing hazardous product formations and/or emissions, aside from other benefits such as improved dewaterability and heavy metals recovery. Key technological parameters crucial for scaling the technology as a complementary solution to the challenges of onsite sanitation are also discussed. |
Description: | This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Journal of Environmental Management and the definitive published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.067. |
Sponsor: | This research was supported by The Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle WA in the
‘Reinvent the Toilet Project’. |
Version: | Accepted |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.067 |
URI: | https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/23288 |
Publisher Link: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.067 |
ISSN: | 1095-8630 |
Appears in Collections: | Published Articles (Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering) Published Articles (WEDC)
|
Files associated with this item:
|
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
|