Poo Power: Turning Waste Into Electricity

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have invented a new toilet system that turns human waste into electricity and fertilizers.

AsianScientist (Jun. 28, 2012) – Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have invented a new toilet system that turns human waste into electricity and fertilizers.

According to the team, the toilet also reduces the amount of water needed for flushing by up to 90 percent compared to existing toilet systems in Singapore.

Known as the No-Mix Vacuum Toilet, the system uses vacuum suction technology and took the team one and a half years to develop.

It has two chambers that separate liquid and solid wastes, and uses only 0.2 liters of water to flush liquid waste and one liter for solid waste – much less than the four to six liters per flush in regular systems.

The liquid waste is diverted to a processing facility where components used for fertilizers can be recovered, while the solid waste is sent to a bioreactor and digested to release bio-gas that contains methane. The methane gas may be used in stoves for cooking, or processed to electricity to fuel power plants or cells.

With the new system, it is not just human waste which can be put into good use.

The researchers say that used water from the laundry, shower, and kitchen sink can be released back into drainage systems without additional complex waste water treatment. Leftover food waste can be sent either to the bioreactors or turned into compost and mixed with soil, resulting in a complete recovery of resources.

“Having the human waste separated at source and processed on-site would lower costs needed in recovering resources, as treating mixed waste is energy intensive and not cost-effective,” said project leader Associate Professor Wang Jing-Yuan.

The team is carrying out six-month trials by installing prototypes of the toilet in two NTU restrooms. If all goes well, the team aims to commercialize the new system within the next three years.

——

Source: NTU
Disclaimer: This artice does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist