Fecal Sludge Treatment by Anaerobic Digestion

Abstract

As the world population is increasing with time so are the environmental problems. One of the environmental problem that world is facing today is poor water and sanitation conditions existing in most parts ofthe world. 1.1 billion people across the world do not have access to toilet facilities and they practice open defecation. The current situation of Pakistan is also not very different. According to a research report approximately 21.8 million people in Pakistan practice open defecation which results in a death of 53000 children from diarrhea each year. To address this issue fecal sludge management comes into the play. It is basically a chain of collection, storage, transport, treatment and reuse. Massive amount of money is involved in the treatment step, so we provided a cost effective, safe and sustainable treatment option. The main objectives of the study were to analyze the characteristic of fecal sludge, lab scale analysis of fecal sludge alone for biogas production and at different C/N. And pilot scale reactor design on optimized conditions. The maximum biogas production (670 ml/g VS) was achieved in co-digestion of fecal sludge and fruit waste, at C/N 30 and minimum biogas production (470 ml/g VS) in anaerobic digestion of fecal sludge alone. The pilot scale was designed of C/N 30.