Hygiene aspect of treating human urine by alkaline dehydration

Abstract

Over four billion people are discharging untreated human excreta into the environment without any prior treatment, causing eutrophication and spreading disease. The most nutrient rich fraction is the urine. Urine can be collected separately and dehydrated in an alkaline bed producing a nutrient rich fertiliser. However, faecal cross-contamination during the collection risks to introduce pathogens to the urine. The objective of this hygiene assessment was to study the inactivation of five microorganisms (Ascaris suum, Enterococcus faecalis, bacteriophages MS2 and Phi X 174 and Salmonella spp) in alkaline dehydrated urine. Fresh human urine was dehydrated in wood ash at 42 degrees C until the pH decreased to

Keywords

Alkaline treatment; Sanitation; Fertiliser; Pathogen; Urine diversion; Urine concentration; Volume reduction

Published in

Water Research
2018, volume: 144, pages: 474-481
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

• Senecal-Smith, Jenna

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nordin, Annika

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Simha, Prithvi

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Vinnerås, Björn

  • Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG3 Good health and well-being
SDG6 Clean water and sanitation

UKÄ Subject classification

Water Treatment

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.07.030

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96915