Conversion of human waste into biochar using pyrolysis at a community-scale facility in Kenya

Purpose

To design, build, and test a self-contained system that can pyrolyze (decompose organic material at high temperatures without oxygen) human solid waste into a type of biological charcoal (biochar) that captures and stores carbon.

Activities

In the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge (RTTC), researchers from all over the world are challenged to come up with a radical new technology for treating human waste, and eventually making it accessible for the whole world. Just treatment is not enough though; the solution has to be affordable, and has to produce valuable elements from the waste - either energy, clean water, nutrients, or all. Phase 1 of the RTTC was aimed at proving the feasibility of the technology; in August 2012, a working prototype of the biochar reactor was demonstrated at the Reinvent the Toilet Fair at the headquarters of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Together with Sanergy in Nairobi, the technology will be developed further to make it ready to process human waste on a large scale in Kenya.

Countries of activity

Location of main activity

Objectives

The goal of this project is to design, build, and test a self-contained system that can pyrolyze (decompose organic material at high temperatures without oxygen) human solid waste into a type of biological charcoal (biochar) that captures and stores carbon. The design target of phase 1 was to deliver a proof of concept of the technology, towards the ultimate goal of processing two tons of human waste daily at a facility located in the slums of Nairobi.

Further information

Research or implementation partners: Stanford University

Biomass Controls was also a partner: Biomass Controls was included in a consultancy role for the development and adaption of pyrolysis technology to run on human solid waste feedstocks.

Filter tags

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation East Asia & Pacific Energy: fuel (liquid or solid) Faecal sludge treatment processes Fundamental research and engineering Global Local NGO Product design and engineering Resource recovery Sub-Saharan Africa Urban (entire city)

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