Fecal sludge to biodiesel – production of chemicals, pathogen reduction and feedstock variability
2011 - 2015 • Columbia University in New York
Purpose
Developing a technology based on anaerobic fermentation and digestion to convert faecal sludge into biodiesel precursors and biogas and setting up a social enterprise model that reinvests the revenues into improving sanitation for the urban poor.
Activities
This project focuses on the development of a resource-recovery based sanitation technology. which uses fecal sludge as a feedstock for producing biodiesel and biogas. The technology development is being conducted by a team of nine American and Ghanaian engineers based in Kumasi, with the oversight of Prof. Kartik Chandran of Columbia University. Technology development is accompanied by development of a social business model that aims to use revenue from energy products to help finance and incentivize complete and sustained urban sanitation.
Countries of activity
Location of main activity
Objectives
1) Developing a bioprocess technology to convert the organic compounds present in fecal sludge to biodiesel and biogas.
2) Piloting the technology in Kumasi, Ghana at a design capacity of 10,000 L fecal sludge per day
3) Integrating the bioprocess technology component into a social enterprise business model that will further promote widespread implementation of this approach and technology across the globe.
Further information
Research or implementation partners: Kartik Chandran Laboratories at Columbia University School of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, and the Ghanaian company Waste Enterprisers Ltd.
Filter tags
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Biogas systems Energy: fuel (liquid or solid) Faecal sludge treatment processes Fundamental research and engineering Global North America Product design and engineering Renewable energies and climate change Resource recovery Sub-Saharan Africa Treatment of wastewater or greywater University, education or research institution
Links
Uploaded by:
Trevor Surridge (tmsinnovation)
