An Eco-friendly Solution for Human
Waste Management
Bio Digester - A DRDO Presentation
S Radhakrishnan
OS & Director
Industry Interface & Technology Management
DRDO Bio Digester How and where it all began
Our journey began from Siachen
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Biodigesters
Metal Biodigesters
Biodigesters at Army Transit Camp
Pang (Altitude: 15200 Ft)
Spot test for inflammability of biogas
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Biodigester at Siachen
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Low Temperature Bio Digesters for High Altitude
For more than 8 years these toilets
are functioning in high altitudes
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DRDO Bio Digester for Civil Applications
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Priorities are Different
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60% (626 million) in India do not
have toilet
This makes India the number one
country in the world where open
defecation is practised
Indonesia with 63 million is a far
second!
Less than 10% of Gram
Panchayats in India are ODF
Telephone statistics - May 2012 ( Source: trai.gov.in )
Telephone Subscribers (Wireless and Landline): 960.0 million
Land Lines: 31.53 million
Cell phones: 929.37 million
Monthly Cell phone Addition: 8.35 million
Tele density: 79.28%
Annual Cell phone Addition: 227.27 million
Projected Tele density: 1.159 billion, 97% of population by 2013
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Problems of Open Defecation
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Pollution of fecal matter with drinking water leads to contamination of
food, fruits & vegetables, animals (direct contact, flies & rodents)
• Water borne diseases
• Viral gastroenteritis
• Typhoid
• Cholera epidemics
• Diarrhoea (annually kills 5 Lakhs children)
• Viral hepatitis (100 cases per 100,000 people)
• Organic pollution
• Aesthetic nuisance
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Dry Pit Toilets
Most commonly used by NGOs in TSC
Ventilated Dry
pit toilet
Twin (Dry) pit
toilet
The pits needs periodical evacuation
Manual scavenging problem not solved
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Twin-Pit Pour-Flush Toilet (Leach Pit Toilets)
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Courtesy: SSWM
Adapted from
http://www.k4rd.org/r
uraltech_pit.htm
[Accessed: 01.06.2010]
Apprx
16m2 reqd
4m X 4m
•
Junction /
Inspection
chamber
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Pit Depth
2m
Distance not
less than the
pit depth
Periodical cleaning of Pit Required
Manual
Scavenging NOT fully eliminated
Low water table area more frequent pit cleaning
required
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The pits are constructed in brick line
(much like a honeycomb to facilitate
the liquid to flow out) or with
perforated concrete tubes (eg. pre-fab)
Chances of Sewerage MIXING with
ground water table very high
A wooden or concrete slab to prevent
people falling into them
The pit shape can be circular or
rectangular, but circular pits are more
stable
Pits should be placed symmetrically at
the back of the latrine pan and have a
minimal distance of the pit depth to
prevent cross-contamination.
If the spacing between the two pits is to
be reduced, an impervious barrier
should be provided between them
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Septic Tank
Outlet to
drain / leach
pit
Sludge needs periodical evacuation (in case no drain more
frequent evacuation of septic tank required)
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AEROBIC Vs. ANAEROBIC
Aerobic biodegradation
Anaerobic biodegradation
Forced aeration/ agitation is essential
and is energy intensive
No aeration is required
Incomplete aeration (partial aerobic
condition) leads to foul smell
Complete anaerobic conditions
Not effective in pathogen inactivation
More than 99% Pathogens inactivation
Can not tolerate detergents/ phenyl
Anaerobes can even degrade detergents/
phenyl
Generates large amount of sludge
Sludge generation is very less
Repeated addition of bacteria/ enzyme is One time bacterial inoculation is
required for the process
enough
Maintenance & recurring cost is high
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Minimal maintenance & no recurring
cost
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DRDO TECHNOLOGY - BIOTOILET
BACTERIA
(INOCULUM)
BIO-DIGESTER
Anaerobic microbial consortium
developed by acclimatization /
enrichment of microbes at low
temperature and bio-augmentation
with critical group of bacteria
Fermentation container made of mild
steel / SS / FRP / bricks.
The dimensions and internal design
varies with no. Of users, water
availability and geo-climatic conditions
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STEPS IN ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
Large polymers are
converted into simpler monomers
Hydrolysis
Robust
Simple monomers are converted into
volatile fatty acids
Acidogenesis
Volatile fatty acids are converted into
acetic acid, CO2 & H2
Acetogenesis
Methanogenesis
Acetate & H2 are converted into
CH4 & CO2
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DRDO bio digester - Key benefits
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Zero maintenance
No need to evacuate the digester tank at all as
NO SLUDGE is formed
All faecal matter completely digested and
converted into water, methane ( bio gas) and
CO2
Bio digester tank sealed tank construction - no
mixing with ground water
When implemented in SATURATION MODE
and at every household, saves huge cost to
Govts in design of city/municipal drainage
systems (small drain pipes, less labour)
Rivers, lakes and water bodies will become
clean on its own in a short period - as raw
sewage do not enter
Huge cost saving for govt on health care
especially towards BPL families that depend
on open source water
No need for STP as effluent from BIO
DIGESTER is "safe"
Effluent Safety Studies
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Oral toxicity at 0.5% of effluent
➢ Acute toxicity
➢ Chronic toxicity
Extensive studies on animal models
conducted
No clinical signs such as excitability,
CNS stimulation, uncontrolled
urination, bulging eyes, depression
observed
No change in biochemical
parameters
No toxicity found in both rat and
fish models (Report: DRLT/PT/Tech
Report-Biodigester /01 /2012, May
2012)
FRP Tank 700 Ltr for
5 – 6 persons
Onboard Treatment of Human Waste in
Indian Railways
Indian Railways
• World’s largest rail
network 115000 km
• Runs 10000 trains
daily
• Approx 30 million
passengers travel by
train every day
• Around 60000
passenger coaches
Lifeline to the Nation ….
3 Crs Passengers travel daily in 60000 Coaches
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Installed Digesters
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15000 Bio digesters fitted in 5000 Coaches
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By 2016-17, all new coaches will be fitted with Bio
digesters
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Retro fitment of all old coaches will be completed
by 2021-22
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•
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Biotank: A Low Cost Ecofriendly
Alternative to Septic Tank
Size: 1/4th to 1/10th
Less space requirement
Low material/ construction
cost
Can treat bathroom/kitchen
wastewater also
No foul smell
Maintenance free
Bio Tank 1m3 1.2m X
1m X 1m
BioTank cum Reed Bed
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Conventional Drainage System
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
DRAIN (Semi Solid/ Sludge)
Polluted/ Untreated Water from STP
Polluted rivers
Bio-Digester: Flush & Forget Drainage System
Community Bio-Toilet Complex
Bio-Digester
Tank
Bio-Digester
Tank
Bio-Digester
Tank
Bio-Digester Tank
Bio-Digester Tank
Clean Affluent Water
Clean & Green Drainage System
Clean Water from Bio-Toilets
• No STP
• No Manual Scavenging
• Helps in Cleaning River
DRDO BIO DIGESTER
Green technology that has the
potential to "wipe out Manual
Scavenging" completely from the
face of the Earth in an Eco
Friendly and Cost Effective way
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BIODIGESTER/BIOTANK : WATER
QUALITY
Septic Tank
Biodigester/
Biotank
Biotank + Reed
bed treatment
pH
6.7-7.5
7.0-7.2
7.0-7.5
Turbidity (NTU)
500-800
70-90
2-5
90-120
50-80
Total Suspended Solids 150-300
(mg/L)
TDS(mg/L)
500-850
350-450
100-300
VS (mg/100ml)
50-60
20-30
5-12
COD (mg/L)
1200-2000
250-300
15-25
BOD 5 (mg/L)
350-500
70-120
2-4
Coliforms (MPN/ml)
>3000
300-350
0-12
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LANDMARKS
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Hon’ble PM inaugurating toilet complex based on DRDO
Biodigester @ Valmiki Mandir, New Delhi Oct 2nd 2014
Bio Digester - A DRDO
Presentation
Acknowledgements
• Dr Lokendra Singh
Director, DRDE, Gwalior
• Dr Vijay Veer, Director
Defence Lab Tezpur
• Mr Nirankar Saxena
Senior Director, FICCI
Hon’ble MoC built 40 individual household toilets based on DRDO Bio Digester
technology in her 2 adopted villages in West Godavari Distt, AP under Sansad
Adarsh Gram Yojana
DRDO Technology for Clean Ganga Initiative
DRDO Bio Digester for clean Ganga Initiative
3rd Nov 2012
3rd November
2012
INKING CEREMONY OF MOU BETWEEN DRDO & PARMATH NIKETAN
INAUGURATION OF MOBILE TOILETS BASED ON BIODIGESTER TECHNOLOGY
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
68th Independence Day 2014
…….Has it ever pained us that our mothers and sisters have to
defecate in open? Whether dignity of women is not our collective
responsibility?.....
…….Can`t we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of our
mothers and sisters?........
……… all schools in the country should have toilets with separate
toilets for girls. Only then our daughters will not be compelled to
leave schools midway. Our parliamentarians utilizing MPLAD fund
are there. I appeal to them to spend it for constructing toilets in
schools for a year…….