ABSTRACT
Pyrolysis of human feces renders the waste free of pathogens and is a potential method of treating fecal sludge waste collected from non-sewered systems. Slow pyrolysis experiments were conducted on human feces and the char yield and gas evolution quantified at 1-10⯰C/min heating rates. Char yield ranged from 35.1 to 35.8% (dry mass basis), while the gas yield ranged from 17.2 to 29.6% (dry mass basis). The pyrolysis gases detected were CO, CO2, CH4, C2H6, and H2. These non-condensable gases contained a higher heating value (HHV) ranging from 7.2 to 22.8â¯MJ/Nm3. Kinetic analysis was done by a pyrolysis reaction model free method (Isoconversional) as well as a DAEM (Distributed Activated Energy Model) method that assumes many irreversible first order reactions. Both yielded very close values for activation energy ranging from 141â¯kJ/mol to 409â¯kJ/mol, with half of the biomass conversion happening at 241.5⯱â¯2.9â¯kJ/mol. The findings of the research provide useful technical information that can guide the design of a pyrolysis system to treat fecal waste. Social acceptance and scale-up issues need to be addressed through further research.
Subject(s)
Gases , Pyrolysis , Feces , Hot Temperature , Humans , Kinetics , ThermogravimetryABSTRACT
The developing world faces dual crises of escalating energy demand and lack of urban sanitation infrastructure that pose significant burdens on the environment. This article presents results of a study evaluating the feasibility of using human feces-derived char as a solid fuel for heating and cooking and a potential way to address both crises. The study determined the energy content and the elemental composition of chars pyrolyzed at 300, 450, and 750 °C. Fecal chars made at 300 °C were found to be similar in energy content to wood chars and bituminous coal, having a heating value of 25.6 ± 0.08 MJ/kg, while fecal chars made at 750 °C had an energy content of 13.8 ± 0.48 MJ/kg. The higher heating values of the studied chars were evaluated using their elemental composition and a published predictive model; results found good agreement between the measured and predicted values. Fecal chars made at low temperatures were briquetted with molasses/lime and starch binders. Briquettes made with 10% starch had an average impact resistance index of 79 and a higher heating value of 25 MJ/kg. These values are comparable to those of commercial charcoal briquettes, making fecal char briquettes a potential substitute that also contributes to the preservation of the environment.