Human Urine and Excreta, Inexpensive Source of Biogas
Human Urine and Excreta, Inexpensive Source of Biogas
By Viola Woolcott
All living beings on this planet produce waste in some form or the other and as per the principle of five kingdoms of nature, waste of one kingdom can become a resource for another, providing energy and other nutritional needs.
The mother of invention often becomes a necessity in developing countries, where food is scarce and reliable energy supplies are even scarcer. It is Uganda, where farmers have resorted to using human urine and excreta, which is than mixed in with banana peels, algae, water hyacinth and poultry droppings as an inexpensive source of biogas.
Heifer International Uganda (HIU), an NGO are working to reduce hunger and poverty around the world by sharing livestock and knowledge.
In an effort to stave off the growing threat of deforestation in Uganda, HIU is working with several partners to build biogas plants; the inflammable gas is typically produced by bacteria in an air tight container called a digester. Biogas made from excreta contains 60 - 90% methane - enough for it to burn without further purification. There are currently three available plant models: floating, polythene tubular system and Chinese fixed dome - the latter of which is most commonly used by HIU’s beneficiaries.
“It keeps the environment free of organic wastes, is convenient, time-saving and reduces smoke-related illnesses often associated with the use of firewood. If the majority of Ugandans adopted biogas, we would preserve our biodiversity. People should exploit decomposing raw materials, which are free. Biogas plant maintenance is not regular, constant energy, no load shedding, local technicians are available, appliances are now locally-made and there is no metering. Therefore, no monthly power tariffs,” explained Patrick Nalere, the Heifer Project International country director.
In Uganda’s Mukono district - where the technology is being used for cooking, lighting pressure lamps and in various engines - the residents are already reaping the benefits: Many are pulling themselves out of poverty and are using its byproduct, a “slurry,” to enrich their soil, contributing to larger crop outputs.
Click on the link for interesting information
Use of Human Excreta for Agriculture - Experiences
Filed under: Environment | Green Issues on January 15th, 2008
Greetings:
It’s amazing what people with almost no resources have accomplished. I am interested in replicating your accomplishments in my country. Could you give me a blueprint on designs for a Biogas Digester utilizing human excreta and the ratios of its combination with other indigenous material?
May you continually be blessed.
Lee
Hi Liam - here are a few links where you can read an inform yourself and where you may get some ideas from. It be nice to hear how you get on and what you think.
www.green-trust.org/methane.htm
www.antiquaimages.com/Biogas/ab5%5B1%5D.html
www.biorealis.com/digester/construction.html
www.echotech.org/mambo/images/DocMan/Biogas%20-%20Horizontal.pdf
www.esa.un.org/iys/docs/san_lib_docs/ESR1web%5B1%5D.pdf
www.wcasfmra.org/biogas_docs/www.fao.org_docrep.pdf