Anaerobic Septic tanks for better sanitation and green energy

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Anaerobic Septic tanks for better sanitation and
 for the generation of green energy

(Dr.A.Sajidas, Managing Director, BIOTECH Renewable Energy, Kerala )


Availability of sufficient energy, food, and waste disposal facilities are highly essential for the development of the community. In addition to these, sanitation is also one of the most important factors for having a healthy life style. Due to various reasons most of the peoples living in the villages, coastal areas and slum areas have no sufficient sanitation facilities. Unscientific sanitation leads to spread of epidemics and water pollution.
When slums were formed in the banks of water bodies, it is the usual practice that the discharges from the toilets are directly connected to the water bodies. This will lead to severe water pollution including the spreading of water related diseases. It is high time to undertake corrective measures to overcome this situation.  Otherwise the precious drinking water sources including ground water will be contaminated and the availability of drinking water will become a big problem.
Due to thick population in urban areas, the drainage lines are overloaded and the related issues are frequent and common. The existing drainage facilities are not quite sufficient to meet the requirement compared to the growth in the population. Pre treatment of excreta before passing to the public sewage system is one of the best options to mitigate this issue to a considerable extent.
            The scientific disposal of human excreta is a major problem. Many remarkable achievements to improve the sanitation have already been taken by government bodies as well as by many national and international Organizations.  A good number of public toilet complexes and individual toilets have been constructed with automatic / electronic system. But almost all the toilet complexes are having traditional septic tanks only. Such septic tanks may be those constructed at the site or pre fabricated ones. An exhaust pipe is seen connected with all septic tanks to release the gas generated inside the septic tanks. The gas generated from the septic tanks will be mixed with the atmosphere due to this arrangement.
            As per scientific studies it is understood that human excreta discharged by an adult person is capable of producing 29 – 30 litres of Biogas every day.  It is estimated that the excreta of an average family having 5 members will produce about 54 Cum of Biogas per year.  This is equivalent approximately to 27 kg of LPG. In other words, if we can capture this biogas with the help of a Biogas digester, it will be helpful for the conservation of LPG in urban areas and fire wood and other fuels in rural areas.
Biogas is a good source of Green Energy which can be used to meet all the requirements of energy needs. Due to unscientific design and construction of septic tanks, facilities are not sufficient enough for capturing the biogas from the septic tanks.
If we allow to release the biogas from septic tanks to the atmosphere, it will cause severe environmental pollution problems because of the presence of the Methane, which is the major content in the biogas.
The excreta of 35 peoples will be producing about 1000 liters of biogas (1 cum) every day.  The main content in the Bio Gas is methane, which is 22 times more dangerous than Co2.  The biogas produced in one year from the excreta of 35 peoples will be equivalent to the pollution caused by 3.5 metric tons of Co2.  From this we can imagine the quantity of methane being emitted in a country like India, having a total population of around 120 crores of peoples.
            Considering the potential of capturing of methane in the form of Biogas, It is high time for developing a compact device to capture methane from human excreta.  Many schemes are available in the form of toilet linked biogas projects, to capture the bio gas from human excreta.  Due to various reasons, all these schemes are not picking-up in accordance with the potential available.  One of the main reasons attributable for this is that the level of the out let pipe line from the toilets to the existing septic tank is very deep in the ground.  So the procedure of connecting the existing toilet to the bio gas plants is not quite easy and practicable.  So many people are not willing to construct toilet linked bio gas plants.  Lack of awareness of the peoples is also one of the factors for the non cooperation of the peoples in this regard.
                        Based on incessant and continues research for years, BIOTECH has developed a new generation of anaerobic septic tank, which is suitable to link existing toilets and the newly constructed ones.   The patent registration work of this anaerobic digester had already been completed.  Those who are interested to undertake commercial production of this Anaerobic Septic Tank can avail all technical support and guidance from BIOTECH.
 This anaerobic septic tank is working under biomethanation process. Through the microbial action inside the anaerobic digester the solid content in the excreta will be converted in to biogas. It is a compact device made of Fiber glass Reinforced Plastic (FRP).  Installation time is also very less compared with other systems.  The Bio gas produced from the anaerobic septic tank can be collected in an external balloon, or the gas collector of a floating dome model bio gas plant.
For a 5 member family, a 1000 litre anaerobic septic tank will be sufficient.  This volume takes in to consideration of the water discharged from the toilet.  The strength of the body of the anaerobic septic tank is designed to withstand the ground pressure.   To create anaerobic condition, a water seal is provided in the top cover of the digester.  This cover is designed with a special lock system to simplify the installation, activation, operation and maintenance. The expected life span of an anaerobic septic tank will be more than 15 years.. 
During the operation of anaerobic septic tank, it is advisable to use mild toilet cleaners instead of strong chemicals and acids to clean the toilets. The continuous use of strong chemicals to clean the toilets will distroy the presence of microbs in the septic tank. This will reduce the efficiency of the system. 
            Different capacities of prefabricated anaerobic septic tanks are available to meet the requirements of all categories of individuals, families and housings communities etc. The bio gas generated can be used for cooking, lighting and for the generation of electricity for institutional and community applications.
            This anaerobic septic tank is one of the best options to mitigate river pollution.  Through the use of anaerobic septic tanks in the houses and other buildings on the banks of the rivers, the discharge of human excreta directly to the rivers can be prevented.
            The introduction of new technologies will help to improve the living conditions of human beings.  Toilets without proper septic tank or sewage system will not provide hygienic and environment friendly performance.  Introduction of anaerobic septic tanks will completely be of environmental friendly system.  It will also help to generate green energy without any recurring expenses.
            With the introduction of anaerobic septic tanks, the surroundings of the toilet can be kept clean and free of odor, compared with the surroundings of toilets with or without traditional septic tanks.  The atmospheric pollution by the traditional septic tank can be controlled completely.  It will also help to improve the health conditions of the common man.
            If anaerobic septic tanks are made mandatory for all the houses, public and private institutions, the entire human excreta will be treated aerobically and converted in to fuel gas.  By this process the treated liquid alone will be discharged from the digester to the public drainage system or to the sock pit.  It will improve the smooth functioning of the public drainage system also.  In the case of urban areas the treated liquid discharged from anaerobic septic tank will reach the centralized sewage treatment plant with less solid content. It will help to improve the efficiency of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and the recurring expenses to maintain the STP can be reduced considerably.  The quantity of treated sludge discharged from the STP will also be very less compared with traditional STP.  This will help the Local Body Institutions to reduce their recurring expenses to maintain the STP.
            In consideration of the atmospheric pollution, and the increase in demand for green fuel, an initiative has to be taken on the part of Government to provide necessary support to the public, to construct anaerobic septic tanks, along with all existing and new toilets. BIOTECH is providing all technical support to introduce anaerobic septic tanks to all categories of the public in the community.

                              More information about this project is  available from
Dr.A.Sajidas , Managing Director, BIOTECH Renewable Energy,
BIOTECH TOWERS, PB.NO.520, M.P.AppanRoad, Vazhuthacadu,T hycadu.P.O,
Trivandrum. Pin.695 014, KERALA, INDIA, Tel.+91 471-2332179,2 321909,
E mail - biotechindia@eth.net
web site www.biotech-india.org

           




7 comments :

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