Lactic Acid Fermentation, Urea and Lime Addition: Promising Faecal Sludge Sanitizing Methods for Emergency Sanitation

Catherine Anderson, Dennis Hanjalika Malambo, Maria Eliette Gonzalez Perez, Happiness Ngwanamoseka Nobela, Lobke De Pooter, Jan Spit, Christine Maria Hooijmans, Jack Van De Vossenberg, Wilson Greya, Bernard Thole, Jules B. Van Lier and Damir Brdjanovic
Additional contact information
Catherine Anderson: WASTE advisers on urbane environment and development, Lange Houtstraat, 26, 2511 CW, The Hague, The Netherlands
Dennis Hanjalika Malambo: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Maria Eliette Gonzalez Perez: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Happiness Ngwanamoseka Nobela: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Lobke De Pooter: Delft University of Technology (TUDelft), Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands
Jan Spit: WASTE advisers on urbane environment and development, Lange Houtstraat, 26, 2511 CW, The Hague, The Netherlands
Christine Maria Hooijmans: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Jack Van De Vossenberg: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Wilson Greya: The University of Malawi—The Polytechnic, Ginney Corner, Blantyre 3, Malawi
Bernard Thole: The University of Malawi—The Polytechnic, Ginney Corner, Blantyre 3, Malawi
Jules B. Van Lier: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Damir Brdjanovic: UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: In this research, three faecal sludge sanitizing methods—lactic acid fermentation, urea treatment and lime treatment—were studied for application in emergency situations. These methods were investigated by undertaking small scale field trials with pit latrine sludge in Blantyre, Malawi. Hydrated lime was able to reduce the E. coli count in the sludge to below the detectable limit within 1 h applying a pH > 11 (using a dosage from 7% to 17% w / w , depending faecal sludge alkalinity), urea treatment required about 4 days using 2.5% wet weight urea addition, and lactic acid fermentation needed approximately 1 week after being dosed with 10% wet weight molasses (2 g (glucose/fructose)/kg) and 10% wet weight pre-culture (99.8% pasteurised whole milk and 0.02% fermented milk drink containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota). Based on Malawian prices, the cost of sanitizing 1 m 3 of faecal sludge was estimated to be €32 for lactic acid fermentation, €20 for urea treatment and €12 for hydrated lime treatment.

Keywords: ammonia; emergency sanitation; Escherichia coli; excreta; faecal sludge; lactic acid; lime; urea (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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