About Biodigester Technology

Special Features
Anaerobic microbial inoculum
Cold tolerant microbial consortium
Required one time inoculum charging
Immobilization matrix for retaining higher microbial mass
for survival in adverse conditions
Specially designed tank for efficient biodegradation
Suitable for mobile and stationary platforms
Permits use of toilet cleansing agents
Advantages
Tailor made in respect to number of users, materials,
situation and condition Eco-friendly & cost-effective
Wide applicability under different climatic conditions
Customized & easily adaptable
Maintenance free
Minimizes water consumption
Recycling of effluent water
Reduction in organic waste by more than 90%
More than 99% pathogens reduction
Generation of odourless and inflammable biogas

Human Waste Disposal

UNDECOMPOSED HUMAN WASTE

* AESTHETIC NUISANCE
* INFECTIOUS DISEASES
* ORGANIC POLLUTION
OPTIONS
* TRANSPORTATION
* INCINERATION
* CHEMICAL TREATMENT
* BIODEGRADATION
(AEROBIC/ANAEROBIC)

Twin-Pit Pour-Flush Toilet (Leach Pit Toilets)

Adapted from
http://www.k4rd.or
g/ruraltech_pit.htm
[Accessed:
01.06.2010]

Junction /
Inspection
chamber

Distance not
less than the
pit depth

Courtesy: SSWM

The pits are constructed in brick line

(much like a honeycomb to facilitate the
liquid to flow out) or with perforated
concrete tubes (e.g. pre-fabricated)
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

SEPTIC-TANK
(Conventional technology)
PRESENT SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS : BIGGER VOLUME
REQUIRES LARGER SPACE
COSTLY TO BUILD

NOT EFFICIENT
OBNOXIOUS SMELL
MAINTENANCE INTENSIVE
UNHYGIENIC DISPOSAL
17-04-2015

Percentage of Households Having No Latrine

India, 2001-2011
10.5 % improvement in
10 years

Bio-toilet
BACTERIA
(INOCULUM)

BIO-TOILET

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

Variants of Biodigester
Biodigester

Biodigester

Stationary
Biodigester

for mobile
vehicles

For Armed

For Civil

For Indian

application

Railways

Forces

For Snow
Bound
Regions

For Soil
Bound
Regions

For coastal
areas
(Lakshadweep)

For cold
climates
(Laddakh)

For House
Boats

Bio Digester for Plain areas

FRP Tank 700 Liters for 10-15 Peoples

Mobile Toilet

Household Bio toilet

Design of Low Cost Biotoilet

FRP tank of 6 mm thickness.
Diagonal partition wall of 4 mm thickness

(adequately stiffened by ribs).

Tank is buried 700mm deep, and anchored by

300mm long stainless steel (SS316) anchor bolts at

corners.
Tank Internal Dimensions 1000x1000x700

(lxbxd).
Provision of water sealed outlet from the tank.

How a Digester functions

Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Biodegradation

Aerobic biodegradation

Anaerobic biodegradation

Forced aeration/ agitation is essential which is energy

intensive

No aeration is required

Incomplete/ partial aerobic condition leads to foul smell

Complete anaerobic conditions

Not effective in pathogen inactivation

More than 99 % Pathogens inactivation

Generates large amount of sludge

Repeated addition of bacteria/ en%ymes are required

Anaerobes can degrade detergents/

phenyl
Sludge generation is very less
One time bacterial inoculation is enough

Maintenance & recurring cost is high

Minimal maintenance & no recurring cost

Can not tolerate detergents/ phenyl

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

Sensitive
Methanogenesis

Acetate & H2 are converted into

CH4 & CO2

14

Anaerobic Biodegradation

15

Advantage of anaerobic processes

1. Less energy requirement as no aeration is needed
0.5-0.75 kWh energy is needed for every 1 kg of COD removal by aerobic processes

2. Energy generation in the form of methane gas

1.16 kWh energy is produced for every 1 kg of COD fermented in anaerobic process

3. Less biomass (sludge) generation

1.

Anaerobic process produces only 20% of sludge compared with aerobic process

2.

Complete anaerobic degradation of 1 kg COD produces 0.35 m3 CH4 at STP

3.

COD of pure night soil 100 150 g 02/ Kg

4.

Night Soil per person 300 400 g based on food habit

Biodegradable Anaerobic process
COD
1 kg

CHd gas
> 0.9 kg
New biomass
< 0.1 kg

Laboratory Findings

DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM

Screening & gradual adaptation
Isolation of psychrophilic bacteria from Antarctica/
Siachen
BIOAUGMENTAION OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM
VFA degrading bacteria
Psychrophilic proteolytic bacteria
CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM
HRT (25 days at 10C)
Temp range (5-50C)
Freeze-thaw resistance (two cycles)
PROCESS ENHANCEMENT
Immobilization
CaCO3
Sulphate
17

Comparative Biogas Production

of Different Feed Stocks
Gas Yield per Kg ( m3)

S No

Type of feed stock

Cattle dung

0.036

Human excreta

0.07

Horse dung

0.045

Sheep dropping

Camel droppings
Piggery waste

Poultry droppings

0.042

0.056
0.08
0.062

Waste Treatment Challenges

Wide variation in temperature: -50oC to 50oC

Variety Of Terrain:
High Altitude, Hilly, Plains, Coastal Areas & Islands
Water Conditions:
Low / High Water Table
Dry / Flooded / Water Logged Areas
Sweet / Salty Water
Economic Constraints,
Awareness,
Casual Approach
Lack Of Concern

Challenges In Rural Sector - Plains

No energy dependence
Affordability
Long lasting (at least 15 years)
Require minimum water for cleaning
Space constraints
All weather system
Allow use of toilet cleaning agents for better hygiene
Free of manual scavenging / evacuation and Maintenance
DRDO Bio-Digester addresses all above challenges adequately

20

Biodigesters Installed in Plains

DRDE, Gwalior

Games Village, New Delhi

Vivekananda Needam, Gwalior

Model Town, New Delhi

22

Constructed Bio-toilet ,Gwalior

Various Models of Biotoilets

Types of Biodigesters

Installation of biodigester
Installed one biodigester at Parmarth Nikatan Aasharam , Rishikesh

Capacity : 4M3

Detergents/ Antiseptics for Cleaning

Phenyl
upto
84ml/l

Harpic
upto
250ml/l

Domex
upto
250ml/l

TASKI
R6 upto
250
ml/l*

TASKI
Duck
fresh
upto
250ml/l*

TASKI
Clonet
W4 upto
100ml/l*

TASKI
MM65
upto
100ml/l*

TASKI
MM60
upto
250ml/l*

Routine toilet cleaning agents available in market are compatible with Biotoilet

BIOTANK CUM REED BED: TECHNOLOGY

PRINCIPLE
Biodegradation of Human Fecal Matter by Microorganisms in Absence of Oxygen
(BIOGAS)

HUMAN WASTE

METHANE + CO2+ WATER

COMPONENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Consortium of acclimatized microorganisms(Adaptive)

Bacteria immobilization Matrix(culturing surface)
Reaction Vessel
Reed (Plant)Bed for secondary treatment of water (Optional)
STEPS

Biotank Cum Reed Bed System

On-site construction
Design and construction very simple
(masonry work, brick wall/ RCC structure).
The size of the Bio-Tank: approximately 1/3rd
to 1/10th of conventional septic tank
Less space requirement
Low material/ construction cost
Can be of different sizes, either for single
house or multi-storeyed complexes as per the
requirement
Maintenance free

BioTank cum Reed Bed system

Water Quality

(Tap water here!)

Water Quality

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 Effluent Water

Clean & Green Drainage System

Clean Water from Bio-Toilets
No STP
No Manual Scavenging
Helps in Cleaning River

Water quality
Parameter

Raw Water
(WHO)

Septic Tank

Biodigester/
Biotank

Biotank + Reed bed

treatment

pH

5.5-9.0

6.7-7.5

7.0-7.2

7.0-7.5

Turbidity (NTU)

1000

500-800

70-90

2-5

Total Suspended
Solids (mg/L)

150-300

90-120

50-80

TDS(mg/L)

1500

500-850

350-450

100-300

VS (mg/100mI)

50-60

20-30

5-12

COD (mg/L)

10

1200-2000

250-300

15-25

BOD (mg/L)

350-500

70-120

2-4

Coliforms
(MPN/ml)

5000

>3000

300-350

0-12

Effluent Safety Studies

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

DRDO
bio
digester
Key
benefits
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"

Inauguration at Orissa

36

Bio Digester

PMs Address at DRDO Award Function (July 2012)

I was very happy to learn that DRDO in collaboration with FICCI has
commercialised bio-toilet that promises to solve the problem of open
defecation in rural India. If this green, cost effective flush and forget
technology is successfully implanted, it will give a big boost to our Total
Sanitation Campaign. Application of technology to social benefit
programmes should be expanded further.
38

Current Status of Biodigesters

Installed so far
High Altitude Low Temperature Areas: 166
Indian Railways: ~4000
Plain areas: 58 + 1500 (Lakshadweep)
Current Status of Bio-toiltes/ Biodigesters
Curent/ Future Assignments
UT of Lakshadweep: 12000
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council: 750
UT of Daman: 50
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board

Biodigester Locations

Significant Highlights
:* Patents

:* Granted: 7 (2 foreign)
:* Filed: 8 (2 PCT)
:* Publications: 29 (18 foreign)
:* MoU: 4 (Indian Railways, BMTPC, MDWS, GAP-FICCI)
:* ToT: 53
:* Defence Technology Spin-off Award-2007

BEC Fertilizers
(Unit of Bhilai Engineering Corp. Ltd.)

Bilaspur Division, Sector A

Sirgitti Industrial Area
BIlaspur (C.G.) 495004
Ph: 07752261180,262826.261909
Email: becfert@yahoo.com