Robust Decentralised Low Energy Faecal Sludge Dewatering leading to Sanitation, Clean Water and Sustainable Energy Resource

该项目涉及粪便污泥（黑色沃茨）的脱水/处理。Natural Synergies Ltd（NS）的目标是为英国/欧盟的农村地区开发一种独立的脱水工艺，降低运输成本和碳足迹，并在发展中国家作为一种低成本的分散/本地化卫生系统。开发的系统也可以用作小规模厌氧消化（后续建议）或热单元的前/后光标，从而实现闭环分散，局部卫生和离网发电。正在开发的脱水过程将结合超声波，以提供自由，间隙和细胞水，以及电动力学，以驱动/分离水从粪便污泥通过过滤网。初步工作显示出高水平脱水（15-> 40% DM）和病原体减少（包括寄生虫）在低能量输入下。系统设计的目标是在可能的情况下，利用当地工业进行非专业化的部件制造。我们的愿景是在发展中国家开发一套全新的坑式厕所废物处理系统，不仅能产生可再生能源，还能产生安全、可用的肥料。从理论上讲，这可以通过传统的工艺技术来实现。然而，缺乏的是一种成本相对较低的小规模鲁棒系统，可以在偏远地区轻松操作。我们对实现这一目标的研究贡献集中在两个具体的挑战上：首先，如何摧毁人类寄生虫或它们的卵，以便安全地将固化的材料重新用于农业肥料;其次，我们能否使用当地可用的植物材料，同时增加可以产生的能量，如沼气。Natural Synergies Ltd一直在开发的系统非常有效，但也非常具有创新性。我们需要确定任何新系统的整体环保表现和社会效益，以及其成本效益。如果成功，这一技术还可以在发达国家偏远地区（如苏格兰高地）的小型废水处理厂节省大量成本和环境效益，减少公路油罐车交通、运输燃料和碳排放。

The project concerns dewatering/treatment of faecal sludge (black waters). Natural Synergies Ltd's (NS) aims are to develop a stand-alone dewatering process for rural areas of the UK/EU, reducing transport costs and carbon footprint and in developing countries as a low cost decentralised/localised sanitation system. The developed system can be also be used as a pre/post-cursor to a small scale anaerobic digestion (a follow-on proposal) or thermal unit, leading to closed loop decentralised, localised sanitation and off-grid energy generation. The dewatering process being developed will incorporate ultrasound to make available free, interstitial and cell water, together with electrokinetics to drive/separate water from faecal sludge via filter mesh. Preliminary work has shown potential for high levels of dewatering (15 - >40 % DM) and pathogen reduction (incl. helminths) at low energy inputs. System design will aim at non-specialised component manufacture, where possible, using local industries.Our vision is to develop an entire new system of treating pit latrine wastes in developing countries, which not only generates renewable energy, but also a safe, useable fertilizer. In theory, this could be achieved now using conventional process technology. What is lacking, however, is a small scale robust system at relatively lower cost that can be operated with ease in remote areas. Our research contribution to delivering this is focussing on two specific challenges: Firstly, how to destroy human parasitic worms or their eggs, so as to allow safe reuse of the solidified material for agricultural fertilizer; Secondly, can we use locally available plant material to simultaneously increase the amount of energy, as biogas, which can be produced. The systems that Natural Synergies Ltd have been developing are highly effective but also highly innovative. We need to be sure of the overall environmental performance and social benefits of any new system, as well as its cost effectiveness. If successful this technology could also offer significant cost-savings and environmental benefits in developed countries at small-scale wastewater treatment plants in remote locations (e.g. Scottish Highlands), reducing road-tanker traffic, transport fuels and carbon emissions.