Have you ever wondered if things we considered as waste actually generated something which is most needed in the world? Energy from human waste. Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore have devised an unique toilet system that converts human waste into electricity. The ingenious system also creates fertilizer and reduces water wastage as well.
The non mix vaccum toilet is mechanized with scientific brilliance. It comprises of separate chambers for liquid as well as solid wastes which uses vaccum suction technology, similar to the ones used in aircraft lavatories. This enables this system to flush out the waste in just 0.2 liters of water against to the conventional toilets which uses almost about to 4 to 6 liters of water per flush.
The system changes the course of the liquid waste to a processing unit where it is processed and elements like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are recovered which can be developed into fertilizers. Simultaneously the solid waste is diverged into a bio reactor where it is further processed to develop bio-gas containing methane. Methane can be used as an alternative to natural gas and could be further used in stoves, can be converted into electricity and may further be used to power fuel cells.
Replacement of the same in restaurants, airports, public toilets and other public places would bring in a lot of change and revolutionize the waste treatment process entirely.