Technical Research & Training

SULABH MOVEMENT RESTORING HUMAN RIGHTS

Sulabh International Academy of Environmental Sanitation [formerly known as The Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research and Training (SIITRAT)] was founded in 1984 by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Ph. D., D. Litt., with a view to providing technical support to its parental organisation - Sulabh International Social Service Organisation in the fields of low-cost on-site sanitation, biogas generation from human waste (public toilets) vegetable wastes, etc. It has permission under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. The Institute is engaged in the development of new and sustainable technologies, demonstration and dissemination, training and consultancy in the fields of low-cost sanitation, low cost waste water treatment, solid waste management, environment and pollution study, etc.

The Institute has a well equipped laboratory. In order to assist the industries to get samples of wastes tested to assess pollution, the laboratory is further being expanded to get recognition from Delhi Pollution Control Board.

1. Duckweed Based Waste Water Treatment System
   
   

   Ponds showing intensive growth of Duckweed with bamboo frames in two directions to prevent drifting of duckweed by wind

   Duckweed - a small free floating and fast growing aquatic plant has tremendous ability to reduce BOD, COD, suspended solids, heavy metals and even toxic elements and bacterial and other pathogens from the waste water. It is a complete feed for fish and due to high content of proteins and vitamins A & C, it is a highly nutritious feed for poultry and animals. The yield of fish increases by two to three times when fed with duckweed than that with conventional feeds in ponds. Sulabh has taken up 3 demonstration-cum-study projects in collaboration with the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta. Thee urban project located at Delhi and Halisahar in West Bengal is funded by the Central Pollution Control Board. The other two in rural areas are being funded by the Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment, Govt. of India and the royal Danish Embassy. These are being carried out in the States of Haryana and Orissa respectively.
   
   

   Dr. Pathak explaining to Mr. Kent Cooper Bureo, Senior Correspondent from Washington Post, about composing of vegetable waste

2. Sulabh Thermophilic Aerobic Composter (STAC)
   
   Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research and Training has developed a new technology under the guidance of Dr. P.K. Jha, Adviser Technical, which requires only 5-6 days to make compost from any biodegradable wastes without manual handling during composting.
   
   
3. Low-Maintenance Waste-water Treatment System (LOMWATS)
   
   

    

   Low-Maintenence Waste Water Treatment

   Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research & Training (SIITRAT) agreed to cooperate with LOMWATS Project costing Rs. 4 million with (i) Bremen Overseas Research & Development Association (BORDA) of Germany, (ii) Groupe Energies Renouvelables et. Environment (GERES), France, (iii) Chengdu Energy Environment International Cooperation (CEEIC), China and (iv) Hangzhou Research Institute of Energy and Environment (HRIEE), China. The project is funded by the Commission of European Union, Brussels, Belgium and the State Government of Bremen, Germany via BORDA.
   
   

4. Biogas from Human-Excreta
   
   

   Sulabh Deep - electricity from biogas

   Sulabh biogas plant in its present form consists of an inlet chamber, an anaerobic digester and an outlet chamber. The digester is cylinderical with arched bottom and domed top and is installed underground. Excreta from the toilet seats flow under gravity through covered drains into the inlet chamber and then into the digester. The digested slurry comes out of the digester through the outlet pipe, reaches the outlet chamber and then flows out through covered drains into soakage pits. A large round air-tight manhole is provided at the top of the digester for facilitating cleaning (desludging), and other maintenance jobs, as also, investigation of any problem during operation of digester. The gas outlet pipe and a safety pipe is attached to the manhole.

   Alternative arrangement may also be made for the final disposal of the effluent, depending upon site conditions. For example, the digested effuent may be diluted with sullage and used for irrigating lawns, flower beds or orchards. Sludge drying beds are constructed if site conditions permit.

   Biogas is stored under the fixed dome by hydraulic displacement of the digesting slurry inside the digester. Alternatively, the gas may also be stored in a separate drum floating over water. In the latter case, pressure of the gas is regulated which facilitates its use. Therefore, separate gas holder is desirable, especially for the large plants, inspite of the additional cost factor.

   The biogas plant can be  aesthetically appealing. Flower beds on the top of digester at Sulabh Complex, Mahavir Enclave, New Delhi

   Sulabh experience shows that difficulties arise during desludging of the digester or unforeseen repair/maintenance job when the flow of excreta to the digester has to be stopped. Under the circumstances, the public toilet has either to be kept closed for the required period or alternative arrangement has to be made for diverting the flow of excreta. In sewered area, a bypass drain can be constructed. But in unsewered area, some alternative arrangement would be required. For alleviating this problem, we now recommend twin digesters in unsewered area 50% of the toilet seats are connected to one digester and the rest of the toilet seats to the other digester. During emergency shut down of one digester, the other one can take the total sewege load for a couple of day without getting upset.

    

5. Biogas from Dried Water-Hyacinth and Other Mixed Feeds
   
   Water hyacinth is an aquatic, seasonal and problematic weed of national concern. The Government of India formulated a Task Force to get rid of this weed. However, it has an advantage that it is a good substrate for biogas generation. Since this weed is seasonal, biogas plant based on this feed becomes non-functional during summer due to non availability of this weed. This organisation has successfully demonstrated that biogas can be produced from this weed throughout the year after harvesting, drying and pulverising. The pulverised weed can be easily transported and used for biogas generation throughout the year. The Institute has also carried out a series of experiments on biogas generation from vegetables / fruit wastes and house-hold kitchen wastes with or without mixing with human waste. Better results were obtained when human waste and vegetable waste were fed in combination. It showed an additive effect.
   
   
6. Pollution from On-site Sanitation and Techonology Optimisation
   
   

   Manure processing machines

   The Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research & Training is engaged in low-cost technology optimisation to make it more cost effective and efficient. Pollution of ground water and soil likely to occur from low-cost on-site sanitation is also being studied. Such a study was carried out near Calcutta with radio isotope tracers in collaboration with the All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Calcutta and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay.

   The Institute has also carried out studies on migration of pathogens to the soil surrounding the leach pits as well as on the percentage viability of different pathogens in the pits with respect to retention time of human waste. The studies have revealed that there is near complete absence of pathogens from digested sludge of the pit when taken out after two years of rest period. Sometimes cysts of helminths persist even after two years. When the sludge is sun-dried for 2-3 weeks, it becomes free from all pathogens. The dried and granulated manure is odourless and completely free from pathogens.
   

7. Manure from Human Excreta
   
   

   Human excreta-based manure kept in jars

   The Institute has developed a technology to granulate dried lumps into small size graded granules which look like processed tea leaves. Before granulating, it is processed in a ball mill to break into small pieces. then it is passed through the mass mixer where moisture content of manure is regulated by adding water. Such manure had good percentage of plant nutrients. Besides, it increases humus and water holding capacity of the soil. The Institute has carried out studies to assess its manurial effects on different vegetables and flowering plants. In all the cases tested, effect of manure on the growth was very encouraging.
   
   

8. Use of digester effluent as hydroponics
   
   Biogas digester has a good plant nutrient value. It can be directly used for irrigating grass lawns, flower beds or even for agricultural purposes. The institute has successfully demonstrated its use as hydroponics i.e. soil-less culture of plants. The effluent is first dried in earthen pots kept in sunlight where by evaporation concentration of effluent increases. It is filtered with thin plastic mesh. Some trace elements are added in the filtered effluent. Such liquid effluent is completely odourless. Various plants have been grown exclusively on such effluent when mixed (5 to 10% by volume) with tap water. Plants can be grown in glass bottles or any other jars and kept inside or outside room. Such technology is useful for the culture of rare plants like cactus sps and other ornamental plants.
   
   
9. Vermi-Composting
   
   Vermi-composting is an important method for composting vegetable wastes. the method is more suitable for rural areas. This Institute has successfully demonstrated this technology. Vermi-compost has comparatively higher nitrogen content. The Institute is engaged in minimising the time requirement by enhancing the growth rate of vermiworms.

In order to assist the State governments, local authorities, other organisations and institutes in drawing up project reports for implementation of low cost sanitation, water supply and biogas production from human waste in rural as well as urban areas and to give technical guidance and advice to various state offices of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, its founder Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak established a Consultancy Division at Delhi in the year 1986. This unit is now a part of the Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research & Training.

Involvement in the World Bank studies and projects: Sulabh International Institute of Technical Research & Training worked as a Consultant appointed by the World Bank to collect data and information on the status of rural water supply and sanitation development sector in seven states in India.

Sulabh International Academy of Environmental Sanitation
Sulabh Bhawan, Mahavir Enclave,
New Delhi-110 045, (India)
Tel. : 25032617, 25031518, 25031519, 25032654;
Fax : (091-11) 25036122, 25034014