Effect of ageing on the physicochemical properties of human faeces in the context of onsite sanitation

Abstract

Sanitation systems involving onsite storage of faecal matter cause excreta to undergo transformation and primary treatment in-situ. However, little is known about the transformation pathway followed by fresh faeces while contained in situ. The current paper investigated this transformation under ambient conditions during a 16-week in-situ-storage period. Moisture content, drying kinetics, rheological, physicochemical, and thermal properties were analysed to determine the effects of ageing. The faeces experienced dehydration, mainly affecting moisture-dependent characteristics. Moisture content decreased from 79%wt to 26%wt, and water activity of 0.67, which corresponds mainly to the removal of interstitial bound water, reducing mass by 72%. The decreasing moisture content expectantly reduced drying ability, flowability and thermal properties (heat capacity and thermal conductivity). During this period, negligible biodegradation was recorded (volatile solids reduced by 3%), resulting in consistent chemical oxygen demand, particle size, carbon content and calorific values. Ammonium and nitrates decreased, but total nitrogen remained unchanged. Therefore, ageing affects nitrogen chemical forms and not nutrient composition. The findings demonstrate the benefits of source separation and in particular ventilated storage as a passive way to pre-treat and recover resources from faecal material.