Inactivation of pathogens in toilet waste

Background and goal

Recycling of nutrients and carbon from waste and wastewater back to food production is needed for a sustainable development. Human excreta (urine and faeces) are a fraction of household waste that contains a lot of nutrients but also holds a potential risk of containing pathogens (infectious microorganisms as bacteria, viruses and parasites). Collecting the excreta separated from other wastes enables treatment of a small volume fraction. At the same time is the pathogens kept from contaminate the rest of the waste and wastewater. Additionally, approximated 1.2 billions of people lack adequate sanitation and to meet their need for sanitation there is need for techniques with less demand of an existing infrastructure. Separate collection of blackwater (human urine and faeces together with flush water), is a common practice in Asia and offers an alternative in-between dry separation and conventional sanitation techniques.

This Master program will investigate some questions concerning reduction of pathogenic microorganisms in blackwater and physical-chemical parameters affecting the inactivation. Studies included in the project are;

A. Inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms as Salmonella spp. and entero hemorrhagic E. coli (O157) and intestinal parasite Ascaris suum.

B. Inactivation of model organisms as bacterio phages as models for viruses, and enterococcus spp as bacterial model.

Methods to be used during the project include mainly microbiological plate techniques, microscopying. Analytical techniques include photo spectrometry, pH and dry matter analysis.

Qualification

We are looking for a student within the microbiology and environmental engineering area interested in waste technology. The applicant should have a general knowledge in microbiology.


The project is performed in collaboration between Department of Biometry and Engineering at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the Department of Wild life, Fish and Environment at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala.

For information contact/visit the homepage http://kt-bt.slu.se