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<Eco-friendly Urban Technology> May report

by Salome Nuah | 31-05-2023 20:52 recommendations 0

Transforming Human Urine to Fertilizer


As the population in major cities go up, the demand for and price of fertilizers has also increased. High fertilizer price causes low yields and less agricultural productivity, especially in developing countries where access to tools and fertilizer is limited. In addition, agricultural runoff from artificial fertilizers is polluting soil and water. To tackle pollution and create sustainable cities, we must move to a circular economy where resources are recycled.


Human urine has been shown to have a  fertilizing potential, providing essential plant nutrients and organic matter for building soil structure and reducing erosion. 

Especially rich in nitrogen, and potassium, human urine provides a vast majority of the nutrients required for plant growth.

A urine diversion toilet separates the urine from the feces after it is flushed.Fresh urine is collected from the diverting toilet and transferred to a dryer, where an alkalizing agent, articularly calcium raises the temperature. By increasing the pH of urine to make it alkaline, the volume can be reduced and transform to solid fertilizer.

Advantages

1.An excellent fertilizer from urine increases food and income

2.Free and available resource

3.Reduces the need for expensive(inorganic fertilizer)

Disadvantages

1.Limited availability at the household level

2.Lack of equipment for collection,storage and transpotation of urine

3.Requires knowledge for appropriate use and safe handling

4.May require complementary nutrient input

The use of bio-solids commonly faces prejudice from customers and regulators whose perceptions of products derived from human excreta are a common barrier to their recognition.


References

1.https://theconversation.com/we-found-a-way-to-turn-urine-into-solid-fertiliser-it-could-make-farming-more-sustainable-148877

2.https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/53892/1/Sene_Moustapha.pdf

3.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652614000948















 
Solid Urineurine sample

SalomeNuah

  • Liberia Youth Salome Nuah
 
 
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2 Comments

  • James Mentor says :
    Hello Salome!! This is your mentor James.

    First of all, sorry for the late comment!

    I also heard that human urine consists of valuable nutrients for plant growth like potassium! If efficient collection and conversion of human excretion is possible, then wastewater purification systems would be more efficient and lower cost of environmentally friendly fertilizers would be available to local farming industries!

    Thanks for writing such a meaningful report! Great work.
    Posted 24-06-2023 13:54

  • Yewon Mentor says :
    Hello Salome! This is your mentor Yewon.

    What a fun topic! In the past, it was widely used as a fertilizer due to its advantages including the role of fertilizer, availability, and cheap price, as you mentioned in your report!
    I haven't thought about the disadvantages of it, but by reading your report, I thought that we should compare the pros and cons to decide whether to use it.

    Thank you for your interesting report! Great job!
    Posted 04-06-2023 12:50

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