Toilet chemical additives and their effect on faecal sludge characteristics
Toilet chemical additives and their effect on faecal sludge characteristics
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Date
2020
Authors
Dwumfour-Asare, Bismark
Eugene, Appiah–Effah
Godwin, Armstrong Duku
Isaac, Manu
Kwabena, Biritwum Nyarko
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Heliyon
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of two mostly improvised chemical additives, calcium carbide and lambda
super 2.5 EC (LSEC), on the physico–chemical and microbial characteristics of faecal sludge from toilets. The
quality of faecal sludge was assessed before and after application of the chemical additives in an experimental
setup of ten different treatment units including a control, and treatment replicates. The initial characteristic of the
faecal sludge was slightly acidic with high content of slowly degradable organic matter. The experimental control
without additives after 30 days showed reduction in BOD5, COD, helminth eggs and sludge mass by a maximum of
30%, 34.7%, 99.8% and 55% respectively. Similarly, calcium carbide additive reduced the BOD5, COD, helminth
eggs and the mass of the faecal sludge by 47.4%, 48.3%, 99.6% and 61% respectively. Also, LSEC additive
reduced BOD5, COD, helminth eggs and the mass of the sludge by 40.6%, 47.9%, 95.9% and 58% respectively.
The two additives showed significant treatment effect on the faecal sludge although the level of treatment could
not meet the regulatory discharge limits for the key quality parameters assessed including sanitisation. The study
is still a grey area and more research is recommended to enrich the findings.
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Citation
Appiah–Effah, E., Duku, G. A., Dwumfour–Asare, B., Manu, I., & Nyarko, K. B. (2020). Toilet chemical additives and their effect on faecal sludge characteristics. Heliyon, 6(9).