Invention Coach:
Public Inventor(s):
Forrest (Lee) Erickson, Robert Read, Nupur Bhalla, Hardhik Pyla
Main Link:
Motivation:
The Need for Inexpensive Waste Disposal
The Biochar Toilet project aims to provide an efficient, inexpensive, and sanitary way to dispose of human fecal matter, which would promote hygienic lifestyles/health in low-income or isolated communities lacking infrastructure. This device removes water vapor from the stool and then flash boils remnant moisture into steam, sanitizing the material by effectively killing any bacteria or other dangerous micro-organisms through exposure to high heat. The team aims to make this toilet operate at a relatively low cost of $27.375 per year, making it accessible to any community in need.
Story:
Development of the Biochar Toilet
The Biochar Toilet team began with the mission to provide a low-cost method to dispose of human waste. This ambition grew in scope to include accessibility to human fecal waste disposal solutions in low-income communities. The initial design was a sealed reaction vessel, which would dry then heat the sample to char it.
Since its initial conception, the team, headed by Invention Coaches Robert Read and Lee Erickson, has researched various heating methods, including radio frequency and Joule resistive heating.
Currently, they are in Phase 1 of early design research and development. Also, they are creating a small prototype of the toilet which they plan to test on small organic matter, such as fruit. Thus, they will continue to research different methods and test their Phase 1 prototype over the next few months.
Related Open-Source Projects
If interested in learning more about our other active projects, check the following pages for updates and similar volunteer opportunities:
Status:
Skills Needed
The Biochar team is looking for new team members with the following backgrounds:
- Mechanical engineering
- Thermal engineering
- Chemistry
If interested in joining the project, please reach out to Robert L. Read, Volunteer Coordinator Miriam Castillo, or Volunteer Now.
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