Toilet effluent separation and brown water treatment: Survey and initial feasibility testing in Mexico.

Autor: Moreno Cruz CF; Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México C.P. 09340, Mexico; Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Carretera a Delta s/n, C.P. 21705, Ejido Nuevo León, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Electronic address: carlos.moreno62@uabc.edu.mx., Monroy Hermosillo O; Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México C.P. 09340, Mexico., Thalasso F; Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, C.P. 07360 Ciudad de México, Mexico., Tzintzun Camacho O; Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Carretera a Delta s/n, C.P. 21705, Ejido Nuevo León, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico., Ramírez Vives F; Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México C.P. 09340, Mexico.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Science of the total environment [Sci Total Environ] 2024 Apr 20; Vol. 922, pp. 171281. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 27.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171281
Abstrakt: Separation of domestic effluents at the source and the utilization of low-flush toilets offer alternative approaches for developing efficient wastewater treatment systems while promoting energy generation through anaerobic digestion. This study focused on assessing toilet usage in Mexico and exploring the potential of anaerobic co-digestion of brown water (feces) and toilet paper as influential factors in wastewater treatment systems. A survey was conducted on a representative sample of Mexicans to gather information on toilet usage frequency, toilet paper use and disposal practices, as well as the type and quantity of commercial disinfectants and pharmaceutical compounds they use or consume. The survey revealed that per capita toilet paper consumption is 2.9 kg annually, that 58 % of respondents do not dispose used paper in the toilet, and that about 47 % use two to three cleaning and disinfection products. Notably, 97 % of the sampled Mexican population expressed a willingness to transition to more eco-friendly toilet options. Subsequently, in a second step, the anaerobic co-digestion of brown water with toilet paper was evaluated, demonstrating a relatively high production of volatile fatty acids but low methane production. This suggests an efficient hydrolysis/acidogenesis process coupled with restrained methanogenesis, probably due to pH decrease caused by acidogenesis. This study underscores that toilet paper and brown water are potential suitable substrates for anaerobic co-digestion. Furthermore, it sheds light on the behaviors of Mexican society regarding bathroom use and cleaning, contributing to the establishment of foundations for wastewater treatment systems with effluent separation at the source.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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