Kretsloppsteknik – Page 47 – Blog from the Environmental Engineering Research Group at SLU

Halv-separerad alkalisk urinsortering i en stadsbyggnad

Published 6 August, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

Under den senaste veckan har gruppmedlemmarn Prithvi Simha och Giulio Zorzetto varit i Tammerfors i Finland, där de installerade en ny urinsorteringsmodul som testas i Hiedanrantaområdet i Tammerfors. Behandlingsmodulen konstruerades på SLU, transporterades till Finland, återmonterades vid TAMK och slutligen installerad i källaren av Lielahtis herrgård. Urin från två olika toaletter i herrgården, som själv genomgår renovering, planeras att bli kopplat till detta behandlingssystem under den kommande veckan. Denna installation, som varit en gång i drift, har potential att öppna en ny aveny för lokal insamling och behandling av urin i urbana miljöer.

Nya studier belyser vikten av ledarskap och vision

Published 11 July, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

Två av de senaste studierna från gruppen har pekat på vikten av bra ledarskap och gemensamma visioner för framgångsrikt genomförande av nya vatten- och avloppssystem.

En teoribyggande fallstudie av samhällsbaserade vatten- och avloppssystem i Cochabamba, Bolivia, identifierade fyra förutsättningar för framgång: ledarskap, överenskommen vision, kollektiva åtgärder och ledning. Studien bygger upp ett förutsättningskrav och möjliggör faktorer som kan användas av beslutsfattare och utvecklingsutövare för att stärka samhällsledningen och stödja samhällsbaserade organisationer för att tillhandahålla vatten och sanitetstjänster.

Betydelsen av interna faktorer för samhällshanterade vatten- och avloppssystem i Cochabamba, Bolivia

Björn Vinnerås befordrad till professor i Kretsloppsteknik

Published 25 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

Den första juli befordrades Björn Vinnerås till Professor i Kretsloppsteknik på SLU. Ramverket för forskningen kommer fortsätta med fokus på teknik för att skapa säkra växtnäringskretslopp. Samtidigt kommer han att på halvtid bli prefekt på institutionen för Energi och Teknik. På den andra hälften av arbetet kommer han fortsätta med forskning inom kretsloppsteknik vid SLU.

Björn Vinnerås promoted to full Professor in Environmental Engineering

Published 25 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

On the 1st of July, Björn Vinnerås was promoted to full Professor in Environmental Engineering at SLU. At the same time, Bjorn has also taken up the position (50%) as Head of Department of Energy and Technology but will continue with his research on the second half of the position (50%). The framework of the research will continue with focus on safe recycling of plant nutrients.

Semi-decentralised alkaline urine drying in an urban building

Published 19 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

During the last week, group members Prithvi Simha and Giulio Zorzetto were in Tampere, Finland where they installed a new urine dehydrator module that is being pilot tested in the Hiedanranta neighbourhood of the city of Tampere. The treatment module was constructed at SLU, transported to Finland, reasssembled at TAMK, and finally installed at the basement of the Lielahti Manor house. Urine from two different toilets in the manor house, which itself is undergoing renovation, is planned to be diverted to this treatment system over the coming week. This installation, once in operation, has the potential to open up a new avenue for local collection and treatment of urine in urban settings.

Thank you Porin Prikaati: wrapping up the urine drying pilot in Säkylä

Published 15 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

Dried urine end-product collected in Säkylä

The three month long urine drying pilot installation at the Pori Birgade in Säkylä, Finland was dismantled last week, bringing to an end the first field demonstration of our technology. As you’ll recall from our previous blogs, we integrated a urine dehydration module with capacity of treating 40 L urine/day/m2 into an existing, mobile dry sanitation system – the Biomaja toilet. During this pilot, we have been collecting samples of the end-product/fertiliser (see picture below), monitoring various physico-chemical properties as well as energy consumption of the treatment module. Over the coming months, we will be analysing the collected samples, along with our partners in Finland. While the module received less urine than its design capacity, it functioned smoothly throughout the pilot period.

New project piloting urine drying in Finland

Published 12 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

Following the successful wrap up of the MORTTI-project that piloted the group’s urine drying technology in field conditions for the first time, we are back in Finland once again this week. This time around, we will be constructing, installing, and integrating a urine dehydrator with – a dry urinal and a urine-diverting flush toilet. The system is scheduled to be installed at the Lielahti Manor in the Hiedanranta neighbourhood of the city of Tampere, and is designed to treat nearly 25 L of fresh urine/day for a period of 3 months. The project is being carried out by our group and Sanitation360, the group’s university-based startup company working with urine dehydration. Our partners in this project include the City of Tampere, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, and the Finnish Environment Institute. More updates to follow!

Recent studies highlight the importance of leadership and vision

Published 11 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

Two recent studies from the group have pointed at the importance of good leadership and common visions for successfully implementation of new water and wastewater systems.

A theory-building case-study of community-based water and wastewater systems in Cochabamba, Bolivia identified four prerequisites for success: leadership, agreed vision, collective action and management. The study builds a framework of prerequisites and enabling factors that may be used by policy makers and development practitioners to strengthen community management and support community-based organisations in providing water and sanitation services.

Importance of internal factors for community-managed water and wastewater systems in Cochabamba, Bolivia

The FAT larva – a future feed for animals?

Published 6 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

I slutet av maj arrangerade SLU, för andra året i rad, sitt evenemang “Thesis Day”. Detta var en möjlighet för universitetets studenter att presentera sina kandidat- och masters-arbeten i form av vetenskapliga affischer. Sex studenter valdes även ut för att ge muntliga presentationer av sina projekt. En av dessa studenter var Nils Ewald. Som ni kanske kommer ihåg blev Nils tidigare i vår klar med sin masteruppsats som handlade om fettsyrorna i den amerikanska vapenflugans larver (black soldier fly larvae).

Poster:The FAT larva – a future feed for animals? Download

The FAT larva – a future feed for animals?

Published 6 June, 2019
By Prithvi Simha

In the last week of May, SLU was arranging the “Thesis Day”-event for the second year in a row. This was an opportunity for bachelor’s and master’s students to present their degree projects in the form of scientific posters. Six students were also chosen to arrange oral presentations of their projects. Nils Ewald was one of these students. As you might remember, Nils finished his master’s thesis about the fatty acid composition of the black soldier fly larvae earlier this spring.

Poster:The FAT larva – a future feed for animals? Download