Water holds just 4 BTLC ( billion
ton of living carbon) yet respiration
flux from water is 50BTC/yr corresponding to 500 kJ per gLC
( gram living carbon) per year for
aerobic respiration. Land holds 650 BTLC with a respiration flux of 50 BTC/yr corresponding to
2.5 kJ per g LC per year. The great reduction in energy for life on land is due
to oxygen diffusion coefficient in air
1000 times that in water 10(-9) sqm/s. It
follows that size of organisms of land is much larger requiring less energy for
life in contrast to
small sizes required for floating
organisms of water .Life may have begun in water but thermodynamics has pushed life away from water onto land and
in favour of larger and larger sizes.
Water is a near biological desert with limited
oxygen supply. Algal photosynthetic oxygen is for the 4 BTC aquatic life ; long
food chain, low standing crop, no death are the features of natural waters
.Death is not seen in water ; not to be seen in water means that dead organics
of human activities cannot go into water.
But due to variety of reasons , waste
disposal is into water and there are
several instances of collapse of algal oxygen supplies in water bodies. In
contrast soil alone holds 1500BTC dead organics and has the oxygen to process
the dead organics energy for soil plant production.;
so dead organics of human activities
should go to soil and not water.
GCC reveals 60 BTC/yr of litter decomposition. In comparison global fossil energy consumption is 6 BTC/yr .There
is so much energy in litter that we can
recover in ways consistent with GCC . We face huge quantities of soil loss due to variety of forces natural and human endangering food
& livelihood security. Soil is a product of weathering; presently 1-2
BTC /yr of GCC is naturally directed to soil production. By combing
locally litter and
primary minerals of suitably small particle size huge quantities of soil can be produced ;
and immense benefits await such mass
production of soil. Available evidence reveal biomass productions from such rich
soils several times the overworked soils of commercial farming .
GNC ( global nitrogen
cycle)reveals generation of 400MTIN/yr( million ton inorganic nitrogen) from
combustion and fertilizer processes as against 126 MTN/yr of azoN via fixation showing huge distubance
to GNC. The decomposition of agrochemicals such as urea
,ammonia produce acidity ; and
also give N in its highly oxidised states leaching
into water causing vegetative growth in
waters. Such nitrogen rich and energy deficient environments show abundance of pests and insects
.The way to control pests is to prevent such acidity by providing
in soil primary minerals for pH regulation and organics as energy for removal of N overloads via pathways of soil .
Respiration, mineral weathering and photosynthesis
are fundamental reactions that sustain life on this planet. And in SBT we build
technology in the light of GCs.
SBT media is formulated from local primary minerals ; geophagus worms regulate bacterial population as top
carnivores of a forest. Additives also formulated from primary minerals serve
to regulate pH. Suitable bacterial cultures are incorporated to take care of
industrial chemicals. Photosynthesis provides the micro environment
.
SBT work at IIT B commenced in 1987 through initial support
of Rs. 9 lakhs ($30000) from DBT and subsequently sustained largely
through IIT B resources and through setting up such activities for users. SBT
is now covered by one US patent admitted, one
SBT is a bioengine for supplying
oxygen. So applicable
for water & air, soil & sanitation segments. No moving
parts, no bio-sludge for disposal , superior space
& energy & cost intensity , evergreen ambience, applicable for small
& large are the features. In waste water purification respiration serves to remove oxygen demand, mineral
weathering regulates pH and photosynthesis provides the micro habitat & the
aesthetics to recover water. In SBT Arsenic (III) is oxidized to Arsenic(V) which is precipitated along with iron in a
separate tank and thus effecting arsenic removal. In agriculture & soil production respiration serves to supply energy
for soil processes, primary minerals regulate pH while photosynthesis draws the
dissolved minerals from soil for plant production .
Oxygen transfer in SBT is typically 0.01- 0.005/s ;
such high values usually obtained only via much power consumption ; however in
SBT are obtained naturally.
The flow field varies from near mixed flow for short
beds to near plug flow for deep beds. Hydrualic loads
of 0.5 cum/sqm day is typical although upto
2 cum/sqm can be obtained. Organic loading of 0.2 kg/sqm
day is typical although upto 0.5 kg/sqm day is achieved. Mesophylic
life of SBT facility can be open to atmosphere in warm climes, with closures
& temperature control in cold climes and multiple levels for space limiting
environments.,
SBT consists of 2 tanks ( one
for raw water and the other for treated water) of volume one days holdup on
either side of a bioreactor sized suitably for the load. The raw water is
distributed through pipes. In one pass the purification occurs. So there is
just one feed pump which runs the whole process. Energy consumption for sewage
is 0.03 kWh/cum
compared to 0.3 kWh/cum or more in activated sludge. Similarly
for applications .
One hectare can purify a) 5.0 MLD of sewage to Class A primary water
quality, b) 5 MLD of drinking water and
additionally remove arsenic & iron , reduce
bacterial levels by 7-8 log
orders. Similarly process 30 ton/d organic municipal solids to rich soil in a 3 hectare evergreen
farm.
SBT environment cannot handle salinity > 2000 micromhos/cm or 1500 mg/L salts. Many plants have been set
up. Failures are due to overloading
only. SBT requires good soil husbandry
to ensure that overloads are prevented.
Plants set up in 1997 still run without overhaul.
SBT is a civil intensive technology; a 3 MLD sewage
plant to give Class A primary water quality
involves Rs 3 Cr( $600 K) and recurring Rs 3/kL ( $0.06/kL) and construction may take 8 months.It works economically for smaller scales and can be
fitted to variety of site contours. The capital costs seem 30 % higher but
recurring costs 80% lower ; and so gives less than 4
yr payback due to very long life
evergreen soil process. So a large city with 2000 MLD waste water can be served
quickly by
contracting suitably.
SBT applications are
also in i) storm water & sewage
purification for ground water recharge, ii) drinking water purification
including arsenic and iron removal iii)
non chemical purification of swimming pools, iv) hospital waste
processing for disposal, v) air purification
Large number of projects ,
workshops for users have been conducted. Indeed the resources required for the
developmental work came largely through setting up activities for users. The
impact of the technology is very significant as seen from the activities completed.
Today SBT is seen as a competitive very low operating cost evergreen very long
life alternative. GOI federal& states are the major customers; in recognition of
the potentials several workshops have been funded by GOI.The
demand for the product is growing rapidly in view of the benefits. PLs see
list below. Note lakh
means 1,00,000.
*Vermiculture
Bioconversion of Solid Residue: Sponsored
Project, Department of Biotechnology,
*Waste Management via Vermiculture:
Sponsored Project Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mumbai, 1991-95, completed (Rs.
7.5 Lakh).
*Bureau of Industrial Costs and Prices, Ministry of
Industry Government of India, Consultant Fermentation Antibiotics Cost Price
Study, February 1989 February 1991 (Rs. 1.0 Lakh) completed.
*Colour Chemicals Ltd.
(Subsidiary Hoechst
*Larsen and Toubro Ltd., Awarpur Cement, Canteen Waste Process Plant. 200 kg/d inclusive of supply of culture and
Design and Commissioning Works, July 93 June 94 (Rs.
0.8 Lakhs), completed
*Kamshet Agro Ltd. 40 ton/yr agricultural, animal, hotel
residues/wastes Process Plant inclusive of supply of culture and Design and
Commissioning, completed June 94 (Rs. 0.5 Lakh), completed
*Bombay Municipal Corporation 100 ton/d, Market
Waste Process Plant inclusive of supply of culture and Design and
Commissioning, May 1993 June 1995, (Rs. 3.4 Lakh), completed
*Kamshet Agro Ltd. 200 ton/yr, Agricultural, animal,
hotel wastes and risidues, Process Plant inclusive of
supply of culture and Design and Commissioning, September 1995 September 1996
(Rs. 1.70 Lakh).,completed
*Bombay Presidency Golf Club Ltd., Bombay 500 ton/yr
Agreiresidues residue Process Plant inclusive of
supply of culture and Design and Commissioning, May 1996 November 1996 (Rs. 3.75 Lakh).. completed
*Indira Gandhi Institute
for Development Research, Canteen Waste Process Technology, inclusive of supply
of culture and Design and Commissioning 100 kg/d, May 94 September 1994 (Rs. 1.1 Lakh),completed
*Indira Gandhi Institute
for Development Research, 25 cum./d Waste Water Purification
in Vermifilters inclusive of supply of culture and
Design and Commissioning, December 1996 (Rs. 1.0 Lakh) completed.
*Bombay Presidency Golf Club Ltd.,
*All India Council for Technical Education,
*Naval Dockyard,
*Kamshet Agro: Water
Conservation, July 2000 (Rs. 0.51 Lakh)
completed.
*Naval Dockyard,
*Lakshmi Pulp and Paper
Mills, Mumbai: 300 m3/d land
treatment of waste water; July 2001 onwards.
(Rs. 0.29 Lakh).
*Workshop on Solid waste Management UNICEF & Govt
of
*Workshop on Solid waste Mangemnent
Ministry of Urban Affairs New Delhi Nov 1998,completed
*Bombay Presidency Golf Club Ltd,
*Naval Dockyard Mumbai 50 kL/d
sewage purification Rs 3.89 lakhs,
2002-03,completed
*Dairy Development Corporation Govt
of
*Naval Dockyard , Mumbai, Solid waste management, 2001-02 Rs (Rs12000) ,completed
*Nitrogen Control in waste water, Onenature Bombay 2001- 02 ,Rs
1.64 lakhs (sponsored project) completed
*3 MLD Sewage purification plant Lovegrove
pumping station, Bombay Municipal Corporation, Onenature
Bombay, Rs
28.3 Lakhs ( only Rs9.5 Lakhs
received ), 2004-05.
*Sewage purification 270 kL/day Lifelink,
*Sewage purification 120 kL/day,
Vision Earthcare Pvt Ltd ( incubatee SINE IIT Bombay),Rs 1.5
lakhs, 2005-06 , completed
*Workshop on Soil Biotechnology July 2002 for Water
Supply& Sewerage Board, Govt of Gujarat &
UNICEF, Gandhinagar, Rs 1.8
Lakhs, completed
*Workshop on
Soil Biotechnology June 2002
for UNICEF &Gov of Maharahtra, Bombay Rs 1.8 Lakhs,completed
*Process for Treatment of Organic Wastes *US Patent
No: 6890438" Process for treatment of organic wastes" H.S.Shankar,B.R.Patnaik, U.S.Bhawalkar, issued
A process for conversion of organic wastes into biofertlizers such as soil conditioning agents of
fertilizer grade,culture grade,soil grade is provided.Also
provided is a process for conversion of organic wastes into material for
converting waste water into reusable water. Invention provdes
methods for conversion of organic solid wastes to biofertlizers
and reusable water in the presence of a geophagus
earthworm Pheretima elongata
culture to produce a variety of valuable soil conditioning products and
reusable water.
*
*Process for treatment of Organic residues" India Patent
Application MUM/384/26 April 2002, H.S.Shankar, B.R.Patnaik,U.S.Bhawalkar
*"Processfor treatment of waste
water" India Patent Applicaion MUM/383/26 April
2002, H.S.Shankar,B.R.Patnaik,U.S.Bhawalkar.