Rotary drum composter as a low cost method for the removal of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris Trichiura in faecal sludge compost

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the study was to use of rotary drum composter as a low cost method for the removal of Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris Trichiura in faecal sludge compost. Two runs of compost experiment (Run 1 and Run 2) were carried out consecutively. Each Run of composting was done in four different rotary drums at real scale using a mixture of faecal sludge and shredded maize cobs and monitored for 12 weeks. Concentration of Ascaris and Trichuris were measured once a week to understand their behaviour. Temperature, Moisture Content and pH were also measured. High concentrations of Ascaris and Trichuris were present in the initial compost mix of both Runs 1 and 2. The concentration of Ascaris and Trichuris respectively in Run 1 ranged from 65–77 eggs/gTS and 30–41 eggs/gTS. In Run 2, measured concentrations of Ascaris and Trichuris ranged from 77–110 eggs/gTS and 46–52 eggs/gTS. After 84 days of composting faecal sludge, Ascaris was removed by a minimum of 82% and Trichuris by a minimum of 88%. The findings showed that plastic composter with paddles performed better compared with the other experiments. This means that the type of composter have a significant impact on the removal of helminth.