Banka BioLoo

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$1,500.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Banka BioLoo Limited

Manufacturing/Building Method

The main components of the BioLoo are the toilet shelter, biodigester, and the bacterial culture, or inoculant. The shelter is made of reinforced concrete panels. It also has the option to incorporate reinforced plastic or steel. It is made to the preference of the customer. The biodigester is a multi-chambered tank with stainless steel on the walls. They manufacture these items in their own place.^{Interview with designer} The inoculant that treats the fecal waste is certified by the Defense Research and Development Lab. They rest the culture every quarter. The system gives out water and a small amount of biogas. Water is tested for totally dissolved solids.

Intellectural Property Type

Patent

User Provision Model

Banka BioLoo is installing bio-toilets and 750-litre bio-tanks in public schools and individual households in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, funded by an NGO or a sponsoring company. This sanitation system aims to be installed at places where conventional toilets facility cannot be made available. Banka BioLoo built, promote, manufacture and supply ELOO – The BioDigester toilets. They also provide this product to laborers and workers at the Railway Corporation, paid for by companies.^{Interview with designer} Interested customers can contact to Banka BioLoo on their website to discuss purchasing products.

Distributions to Date Status

10,000+ BioLoos and 16,500+ tanks or toilets installed on trains or at schools.

Design Specifications

Capacity for the tank to function is 500 L to 20,000 L. The treatment occurs in the bio-tanks beneath the toilets, which are underground. The tank is fitted with bio-digesters, which decomposes 99% of waste in short time compared with conventional toilets. The manufacturer is also working towards converting traditional septic tanks into bio-tanks, to lessen environmental degeneration and create better health conditions. BioLoo uses the bio-digester technology and its various applications to provide eco-friendly sanitation systems and solutions across India, and notably to the Indian Railways to transform the night soil laden rail tracks to waste matter free tracks. Toilet shelters also guard users from temperature and rain.^{Interview with designer} At the heart of the ‘bio-digester’ technology is a cocktail of bacteria, or ‘bio-bugs’. When added to the septic tanks, this suspension speeds up degradation of bio-waste. The process converts septic tanks into ‘bio-tanks’ that do not contaminate groundwater. The recycled water can be used to water the garden and for other non-potable use. The bio-digester tank is a cylindrical structure with the provision of inlet for human waste and out let for bio gas, maintained at a temperature of 5-30 degree C. Night soil degradation occurs through microbial reaction which converts it into bio gas. On the basis of dry waste weight, 90% of the solid waste is reduced. The gaseous effluent (bio-gas) is continuously let off to the atmosphere. Bio Gas can be used for various energy incentive activities like cooking water and room heating. Liquid effluent can be drained to any surface or soak pit with out any environmental hazards.^{Interview with designer}  

Product Schematics

Technical Support

The bacteria are cultivated in cow dung, which is placed inside ‘bio tanks’ at Banka BioLoo’s manufacturing plant in central India. The tanks can then be fitted to new toilets or retrofitted to existing facilities, including septic tanks. ‘No replenishment of bacteria is required and very little sludge is created, which makes these toilets virtually maintenance free.’

Replacement Components

Components are available in country.^{Interview with designer}

Lifecycle

25 years, though estimated to be life-lasting without the need to replenish. ^{Interview with designer}

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Internal quality control check system involves a sample testing of the inoculant. When they supply the BioLoo to the railway, they get certified by an external agency, which includes testing the quality of the metal as it needs a certain grade of stainless steel. In their warehouse, inoculant is testing every 3 months.^{Interview with designer} The designer claims it is maintenance free, eliminates all pathogens, water can be reused for irrigation, doesn't need to dispose of sludge, and can be installed anywhere independently of a septic or sewage tank.

Vetted Performance Status

Primary checks are done qualitatively through observation.^{Interview with designer} There are no other standards and testing parameters referenced.

Safety

A possible hazard includes cross contamination if digester is not maintained properly.

Complementary Technical Systems

This standalone system does not need any other devices to operate; it acts as a full replacement for a sanitation system and can be added where no current system exists.^{Interview with designer}

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

There are no national standards on this type of product.^{Interview with designer}  

Evaluation methods

Evaluation is primarily qualitative observance. The inoculant is tested quarterly. ^{Interview with designer}

Other Information

Check out their contributor article on the Engineering for Change platform here. Banka BioLoo has four certificates from LMS Certifications Limited.