The Biofil Digester

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$880.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Biofilcom, Global Sustainable Aid Project

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Biopipe.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Designed in Africa for Africa, Biofil relies entirely on local manufacturers and local materials. Stand-alone digester and toilet models are available in flush and microflush units, which are precast and typically installed in two days.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Users can obtain a Biofil Digester from Biofilcom. The Global Sustainable Aid Project (GASP) is a humanitarian aid organization that offers a version of the Biofil Digester, the Microflush. Users can obtain a Microflush-Biofil through GASP's MAKER-LENDER Microfranchise model, contact GASP for micro-franchising information.

Distributions to Date Status

5000, as of 2013.

Design Specifications

The Biofil Digester is an on-site organic waste treatment system that combines the benefits of the flush toilet system and composting toilets while attempting to eliminate the disadvantages of those systems. The Biofil Digester technology treats all organic degradable matter through the natural process of aerobic decomposition. The basic digester is 2 ft x 2 ft x 6 ft (600 mm x 600 mm x 1800 mm). Each digester operates as a filter via rapid separation of solids and liquids, aerobic composting of solids, and biological -filtration of wastewater.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Contact the manufacturer for technical support.

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

Designed for a lifespan of 20 years with an assumed maximum household size of 15 users per day.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The Biofilm Digester was designed to process all organic degradable matter through aerobic decomposition while not emitting odorous gas. The digester is suitable for all soil conditions. and can be laid above ground or below ground depending on the groundwater level of the location. The biofilm digester requires minimum maintenance and needs no mechanical or electrical aeration of solid mass to achieve decomposition.    

Vetted Performance Status

Effluent Quality Analysis was performed by CSIR Water Research Institute. Analysis results for the Biofil systems for the following parameters: pH, conductivity, BOD, COD, temperature, ortho-phosphate, nitrate as nitrogen, ammonium as nitrogen, and nitrite. Influent concentrations are unknown. The analysis results showed that levels for pH, Cond., BOD, and COD met EPA Guidelines. A Thesis assessing the filtration properties found that the filter had a limited impact on the reduction of TSS, TDS, COD, NO₃, and PO₄.

Safety

There are no known safety issues with this product.

Complementary Technical Systems

The Biofil Digester can be paired with a hand-washing station which uses the greywater from hand-washing to flush the toilet. This design reduces water use and promotes hand-washing by requiring greywater to flush the toilet. The Biofil^TM’s Rain Forest Treatment System (RFTS) is a centralized wastewater management system that includes the Biofil^TM Digester. More broadly, RFTSs are a technical approach designed to treat organic wastewater from both domestic and industrial sources but can also be modified to handle flows from larger community buildings (i.e., hospitals, offices, recreational places, etc.). RFTS’s may include vertical gardens, sand filters, reed/planted beds, and/or gabions.  

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Testing performed in Amoah et al (2016) showed pollutant concentrations in the Biofil effluent exceeded both Ghana EPA and WHO standards for discharge. An assessment of the filtration units suggests that none of the elements of the filtering unit was able to attenuate defined parameters to approved Ghana EPA guidelines.

Evaluation methods

The manufacturer cites reductions in coliform levels by 95.6% and pollutant concentrations in the Biofil effluent exceeding Ghana EPA and WHO standards as evaluation criteria.

Other Information

• A video from the Global Sustainable Aid Project promoting the Microflush-Biofil toilets can be viewed here.
• An instruction construction video about the Biofil Tiolet.
• A Presentation from the Biofil Toilet Digester can be found here.
• 3rd party slideshow and presentation transcript is available here.
• Biofilcom Facebook page.
• Schematics of system
• Reivent the toilet fair (2014) - Technical Guides