Optimizing source-separated feces degradation and fertility using nitrifying microorganisms

Resource-oriented sanitation (ROS) systems play an important role in handling source-separated human sanitary wastes intended to be used for other purposes. Usually, the purpose of employing such systems is to render the source-separated human feces suitable as fertilizer or soil conditioner. However, the high volume, low degradation rate, and lack of fertility management pose challenges to such enterprises. Accordingly, treatment by applying controlled amounts of nitrifying microorganisms could be useful. The effect of adding different amounts of Nitrosomonas Europaea bio-seed, along with a certain amount of Nitrobacter Winogradskyi bio-seed, to source-separated human feces was investigated. The results show that adding 7000–8000 or more N. Europaea cells, along with 10,000 N. Winogradskyi cells, to 1 g feces, resulted in up to 90% degradation of the organic matter by enhancing the growth of heterotrophic microorganisms. Moreover, the nitrogen composition and pH of the degraded feces were optimized to meet the criteria for standard fertilizer. The results can be useful for managing source-separated feces in ROS systems in accordance with the specific aims of such systems, i.e., reducing feces volume by bio-degradation and increasing the fertility to meet the standard criteria for fertilizer. •There are challenges relevant to human feces handling, storage, and utilization.•Adding nitrifying microorganisms can accelerate the degradation rate of feces.•Adding nitrifiers can increase the number of heterotrophic microorganisms in feces.•The addition of nitrifiers was optimized to turn feces into a standard fertilizer.•Findings can be useful for feces handling in resource-oriented sanitation systems.