Professor Turns Human Waste into Coal

In the world's laboratories, one professor has found human poop is a bargain basement source of energy. It churns out 7 billion pounds of waste daily from humans alone. One day, Professor Amit Gross turned his students' poop into coal. Everything changes when you ask "what if".

What is hydrothermal carbonization

Hydrothermal carbonization is a process that transforms organic waste, such as human poop, into a coal-like substance. This method involves heating the waste to 480 degrees Fahrenheit under high pressure in a sealed machine. The waste shrinks and the heat kills pathogens. This process is the same as the one that turns plants into coal — but instead of taking millions of years, it works on a timescale of hours. As a bonus, hydrothermal carbonization also produces a liquid byproduct that can be used as a fertiliser. Human waste is an abundant resource, 7 billion pounds are produced every day. There’s a world of benefits when we convert it to coal — fossil fuels are a finite resource, but waste is ever-present and renewable, an ideal energy source in this context. This conversion is not just about creating fuel. It also helps to reduce waste build up that are going on in the world. These two benefits — turning waste into a valuable resource, and using that resource to generate energy — makes the process desirable.

The Nutrients in Our Waste

The process of turning human waste into coal is not just about creating energy. It's also about recognizing the value of what we often overlook. Human waste contains organic nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are essential for plant growth. So, when we convert human waste into coal using the hydrothermal carbonization process, we also end up with a liquid byproduct that can be used as a fertilizer. This means that not only are we creating a new source of energy, but we're also contributing to sustainable agriculture.

The Power of Hydrothermal Carbonization

There are many methods to turn waste into energy. From incineration to cellulosic ethanol, every method has its own set of challenges and benefits. For example, incineration can be very energy efficient, but it releases harmful pollutants into the air. Hydrothermal carbonization, however, doesn't have these problems. It's a closed-loop system that doesn't release harmful pollutants into the air. This is helpful for the environment as well as those who can't escape the pollution.

The Pressure Cooker

The key to hydrothermal carbonization is the combination of heat and pressure. This method works in a few hours. It allows for a quick turnaround in creating coal. The high temperature and pressure makes all the tiny particles in the waste clump together. It’s like using a pressure cooker to cook food quickly. But in this case, the food is human waste, and the resulting dish is coal. This process of turning human waste into coal has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage waste and produce energy.

Heat and Pressure

This transformation is a testament to the power of heat and pressure. It shows us that with the right conditions, even the most unwelcome substances can be converted into something useful. The process doesn't just turn waste into coal — it also kills any disease-causing pathogens in the waste. It's a two-for-one deal that's hard to beat.

Why natural energy matters?

The world's energy needs are growing, and with them comes the need for a steady source of fuel. Fossil fuels are running out, and it's not clear what will replace them. Transition to renewable energy is a slow process, with many hurdles to cross. We can turn to biofuels and other alternative energy sources, but they also have their own set of challenges and limitations. This makes renewable energy still a work in progress. For example, biofuels can be expensive and hard to produce on a large scale, and they can also compete with food crops for land and resources. Hydrothermal carbonization stands out in the alternatives to fossil fuels. Using waste to create coal is a way to convert something that would otherwise be a problem (waste) into a useful resource (energy) for those who don't have easy access to energy. Not only are we finding a new way to use waste, we're also providing a lower-cost and more sustainable solution than traditional oil.

Eyes and Ears

Second-hand information isn't worth your time. You need to ask the experts. Human waste isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of energy sources, but it has the potential to transform the way we think about waste and energy. The transformation of human waste into coal through hydrothermal carbonization is a fascinating example of how we can turn unwanted substances into useful resources. This process works in a few hours and creates clean coal without releasing harmful pollutants. There’s a lot of information out there, but it’s crucial to get it from reliable sources. That’s why it’s worth reaching out to people in the field, like Professor Amit Gross, who has done extensive research on this topic. Picking their brain to get a better understanding of the process, its potential, and its challenges really helps to get the best results.

"Go to the Source" — literally

If you’re curious about the potential of hydrothermal carbonization, the best way to learn more is to go straight to the source. Take a laboratory tour where the process is taking place and ask the researchers who are working on it. And if you can't actually handle the supplies, look for videos or demonstrations online. There are many resources available that can help you understand the process and its potential.