Sanitizing Faecal Sludge using Lactic Acid Bacteria in Emergencies

The objective of the research was to evaluate the sanitizing effect of lactic acid and other metabolites produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria (LABs) on human excreta by exploiting and promoting the Lactic Acid Fermentation (LAF) process. The research further explored the pre-conditions required (such as sugar and inoculum concentrations) and the suitability of Yakult, a probiotic milk product, being used as the microbial inoculant to the treatment process. Molasses was selected and used as the sugar additive for the promotion of the LAF process and Escherichia coli as the indicator organism.