DRDO using bacteria from Antarctica in bio-toilets

Bacteria from Antarctica are being used in bio-toilets developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation, Rajya Sabha was told on Tuesday. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply that the bacteria from Antarctica was used in anaerobic microbial consortium that is used for seeding (inoculation) bio-digesters.

"The consortium is composed of bacteria belonging to four groups, which work in sequential manner. The Antarctic bacteria which are cold active (work in wide temperature range) constitute the first two groups, i.e., hydrolytic & acidogenic. Cow dung, being abundantly available at low cost, has been used for multiplication of bacteria used in the bio-digester," he said.

Once cow dung is consumed by the bacteria and converted into a form that does not have any fly attractant property but rather detract them, the final bacteria which fed into the bio-digester do not have any unpleasant odour and get washed away within few days, he said.