Inactivation of Vibrio cholerae during anaerobic digestion of human night soil

The fate of Vibrio cholerae was studied during anaerobic digestion of human night soil (HNS). In an experimental digester (VFA 8000 mg/l and pH 6.4), counts of V. cholerae declined rapidly and the counts were below detectable limits within 20 d. In the control digester (VFA 500 mg/l and pH 7.6), a four log reduction in count was achieved, however, the pathogen was not completely eliminated. T90 values for the experimental and control digesters were 1.53 and 2.63 d, respectively.