Breakthrough: A Waterless Flush Toilet

Asahi Engineering Co., an industrial machinery manufacturer in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, has developed a type of flush toilet, a men's urinal, that operates without using water. Although it resembles the usual flush urinal in design, it uses a liquid mixture of silicone and fluorine instead of water for flushing. When a user approaches, a sensor reacts and starts to release a flow of the transparent cleansing liquid. After use, the combined liquid is delivered to a separation tank, where the urine is separated and drained.

Urine is separated from the other two materials in the cleansing liquid using differences in specific gravity. The urine is trapped between a layer of silicone solution, which is lighter than water, and fluorine solution, which is heavier than water. The urine is then discharged rapidly, while the layers of silicone solution above and the fluorine solution below are recirculated and reused.

The cleansing liquid can be used almost an unlimited number of times and the system is basically maintenance free. With its antibacterial properties, fluorine is hygienic and acts as a deodorizer, and it is also harmless to human body. The company obtained a patent for this invention last year.

This waterless toilet will work even on electricity from dry cell batteries. It can help save both water and electricity, and cut carbon dioxide emissions and costs significantly. Since it can be installed in areas that lack access to running water and electricity, this toilet could readily find uses such as on remote islands and mountain areas, as well as at event sites, and on ships and aircrafts. Also, the separator can be attached to conventional flush toilets for flushing without water.

The toilet, which will be available in the fall of 2004, is already attracting numerous inquiries from various sectors. Asahi Engineering aims to sell this new-generation toilet in both domestic and overseas markets. Meanwhile, the company has almost completed the development of a waterless flushing system for normal toilet use. Many observers are watching for further developments in environmentally friendly toilets that don't use water.



Posted: 2004/05/27 12:38:10 PM
Japanese version