Cranfield Toilet
CIRCULAR toilet
Cranfield University
How does it work? The Cranfield Circular Toilet is a low-water toilet that connects to a self-contained sanitation unit.
- When the toilet lid is closed, the bowl rotates, and waste drops into a holding tank.
- A custom screw inside the toilet separates solid and liquid waste.
- Solid waste moves up to a “pyrolysis unit” to create water vapor and pathogen-free char.
- Char collects in the bottom of the unit for disposal.
- Liquid waste is heated into a vapor that is passed through membranes to remove pathogens.
- As the vapor condenses into water, it is purified using carbon filtration and then disinfected by ultraviolet light so it can be recycled for flushing.
Who’s it for? This technology can be used for both pedestal and squat toilets. With a treatment process that turns poop, paper, and hygiene products into clean solids, it is designed for wipers, or people who use toilet paper.
Who created it? Scientists at Cranfield University invented the technology, and MSR Solutions refined the design’s engineering. In 2025, the circular toilet will be manufactured by Huatie and will be installed in households and passenger trains in China.