Polymanure

3D model 1
3D model 2
3D model 3
Block diagram (work process)
3D model 4
Decomposed plastic (tested at home)

################### Inspiration

Bio-magnification, Ecosystem depletion, etc., and contamination of water bodies are also caused due to PLASTIC. Plastic takes 500 years to decompose, but plastic is neither enemy to us as everyone uses it in their daily lives ignoring the cause. Thankfully, mushrooms (Aspergillus tubingensis) are capable of eating plastics, A.tubingensis are highly nutritive which makes a good start in converting plastics into high nutritive manure.

######################What it does

The POLYMANURE device has a decomposing bucket,

Step 1: The user can load (polythene, biopolymers, lowgrade plastics, LDPE, PP, PS). Step 2: Once the plastic is loaded, the user will add cartridge and water in mushroom cartridge slots. Step 3: Now, the device will be turned on. After which the device starts grinding plastics into smaller bits and parallelly adds drops of water and A.tubingensis from the cartridge. Step 4: Now the device starts its process to maintain the optimum temperature of 36*C with the usage of temperature sensors, cooling blade fans, and heating coils. Step 5: The device will be untouched for approximately 28 days. Step 6: After 28 days, the grinding motor mixes the content in the decomposing bucket. Step 7: Finally, the Autoclave procedure is done (Heat-killing process of mushroom spores.) to convert the contents in the decomposing bucket to high-nutritive mushroom. Step 8: After successful completion of the first seven steps, now the manure can be used for selling, farming, etc.

#########################How we built it

We built it using Arduino UNO R3, which uses Atmega 328 processor chip. all the sensors (temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and resistance-based sensors.) are connected to the Arduino. A counter circuit is programmed in Arduino Uno. 12V- 7 Amp Acid battery is used as a source during the power loss conditions. The AC supply is stepped down and regulated to 5V and 12 V DC supply. Using an L298N motor driver the high-speed BLDC motor is controlled. The analog and digital pins are properly connected to Arduino Uno with an LCD display and indicator LED's. An electronic mechanism is designed to extract the A.Tubingensis from the cartridge and to drop water at periodic intervals in the decomposing bucket. Cooling blade fans with the heating coil are connected to 5V control Relays and 12 V battery. All the mechanisms designed are programmed properly in Arduino IDE and set up for trials.

################# Challenges we ran into

We faced a challenge of sudden power loss conditions, thus came up with a solution of battery-based power supply during the blackout conditions. We had a problem with continuous power supply and temperature maintenance, so we used low-cost and low voltage consumable sensors and processors.

########### Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud to build POLYMANURE as the first team in the world which converts plastic into high-nutritive manure and provides a solution for plastic pile up in the world. We are also proud that this device can be sold as a business model with good profit.

##################### What we learned

We learned how to get maximum results with a limited amount of sensors and how to covert a business-based working model. We also have learned various factors affecting the Ecosystem and its effect on everyone in this Mother Earth.