Residues with a large amount of organic content represent a potential for energy recovery. Specifically human feces, given the amount of global production and the environmental appeal, appear as a potential candidate for a new feedstock. The objective of this work is to perform a thermodynamic assessment of human feces gasification considering for the first time all inefficiencies of a downdraft gasifier. A thermochemical characterization was conducted from the sterilized raw material to the products. New data and discussions about the conversion efficiencies for such type of fuel are brought up, such as the influence of the exothermic pyrolysis on the chemical exergy destruction. The results suggest an unfavorable application in energetic terms; however, when the exergy analysis is added with the environmental bias, the process becomes more attractive due to the high physical exergy.

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