Treatment and Reutilization of Medical Waste CHBE446 Team 2: Heather Cook, Savannah Green, Mike...

Treatment and Reutilization of Medical Waste

CHBE446 Team 2: Heather Cook, Savannah Green, Mike Wellen, Dave Weglein

• Introduction• Market Analysis• Current Uses• Goals• Process Outline• Safety Considerations• Concluding Remarks

Agenda

• According to the EPA: “Any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals”o Plastics, textiles, PVCo Biological material/wasteo Glass (syringes)o Dressings

What is medical waste?

livescience.com

• Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988o Cradle to grave tracking systemo Management standards for segregation, packaging, marking, labeling,

and storage of medical wasteo Record keeping requirements & penalties for mismanagement

• Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposalo Drop box/collection sites, mail-back programs, syringe exchange

programs, at home needle destruction devices• Specific state regulations

o For MD regulations, visit www.mde.maryland.gov

How is it regulated?

• Yes!o Hospitals, doctors offices, medical research facilities

Seeking ways to cut costso Several billion pounds of waste generated each yearo Market for the productso Get paid to take the inputs

Is there a market for it?

holykaw.alltop.com

• Company - Environmental Energy Resources • Uses “Plasma-Gasification-Melting” (PGM) technique

o High conversion of waste to syngas, steam, and solidso Pyrolysis and gasificationo Plants in Russia and Israel

Current Uses (I)

Current Uses (II)

• Company - Energy-Inc o Pyrolysis (decompose organics w/o O2)

o Gasification (produce syngas w/o combustion)

o Heat/energyo Syngas: 1,885,000 MMbtu/yearo Biochar: 9,125 tons of biochar annuallyo Electricity: 22,000 kWh

• Switch from disposal to utilization• Sterilize and recycle waste

o Optimize the process to reutilize as much waste as possible• Create a cost effective process• Save money, preserve landfill space, follow regulations

Our Goals

thecambelltimes.com

• Inputs: (~10 tons/day)o Gauze (99% collagen)o Plastic (syringes)o Gloves (latex)o Needles

• Outputs: o Steamo CO2

o Possibly the syngas itselfo Organic fertilizer

Overall Inputs/Outputs

ljworld.com

• Separate waste in specified containers (completed by medical facilities) • Pick up waste and deliver to reutilization facility• Send to reactor to turn into syngas• Send to Thermal Residence Chamber, which keeps the gasification going

and brings to equilibrium• Go through a heat recovery steam generator• Clean gas with APC equipment and send to be sold or combusted

General Steps

Process Flow Diagram

• Heat exchangers• Reactors• Separators/scrubbers• Pumps/compressors

Unit Operations

• Personal protective equipment while handling waste and equipment (goggles, mask, etc)

• Specified containers for different types of wasteo Proper labeling

• Sterilization of product before reuse• Controls in process• Regulation of outputs• Caution - high temperatures and pressures

Safety and Environmental Considerations

cvcenvironmental.com

• Proper disposal of medical waste has been regulated since 1988

• Hospitals demand more cost effective waste treatment techniqueso Emphasis on reusing the treated waste

• Medical waste can be turned into useful, profitable products such as steam, syngas, and fertilizers

Takeaway Points

Thank you!

http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/industrial/medical/http://www.eer-pgm.com/_Uploads/dbsAttachedFiles/May_2011.pdfhttp://www.energy-inc.com/technology/http://rpn.baumpub.com/news/1599/new-conversion-process-

designed-to-eliminate-medical-waste-in-landfillshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261912002322http://www.inentec.com/pemtm-technology/process-details.html

References