Microwave remediation of hazardous medical wastes

危险医疗废物微波修复

• 批准号: 6932715
• 负责人: PRASANNA CHANDRASEKHAR
• 金额: $ 9.93万
• 依托单位: ASHWIN-USHAS CORPORATION, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-05-15 至 2006-05-14
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6932715
• 关键词: bacteria; bioterrorism /chemical warfare; communicable diseases; environmental contamination; hazardous substances; health care facility; hospital equipment /supply; method development; microwave radiation; polyethylene glycols; virus; waste disposal

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infectious Medical Wastes, e.g. hospital wastes, represent a major component of hazardous wastes generated in the U.S. annually, with > 4.5 million tons generated from > 7,000 hospitals. Incineration remains the predominant disposal method, with continued problems of environmental pollution, severe local opposition, transportation, high costs associated with these, and the threat of new laws shutting down incinerators. In recently completed work for the Army, this firm demonstrated a novel microwave technology for destruction of three types of wastes - Infectious Medical Wastes; Biological Warfare agents; and Chemical Warfare agents. Our technology, developed in collaboration with one of the world's premier university microwave chemistry groups, developed unique methodologies, such as proprietary microwave enhancers and unique microwave-superheated-vapor exposure methods. Using domestic microwave ovens and simple, ambient-pressure techniques, complete destruction of hardy spores of model organisms was demonstrated, typically with 3 minutes exposure at 1 KW. Remediation of mixed wastes including metallic parts (e.g. sharps), bandages, gloves, cotton, etc., and volume/weight reduction to < 25% of the original, were demonstrated. An extremely inexpensive, rapid and environmentally benign, benchtop, point-of-service methodology was developed, suitable for use locally by individual hospital departments. In the proposed work, this technology will be further developed, scaled up, and demonstrated, firstly for a wide variety of organisms and simulated mixed wastes, then for pathogenic organisms, and finally with actual mixed wastes. The work is a collaborative effort with the university microwave group, the Regional BioDefense Lab, and a local hospital.

描述（由申请人提供）： 传染性医疗废物，例如医院废物是每年在美国产生的危险废物的主要组成部分，> 450万吨从> 7,000次医院产生。焚化仍然是主要的处置方法，持续存在环境污染，严重的当地反对，运输，与这些相关的高昂成本以及新法律关闭焚化炉的威胁。在最近完成的陆军工作中，该公司展示了一种新颖的微波技术，用于破坏三种垃圾 - 传染性医疗废物。生物战代理；和化学战代理。我们的技术与全球主要的大学微波化学组之一合作开发，它们开发了独特的方法，例如专有的微波增强剂和独特的微波处理式蒸气曝光方法。使用家用微波炉和简单的环境压力技术，证明了模型生物的耐铁孢子的完全破坏，通常在1 kW时暴露3分钟。证明了混合废物在内的混合废物，包括金属零件（例如锋利），绷带，手套，棉花等，并将体积/重量减少到原始的<25％。开发了一种极其廉价，快速且环境良性的台式，服务点方法，适用于各个医院部门在本地使用。在拟议的工作中，该技术将进一步开发，扩展和证明，首先是针对多种生物和模拟混合废物，然后是致病生物，最后是实际的混合废物。这项工作是与大学微波集团，区域生物实验室实验室和当地医院的合作努力。