Process
System Components
The system components include the Reverse Polymerization System which generates and transmits direct microwave energy to the waste load. The Material Handling System allows efficient processing of waste and is designed for continuous batch processing and incorporates loading, Reverse Polymerization, and cooling & grinding chambers, as well as residue handling. A Nitrogen Generation System provides an oxygen depleted atmosphere in the Reverse Polymerization chamber to prevent oxidation of the waste during the treatment cycle. The MD-1000 achieves greater than 6 log10 reduction of test spores (Bacillus stearothermophilus-Seyfried, 1997). The Environmental Control System treats the very low gas flow.
Medical Waste
The Model MD-1000 normally processes 2,700 lbs (1,225 kg) of medical and biomedical wastes daily, including packaging, plastics, anatomical wastes, glass and sharps with no preprocessing.
Waste is loaded into the weighing and purging chamber in plastic garbage bags and cardboard trays where the waste mass is recorded and the air is replaced with nitrogen. No processing such as grinding is required; therefore worker exposure to and risk from sharps and pathogens is minimized. The waste is moved by conveyor into the Reverse Polymerization reduction chamber where the microwave energy is applied through 14 magnetrons with variable output of up to 3 kW each. The waste mass and volume is reduced by approximately 80% and a landfill ready, sterilized carbon residue is produced.
The final step in the process is the cooling and grinding which further reduces the sterilized waste to prevent the risk of garbage bag puncture from sharps. The waste is then moved to plastic garbage bags and disposed with other municipal solid waste. The complete cycle-time is 50-80 minutes per load. This safe system minimizes the need for handling and reduces the need for special onsite storage, special transportation or special off-site disposal.
Reverse Polymerization of medical and biomedical waste should not be confused with microwave disinfection or autoclaving processes, which use microwaves to generate steam to inactivate pathogens. Reverse Polymerization should also not be confused with pyrolysis. With the Reverse Polymerization Process, the amount of energy and the rate of energy input is highly controllable through the system magnetrons, while pyrolysis cannot be controlled to the same degree.
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