Microwave remediation of hazardous medical wastes

描述(由申请人提供)： 感染性医疗废物，如医院废物，是美国每年产生的危险废物的主要组成部分，7000家医院产生了450万吨。焚烧仍然是主要的处置方法，持续存在的环境污染、当地强烈反对、运输、与这些相关的高昂成本以及新法律关闭焚烧炉的威胁。在最近为陆军完成的工作中，该公司展示了一种新的微波技术，用于销毁三种类型的废物--传染性医疗废物、生物战剂和化学战剂。我们的技术是与世界一流大学微波化学集团合作开发的，开发了独特的方法，如专有的微波增强剂和独特的微波过热蒸汽曝光方法。使用家用微波炉和简单的常压技术，演示了对模式生物耐寒孢子的完全破坏，通常在1KW下暴露3分钟。修复混合废物，包括金属部件(如锋利)、绷带、手套、棉花等，并将体积/重量减少到原来的25%。开发了一种非常便宜、快速和对环境无害的台式服务点方法，适合个别医院部门在当地使用。在拟议的工作中，这项技术将进一步开发、扩大和示范，首先用于各种生物和模拟混合废物，然后用于病原生物，最后用于实际的混合废物。这项工作是与大学微波小组、地区生物防御实验室和当地一家医院合作完成的。

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.