ITBA20070060A1 - "DEVICE FOR THE DISINFESTATION AND INACTIVATION, BY MEANS OF ACTION COMBINED WITH UVC RAYS - OZONE, OF MICRO-ORGANISMS CONTAINED IN HOSPITAL WASTE AND ITS PROCEDURE". - Google Patents

Description

Description of the Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

"Device for disinfestation and inactivation, through a combined action of UVC rays - ozone, of

microorganisms contained in hospital waste and related procedure "

PROVISIONAL TEXT

The invention concerns a device and a method for the biological disinfection and remediation of special hospital waste, at particular infectious risk, in order to obtain the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses and spore-forming bacteria contained in them, thus obtaining waste similar to urban ones, and being able to carry out transport and release in public landfills without any risk of contagion or infection.

The device and the relative methodology used, in compliance with the provisions of the regulations in force (UNI 10384), considers the extreme inhomogeneity of the treated material and the practical impossibility of defining the species of microorganisms and their concentration.

According to the provisions of the invention, the infected hospital waste therefore undergoes a heat treatment, at a temperature and for a period of time necessary to guarantee the inactivation of the microorganisms contained.

This damage is irreversible and leads to a safe elimination of the growth and multiplication functions of the microorganisms themselves.

The device produces waste gases, which are captured inside the plant itself, to be subjected to suitable disinfection treatments and then discharged into the external environment with characteristics that comply with current legislation on emissions.

The advantages of this treatment are obvious and essentially concern:

• the possibility of applying the treatment directly in the places of waste production, eliminating all occasions of impact on the population; on the workers and the environment affected by the various handling and transport phases.

• Allows accurate control of the quantities and types of waste produced with a significant reduction in disposal costs

• Reduces the volume of waste sent for disposal due to the compacting effect of sterilization and shredding.

• The device does not require any type of special transport container, available only from specialized and high-cost retailers.

• The device is absolutely self-sufficient and easy to install and use; completely enclosed in a steel container, to be installed also in outdoor environments the device requires only a single electrical connection at 380 V, three-phase, and a simple water supply. As there is no production of liquid waste, connection to the sewer system is not required.

• Relieves the administrative and health managers of the producer bodies from the civil and criminal responsibilities connected with the control of the correct final disposal of potentially infected special waste.

DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD USED

According to what has been said previously, the methodology used by the device object of the invention requires a double combined action of radiations emitted by UVC fluorescent lamps (i.e. lamps that emit radiation in the ultraviolet range, with short wavelengths, between 200 at 280 nanometers), and therefore of ozone, in liquid or gaseous form.

It is therefore a question of carrying out both a heat treatment on the waste, due to the sending of a significant source of energy (the UVC to be precise) and therefore an advanced oxidation process (by sending ozone) of organic substances with the relative damage to the cellular structures of the pathogenic organisms contained in the waste, obtaining their inactivation, also avoiding their reproduction.

In a first phase, the waste is passed through a shredder which reduces its volume by 5-10 times, or even reduces it to the liquid state, in order to increase the surface of the waste exposed to the double sterilizing action, as well as to reduce it volumes for subsequent landfilling. During this first phase, ozone is sent to the waste in liquid or gaseous form (by bubbling); from this moment until the final delivery of the waste to the storage container, the ozone carries out its oxidation action and therefore activates the microorganisms contained in the waste itself.

At the end of the first phase, the shredded and ozone-impregnated waste is passed through a series of conveyor belts, suitably sized and resistant to high temperatures; during this handling, the waste comes into contact with UVC radiations, which through the high energy, subject the waste to a considerable thermal stress, which guarantees a further activation of the pathogenic organisms.

During the unloading phase from this second sterilization phase, the waste is transferred to a second granulator by means of a stainless steel screw, to further reduce its size and therefore the total volume up to 80 times the starting volume, and therefore, placed in a hot maintenance chamber in which the oxidizing action of the ozone is allowed to continue, keeping the waste at a sufficient temperature and for a minimum time for complete sterilization.

It should be noted that, from studies and analyzes carried out in specialized centers, in order to guarantee sterilization by means of a thermal process, special hospital waste must be kept at a minimum temperature of 135 ° for a time of not less than 200 seconds.

Here are some indications, showing the thermal and temporal conditions, necessary for the inactivation of microorganisms through the use of grape radiation.

DEGREES OF RESISTANCE OF THE MICROORGANISMS TO HEAT

MICROORGANISMS 80 ° C 100 ° C 120 ° C 134 ° C

Plasmodi

Flagellates

Virus 1-5 minutes

Asporigenous bacteria

Molds

Spores of yeasts and molds 5 - 10 minutes 1 minute

Bacillary spores of lesser resistance from 1 to 60 1 minute

Minutes

60-minute high-strength bacillary spores

at 60 hours 8 minutes 1 minute Highly heat resistant spores up to 6 hours

DOSES OF UV AT 254 NM REQUIRED TO INACTIVE 90% OF SOME MICROORGANISM SPECIES

DOSE (J / M <Z>)

BACTERIA

Bacillus anthracis 45

Bacillus subtilis (spores) 120

Clostridium tetani 130

Corynebacterium diphteriae 34

Escherichia coli 30

Mycobacterium tuberculosis 62

Proteus vulgaris 26

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 55

Serratia marcescens 24

Staphilococcus aureus 26

STOPPERS

Saccharomyces cerevisiae 60

Torula sphaerica 23

SPORE FUNGINE

Aspergillus flavus 600 Aspergillus niger 1320 Cladosporium herbarum 600 Mucor mucedo 650 Ooospora lactis 50 Penicillium chrysogenum 500 Scopulriopsis brevicaulis 800

DEVICE DESCRIPTION

The entire device is described below, in every part, following the path of the waste from loading to release after undergoing the double sterilizing action, following the graphic scheme shown in figure 1.

o Rejection upload. The loading operation takes place through the automatic opening of a hatch, from which the tipper lift is accessed. Once the container has been inserted, the loading door closes and the waste is raised to the height of the shredder hopper and overturned there. The shredder hopper is operated by a pneumatic cylinder and is equipped with a hermetic seal, as well as constantly kept in depression, in order to prevent the possible leakage of potentially infected gasses. The extracted air is sent to a treatment system, which disinfects and deodorises it. The loading hopper is equipped with a series of nozzles for sending the liquid ozone, in order to perform a sterilization of the hopper itself, before any maintenance activity and in any case at each stop of the device.

o Primary shredding and dispatch of liquid ozone. The shredding starts only after the pneumatic closing of the shredder hopper (which is also kept in depression): during this phase the apparatus is completely isolated from the external environment. The waste, reduced into tiny parts and moistened with liquid ozone, is ready for transport to the sterilization chamber with UVC radiation: in this phase the average volumetric reduction of the inserted waste is 5 - 10 times. The shredder is essentially made up of two rotating shafts, connected to each other by a transmission, carrying steel blades, capable of shredding any material (preferably non-metallic) thus reducing its volume. During shredding, liquid ozone continues to be sent on the waste. At the output of the shredder, there is a discharge hopper, which allows the waste to be sent in the second treatment phase. Also in this case, some nozzles are placed along the walls of the hopper for sending the sterilization zone before any maintenance intervention and at each production stop of the device.

or second action: UVC radiation. During this first phase, the waste coming from the primary shredding, is passed under a series of fluorescent lamps, which generate UVC radiation and therefore a source of heat directly applied to the waste and to the microorganisms it contains. The limited penetrating effect of UVC radiations make the previous shredding operation and therefore the mixing of the waste very important, which is obtained by passing the material to be treated from one belt to another, inside the chamber. Suitable deviators allow a better distribution of the rejection of the tape and therefore a better efficacy of the radiations. The conveyor belt is made of plastic material or of canvas-plastic composite material, and in any case resistant to high temperatures and to the direct action of UVC. The chamber and the visual inspection windows are made of material suitable for filtering radiation, which would otherwise be harmful to operators and maintenance personnel. At the outlet from the UVC radiation treatment chamber there is a discharge hopper for the passage of the waste into the chamber for treatment with steam and ozone.

o Screw conveyor. Once out of the treatment chamber with UVC, the waste is passed through a screw conveyor essentially consisting of an external cylinder and an internal propeller, with shaft, powered by a direct current motor with variable speed. The conveyor allows the movement of the waste and its simultaneous mixing, favoring the action of liquid ozone. Both the outer cylinder and the inner propeller are made of stainless steel.

The screw conveyor is installed in an inclined position, in order to guarantee a greater treatment length, with the same overall dimensions, in order to subsequently exploit the height of the outlet mouth to install subsequent parts (the holding chamber), but basically, in order to ensure a better musculation of the refusal.

The variability of the rotation speed of the propeller is obtained through a frequency variator (inverter), managed directly by a PLC, based on the waste load introduced into the device, in order to always guarantee complete treatment in terms of times and temperatures. minimum to guarantee complete sterilization and activation.

Along the development of the screw, there are temperature probes, as well as sensors for signaling faults or operating anomalies (controls, pressure switches, etc.). Furthermore, in the first section of the screw conveyor a series of nozzles (18) are provided for sending the liquid ozone. Finally, the entire conveyor is suitably thermally insulated by means of a suitable coating, in order to reduce heat losses and keep the waste at sufficiently high temperatures.

o Secondary shredding. At this point, the disinfested and sterilized material is sent to a further shredding phase (even if in this case we should speak of grinding), in order to further reduce the volume of waste during its transfer to the landfill.

Also in this case, the shredder consists of two reverse rotation shafts, with a single motor and special steel blades.

o Holding chamber. The treated and ground waste is then placed in a maintenance chamber, in order to keep it at a predetermined temperature, for a further time interval necessary for the sterilizing action of the ozone to continue. In reality, this chamber consists of four metal containers, which can occupy four distinct positions, rotating by 90 °, by means of a rotating table, operated by a motor or by a pneumatic rotating cylinder.

In this way, when one of the chambers is filled, rotation is carried out, so that the full chamber is positioned externally, for discharge into the collection container, while an empty chamber is positioned in the area below the secondary shredder, ready to receive the waste. coming from the screw conveyor.

Both chambers are kept at the minimum required temperature (about 140 ° C), for a certain time interval, by means of a tube or plate exchanger, in which the steam itself releases a part of the thermal energy in its possession, to heat the chambers, which are equipped with temperature probes and relative thermoregulators, in such a way as to maintain the internal temperature at a certain set point. Furthermore, the holding chambers are equipped in the lower part with hatches, which can be opened by means of pneumatic cylinders, for discharging the waste into the collection container.

I unload. The waste is discharged from the trap door, at the end of the maintenance period, directly into the collection container, placed outside the device and in any case ready to be picked up and handled by the compacting machines of the urban collection, thanks also to the appropriately prepared handles.

Fume extraction and abatement system. All the fumes and vapors emitted during the waste loading and primary shredding phase are appropriately aspirated by an axial centrifugal fan and treated through a first mechanical filter, and then by a second filter, consisting of fluorescent lamps, with emission of UVC radiation. , before the final release into the atmosphere, without any problems of biological impact.

In this way there is the simultaneous sterilization, activation and deodorization of the fumes.

Steam generator. The steam circuit essentially consists of a steam generator, suitably sized, such as to be able to generate the necessary quantity of steam at the required temperature and pressure.

The entire steam transport and adduction circuit is made up of copper pipes, completely covered with heat-insulating sheaths, to avoid heat dispersion and improve the performance of the device.

Pneumatic circuit. The pneumatic circuit consists of an air compressor, equipped with a suitable tank and a series of pipes in plastic material for feeding to the users, represented by linear and rotary pneumatic cylinders, such as the door opening cylinder, the rotary cylinder of opening of the waste discharge hatch, and the steam delivery valves.

The compressor must be such as to generate air at a pressure of 6 - 8 bar, while the tank must be sized for about 60 liters.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS or 1. Device for disinfestation and inactivation, through a combined action of UVC rays - ozone, of microorganisms contained in hospital waste and related procedure "characterized by the following components and procedures Loading the waste. The loading operation takes place through the automatic opening of a hatch, from which the lifter-tipper is accessed. Once the container has been inserted, the loading door closes and the waste is raised to the height of the shredder hopper and overturned there. The shredder hopper is operated by a pneumatic cylinder and is equipped with a hermetic seal, as well as constantly kept in depression, in order to prevent the possible leakage of potentially infected gasses. The extracted air is sent to a treatment system, which disinfects and deodorises it. The loading hopper is equipped with a series of nozzles for sending the liquid ozone, in order to perform a sterilization of the hopper itself, before any maintenance activity and in any case at each stop of the device. o Primary shredding and dispatch of liquid ozone. The shredding starts only after the pneumatic closing of the shredder hopper (which is also kept in depression): during this phase the apparatus is completely isolated from the external environment. The waste, reduced into tiny parts and moistened with liquid ozone, is ready for transport to the sterilization chamber with UVC radiation: in this phase the average volumetric reduction of the inserted waste is 5 - 10 times. The shredder is essentially made up of two rotating shafts, connected to each other by a transmission, carrying steel blades, capable of shredding any material (preferably non-metallic) thus reducing its volume. During shredding, liquid ozone continues to be sent on the waste. At the output of the shredder, there is a discharge hopper, which allows the waste to be sent in the second treatment phase. Also in this case, some nozzles are placed along the walls of the hopper for sending the sterilization zone before any maintenance intervention and at each production stop of the device. second action: UVC radiation. During this first phase, the waste coming from the primary shredding, is passed under a series of fluorescent lamps, which generate UVC radiation and therefore a source of heat directly applied to the waste and to the microorganisms it contains. The limited penetrating effect of UVC radiations make the previous shredding operation and therefore the mixing of the waste very important, which is obtained by passing the material to be treated from one belt to another, inside the chamber. Suitable deviators allow a better distribution of the rejection of the tape and therefore a better efficacy of the radiations. The conveyor belt is made of plastic material or of canvas-plastic composite material, and in any case resistant to high temperatures and to the direct action of UVC. The chamber and the visual inspection windows are made of material suitable for filtering radiation, which would otherwise be harmful to operators and maintenance personnel. At the outlet from the UVC radiation treatment chamber there is a discharge hopper for the passage of the waste into the chamber for treatment with steam and ozone. Screw conveyor. Once out of the treatment chamber with UVC, the waste is passed through a screw conveyor essentially consisting of an external cylinder and an internal propeller, with shaft, powered by a direct current motor with variable speed. The conveyor allows the movement of the waste and its simultaneous mixing, favoring the action of liquid ozone. Both the outer cylinder and the inner propeller are made of stainless steel. The screw conveyor is installed in an inclined position, in order to guarantee a greater treatment length, with the same overall dimensions, in order to subsequently exploit the height of the outlet mouth to install subsequent parts (the holding chamber), but basically, in order to ensure a better musculation of the refusal. The variability of the rotation speed of the propeller is obtained through a frequency variator (inverter), managed directly by a PLC, based on the waste load introduced into the device, in order to always guarantee complete treatment in terms of times and temperatures. minimum to guarantee complete sterilization and activation. Along the development of the auger, temperature probes are provided, as well as sensors for signaling faults or operating anomalies (speed controllers, pressure switches, etc.). sending liquid ozone. Finally, the entire conveyor is suitably thermally insulated by means of a suitable coating, in order to reduce heat losses and keep the waste at sufficiently high temperatures. o Secondary shredding. At this point, the disinfested and sterilized material is sent to a further shredding phase (even if in this case we should speak of grinding), in order to further reduce the volume of waste during its transfer to the landfill. Also in this case, the shredder consists of two reverse rotation shafts, with a single motor and special steel blades. o Holding chamber. The treated and ground waste is then placed in a maintenance chamber, in order to keep it at a predetermined temperature, for a further time interval necessary for the sterilizing action of the ozone to continue. In reality, this chamber consists of four metal containers, which can occupy four distinct positions, rotating by 90 °, by means of a rotating table, operated by a motor or by a pneumatic rotating cylinder. In this way, when one of the chambers is filled, rotation is carried out, so that the full chamber is positioned externally, for discharge into the collection container, while an empty chamber is positioned in the area below the secondary shredder, ready to receive the waste. coming from the screw conveyor. Both chambers are kept at the minimum required temperature (about 140 ° C), for a certain time interval, by means of a tube or plate exchanger, in which the steam itself releases a part of the thermal energy in its possession, to heat the chambers, which are equipped with temperature probes and relative thermoregulators, in such a way as to maintain the internal temperature at a certain set point. Furthermore, the holding chambers are equipped in the lower part with hatches, which can be opened by means of pneumatic cylinders, for discharging the waste into the collection container. I unload. The waste is discharged from the trap door, at the end of the maintenance period, directly into the collection container, placed outside the device and in any case ready to be picked up and handled by the compacting machines of the urban collection, thanks also to the appropriately prepared handles. Fume extraction and abatement system. All the fumes and vapors emitted during the waste loading and primary shredding phase are appropriately aspirated by an axial centrifugal fan and treated through a first mechanical filter, and then by a second filter, consisting of fluorescent lamps, with emission of UVC radiation. , before the final release into the atmosphere, without any impact problems biological. In this way there is the simultaneous sterilization, in activation and deodorization of fumes. o Steam generator. The steam circuit is essentially made up of a steam generator, suitably sized, so as to be able to general the necessary amount of steam at the temperature and at required pressure. The whole steam transport and adduction circuit is made up of pipes in copper, completely covered with heat-insulating sheaths, to avoid heat dispersion and improve the performance of the device. o Pneumatic circuit. The pneumatic circuit consists of a air compressor, equipped with a suitable tank and a series of plastic pipes for power supply to users, shown by linear and rotary pneumatic cylinders, such as the opening cylinder of the hatch, the rotary cylinder for opening the waste discharge hatch, e the steam delivery valves. The compressor must be such as to generate air at a pressure of 6 - 8 bar, while the tank must be sized for about 60 liters