WO2018173093A1

WO2018173093A1 - Plant and method for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories

Info

Publication number: WO2018173093A1
Application number: PCT/IT2018/050053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Andreola; Massimo FAGA; Paolo MORA
Original assignee: Sanitrade S.R.L.
Priority date: 2017-03-24
Filing date: 2018-03-23
Publication date: 2018-09-27
Also published as: IT201700032932A1

Abstract

A plant for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories is provided with at least one inlet line (7, 8) connected to at least one drain (4, 5) of at least one analytical system of at least one clinical laboratory (3); and at least one purifying apparatus (9) configured to purify the sewage coming from the inlet line (7, 8) and drain it into the sewage system (10); the purifying apparatus (9) comprises at least one filtering station (15, 16, 18) and an anti-foaming station (14), which is arranged upstream of the filtering station (15, 16, 18).

Description

PLANT AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRAINS COMING FROM ANALYTICAL SYSTEMS OF CLINICAL LABORATORIES

State of the art

The present invention relates to a plant and a method for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories.

Particularly, the present invention relates to a plant and a method for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of laboratories of clinical chemistry and clinical immunometry.

In analytical laboratories of clinical chemistry and clinical immunometry, machines are used for the chemical and immunological analysis of biological samples (hereinafter generically called analytical systems).

Once the analysis and supply of the results have been performed, the chemical and immunological analysis machines are configured to drain the biological material and the reagents used during the analysis phase (concentrated sewage) and to drain the water and cleansers used during the washing phase of the machinery (sewage rich in surfactants diluted in water).

Normally all the drains coming from the chemical and immunological analysis machines are collected in special tanks and subsequently disposed of as hazardous waste.

Technical field

The object of the present invention is to provide a plant for the treatment of special clinical waste of this type which is able to suitably treat the waste so as to make it directly which can be drained into the sewage system, avoiding the costly collection and transport phases.

Disclosure of the invention

In accordance with these aims, the present invention relates to a plant for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories comprising:

• at least one inlet line connected to at least one drain of at least one analytical system of at least one clinical laboratory;

• at least one purifying apparatus configured to purify the sewage coming from the inlet line and drain it into the sewage system;

· the purifying apparatus comprising at least one filtering station and an anti-foaming station, which is arranged upstream of the filtering station.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories outlined above that is capable of appropriately treating waste in order to make it directly drainable into the sewage system, avoiding the costly collection and transport phases.

In accordance with these aims, the present invention relates to a method for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories comprising the phases of purifying the sewage coming from at least one inlet line connected to at least one drain of at least one analytical system of at least one clinical laboratory and to drain the purified sewage into the sewage system; in which the phase of purifying the sewage comprises eliminating the foam present in the sewage and subsequently filtering the sewage. Detailed description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

· Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an application of the plant for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories according to the present invention;

• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the plant for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories according to the present invention;

• Figure 3 is a detail of the plant of figure 2;

• Figure 4 is an enlarged representation of a portion of the detail of figure 3;

Best mode for carrying out the invention

Particularly, figure 1 schematically represents a clinical analysis 2 laboratory comprising a plurality of machines 3.

The machines 3 are schematically represented as identical to each other and are generally defined as analytical systems or analytical machineries. It is understood that the machines 3 may be of different types and include, for example, systems for the chemical-clinical analysis of biological material and/or systems for clinical immunometry and/or systems for blood counting and/or systems for hemocoagulative analysis and/or systems for the chemical and physical examination of the urinary sediment and/or systems for measuring the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation and/or systems for examinations in molecular biology, etc. As already mentioned, some machines 3 are provided with two drains: a primary drain 4 for the biological material/sample and the reagents used during the analysis phase (concentrated sewage) and a secondary drain 5 for the water and the cleansers used during the washing phase of the machineries 3 and of the optical glass cuvettes (sewage rich in surfactants diluted in water). Other machines (not illustrated in the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein), such as for example the machines for the immunometric analysis generate only the primary drain 4.

The primary drains 4 and the secondary drains 5 of the machines 3 are connected to the plant 1 according to the present invention.

The plant 1 comprises a first inlet line 7, a second inlet line 8, a purifying apparatus 9 and a safety tank 11.

The purifying apparatus 9 receives the sewage entering from the first inlet line 7 and the second inlet line 8, subjects it to a suitable purification treatment and drains it into the sewage system 10.

The first inlet line 7 receives the sewage from all primary drains 4 (concentrated sludge) of the machineries 3.

The second inlet line 8 receives the sewage from all secondary drains 5 (sewage rich in surfactants diluted in water) of the machineries 3.

The first inlet line 7 and the second inlet line 8 are connected to the purifying apparatus 9 by means of respective connection valves 7a 8a.

Preferably the connection valves 7a 8a are three-way valves connected to the purifying apparatus 9 and to the safety tank 11.

In use, if the purifying apparatus 9 is malfunctioning or blocked for any reason, the connection valves 7a 8a drain the sewage of the first inlet line 7 and the second inlet line 8 into the safety tank 11.

As we will see later in detail, the purification apparatus 9 is also connected to the water supply 12.

The purifying apparatus 9 is configured to perform a suitable sewage treatment of the sewage fed through the first inlet line 7 and the second inlet line 8.

The purifying apparatus 9, in fact, is configured to properly mix and filter the inlet sewage so as to make it available for draining it directly into the sewage system 10.

With reference to Figure 2, the purifying apparatus 9 comprises a main manifold 13, at least one anti-foaming station 14, at least one UV filtering station 15, at least one contact filtering station 16, a further UV filtering station 18, a pumping station 20 and a control device 21.

The sewage fed through the first inlet line 7 and the second inlet line 8 are collected in the main manifold 13, which drains into the anti-foaming station 14.

The anti-foaming station 14 is located upstream of the UV filtering station 15, the contact filtering station 16, the further UV filtering station 18 and the pumping station 20. In this way the treatment stations arranged downstream of the anti-foaming station 14 are able to operate optimally on foam-free sewage.

The purifying apparatus 9 is enclosed in a casing 22 (schematically shown with a dashed line) and comprises a basin 23 arranged on the bottom of the casing 22 and suitable to collect any accidental leaking of sewage/foam and a suction pump 25 configured to remove any sewage accumulated in the basin 23 and send it to the main manifold 13. The basin 23 is preferably provided with a level sensor 24 configured to send data on the sewage level in the tank 23 to the control device 21.

When the level detected by the level sensor 24 exceeds a predefined threshold, the control device 21 activates the pump 25 to empty the basin 23.

With reference to Figure 3, the anti-foaming station 14 comprises a tank 29, a bubble-breaker device 30, coupled to the tank 29 and in fluid communication with the tank 29, and a dispenser 31 coupled to the tank 29 and in fluid communication with the tank 29.

The tank 29 defines a collection chamber 35 for collecting the sewage and is provided with a bottom 36 and a top 37.

Substantially near the bottom 36, the tank 29 is provided with an outlet 38.

In the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein, the outlet 38 is arranged on the side wall of the tank 29 near the bottom 36 and it is always open.

A variant, not illustrated, provides that the outlet 38 is provided with a valve able to selectively open the outlet 38.

A further variant, not illustrated, provides that the outlet 38 is provided with a valve also able to regulate the degree of opening of the outlet 38 to regulate the flow of sewage leaving the tank 29.

Near the top 37, the tank 29 is provided with a first opening 40 coupled to the inlet manifold 13, a second opening 41 and a third opening 42 coupled to the bubble-breaking device 30 and a fourth opening 43 coupled to the dispenser 31.

Preferably, the first opening 40, the second opening 41, the third opening 42 and the fourth opening 43 are made in a cover 45 of the tank 29. Preferably the cover 45 can be removed if necessary.

The bubble-breaking device 30 is configured to receive the sewage coming from the main manifold 13 and filter the gases contained in said sewage in the form of bubbles.

Basically, the bubble-breaking device 30 is configured to separate the liquids from the gases contained in the sewage coming from the main manifold 13.

Once they have been filtered by the bubble-breaking device 30, the sewage are drained into the tank 29, while the gases are dispersed in the external environment or, if necessary, sent to further suitable environmental anti-odour filters.

The bubble-breaker 30 is provided with a main body 50 coupled to the tank 29 and shaped so as to define a preferably annular treatment chamber 51 and provided with a gas outlet 52 and a liquid outlet 53.

The gas outlet 52 and the liquid outlet 53 are arranged at a certain distance along a vertical axis V. In particular, the gas outlet 52 is arranged at a height greater than the height of the liquid outlet 53 along the vertical axis V and, moreover, the liquid outlet 53 is arranged on a bottom wall 54 of the main body 50. In this way the gas and liquid outlet from the treatment chamber 51 is facilitated and ensured.

The main body 50 is coupled to the tank 29 so that the liquid outlet 53 is disposed at the opening 41 of the tank 29. In this way, the sewage filtered by the bubble-breaker 30 are directly drained into the collecting chamber 35.

The bubble-breaker 30 is also provided with a motor 58, preferably fixed to the main body 50 on the opposite side with respect to the tank 29, a shaft 59 coupled to the motor 58 and rotatable about a longitudinal axis A of a movable plate 60 coupled to the shaft 59, of a fixed plate 61 provided with a central hole 62, and a fluid inlet channel 63 coupled to the central hole 62 of the fixed plate 61.

In the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein, the longitudinal axis A coincides with the vertical axis V.

Preferably the movable plate 60 and the fixed plate 61 are defined by respective disks having a substantially circular shape and having the same diameter.

Preferably, the fixed plate 61 and the fluid inlet channel 63 are integrally formed with one another.

Still more preferably, the fixed plate 61, the fluid inlet channel 63 and the bottom wall 54 of the main body 50 are integrally formed.

The main body 50 is coupled to the tank 29 so that the fluid inlet 63 is disposed at the opening 42 of the tank 29.

With reference to Figure 4, the fixed plate 61 and the movable plate 60 have respective faces 61a 60a facing each other and spaced apart by a distance d.

In fact, between the fixed plate 61 and the movable plate 60 there is a gap 65 in fluid communication with the hole 62 and with the fluid inlet channel 63. In use, in the gap 65 the sewage comes from the inlet channel 63 and passes through the hole 62.

The distance d between the faces 60a 61a is such that, during the rotation of the movable plate 60, substantially all the bubbles (schematically represented in Figure 4) in the sewage which passes through the gap 65 are subjected to a cutting action.

Preferably, the distance d is less than the minimum diameter of the bubbles to be broken.

The rotation speed of the shaft 59 regulates the extent of the cutting action.

Preferably the distance d is between 0.09 - 10 mm. In the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein, the distance d is equal to about 0.1 mm.

Preferably the rotation speed of the shaft 59 is between 500-6000 rpm. In the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein, the rotation speed of the shaft 59 is about 3000 rpm.

The fixed plate 61 and the movable plate 60 are provided with free peripheral edges 61b 60b, respectively. The fixed plate 61 and the movable plate 60 are arranged in such a way that at least the peripheral edges 61b 60b are housed in the annular chamber 51. In this way, the sewage passing through the gap 65 and subjected to the cutting action flow into the annular chamber 51 to be then drained through the gas outlet 52 and the liquid outlet 53.

The fluid inlet channel 63 is in fluid communication with the main manifold 13 via a connecting duct 67 and through the openings 42 and 40 of the tank 29.

In use, the sewage coming from the main manifold 13 is conveyed into the fluid inlet channel 63 from the connecting duct 67. The pressure of the sewage flow coming from the main manifold 13 is sufficient to ensure that the sewage flow reaches the gap 65.

In the gap 65 the bubbles are subjected to the cutting action determined by the rotation of the movable plate 60 with respect to the fixed plate 61. The cutting action causes the bubbles to break and the gases are drained through the gas outlet 52, while the liquids are drained into the tank 29 through the liquid outlet 53. Preferably, a foam sensor 68 is arranged inside the tank 29, which is configured to detect the presence of foam in the collection chamber 35 and to send the data to the control device 21. Preferably, the foam sensor 68 is based on the measurement of the electrical conductivity between two electrodes (not shown). The conductivity of the sewage, in fact, varies due to the presence of foam.

If the foam sensor 68 detects the presence of residual foam, the control device 21 activates the dispenser 31.

The dispenser 31 contains an anti-foaming liquid, preferably of a non-silicone type, which helps to reduce the formation of bubbles.

If necessary, therefore, the dispenser 31 drains the anti-foaming liquid into the collecting chamber 35 through the opening 43.

With reference to Figure 2, the UV filtering station 15 is arranged downstream of the outlet 38 of the tank 29.

Preferably, the contact filtering station 16 is located downstream of the UV filtering station 15 and upstream of the further UV filtering station 18.

In this way, the contact filtering station 16 acts on already sterilized fluids, reducing the risk that dangerous bacterial loads accumulate in the contacting filtering station 16.

For the avoidance of contamination risks, the additional UV filtering station 18 further sterilizes the fluids leaving the contact filtering station 16. In this way, any proliferated bacterial load in the mechanical filtering station 16 is completely broken down.

Between the UV filtering station 15 and the contact filtering station 16 the pumping station 20 is arranged. In this way, the pumping station 20 acts on already sterilized fluids, reducing the risk that dangerous bacterial loads accumulate in the pumping station 20.

With reference to the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein, downstream of the anti-foaming station 14 the sequence of the UV filtering station 15, the pumping station 20, the contact filtering station 16 and the further filtering station follow one another in sequence. UV 18.

The UV filtering station 15 and the further UV filtering station 18 are substantially identical and comprise at least one source of UV ultraviolet rays (not shown) arranged so that the UV rays emitted by it can effectively act on the sewage that passes through the filtering station itself.

UV rays are one of the most comfortable and effective means for the disinfection of water and air. In fact, UV rays have a high germicidal power and do not generate harmful by-products. The UV light emitted by the UV source is lethal to any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, moulds, algae, etc.).

The pumping station 20 comprises at least one main pump 70 and a main nonreturn valve 71 arranged downstream of the main pump 70.

Preferably, the pumping station 20 comprises a further pump 72 and a further non-return valve 73 arranged in parallel with respect to the pump 70 and the main non-return valve 71. The additional pump 72 and the additional non-return valve 73 intervene exclusively in the event that malfunctions occur in the main pump 70 and in the main non-return valve 71.

The contact filtering station 16 comprises at least one contact filter. A contact filter means a filter which is placed in contact with the sewage.

For example, the contact filter can be an activated carbon filter, a membrane filter, a filter comprising ion exchange resins or a combination of these filters, etc.

In the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein, the contact filtering station 16 comprises at least one first filter assembly 75 comprising an ON/OFF valve 75a and one or more carbon filters 75b (shown schematically as 5 a block) arranged in series.

A variant not shown provides that the plurality of carbon filters is arranged in parallel.

Preferably, the contact filtering station 16 comprises at least one second filter assembly 76 comprising an ON/OFF valve 76a and one or more carbon filters 10 76b (shown schematically as a block) arranged in series.

A variant provides that the plurality of carbon filters 76b is arranged in parallel.

The second filter assembly 76 is arranged in parallel with the first filter assembly 75 and starts functioning preferably in the event that operating anomalies occur in the first filter assembly 75. The activation of the first filter 15 assembly 75 and/or the second filter assembly 76 is regulated by the respective ON/OFF valves 75a 76a, which are controlled by the control device 21.

Preferably, the contact filtering station 16 is connected to the water supply 12 to allow a washing operation of the contact filtering station 16.

In detail, the water supply 12 is connected by respective valves 80 downstream 20 of the first filter assembly 75 and downstream of the second filter assembly 76.

The first filter assembly 75 and the second filter assembly 76 are also provided with a respective drain line 78, which connects a point between the ON/OFF valve 75a 76a and the respective carbon filters 75b 76b with a point downstream of the carbon filters. Each drain line 78 is provided with a 25 respective valve 79 regulated by the control device 21. Downstream of the carbon filters 75b 76b and the drain point of the water supply 12, further valves 81 are arranged, which are also regulated by the control device 21. The activation of the washing operation is regulated by the control device 21.

When activated, the washing operation provides a flow of clean countercurrent water flowing from the outlet of the carbon filters 75b 76b towards the inlet of the carbon filters 75b 76b. During the washing operation the ON OFF valves 75a 76a and the valves 81 are closed, while the valves 79 are open.

In this way, the clean water under pressure coming from the water supply 12 determines the breakage of any aggregations and compaction that have accumulated in the filters.

The drain channels 78 are connected in such a way as to drain upstream of the further UV filtering station 18.

The control device 21 can provide suitably programmed and timed washing operations or extraordinary washing operations as a result of contingent needs detected during operation of the purifying device 9 as we will see in detail below.

Finally, the purifying device 9 is provided with an inlet sensor 85 arranged upstream of the anti-foaming station 14 and with an outlet sensor 86 arranged downstream of the last filtering station (in the non-limiting example described and illustrated herein the last filtering station is the additional UV filtering station 18).

The input sensor 85 and the output sensor 86 are substantially identical and are configured to detect the amount of pollutants/bacterial load in the sewage under analysis. The values measured by the input sensor 85 and the output sensor 86 are sent to the control device 21, which regulates the operation of the purifying apparatus 9 on the basis of such values.

The differential values based on the data detected by the input sensor 85 and the output sensor 86 are useful for monitoring the correct operation of the purifying apparatus 9, while the values measured by the output sensor 86 are used by the control system 21 to monitor the drain and possibly immediately block the operation of the purifying apparatus 9 if the drain is not properly purified.

Industrial Applicability

The plant 1 according to the present invention is suitable to couple with the, to date, most widespread clinical chemistry and immunometry systems.

Advantageously, the plant 1 is compact and quick and easy to install.

In fact, its structure makes it connectable to all the drains coming from laboratories of chemical-clinical and immunological analysis.

The plant has a flexible structure that can be easily adapted and integrated with further filtering stations depending on the flow rate of the drains coming from the clinical laboratories.

Advantageously, the control device 21 is able to autonomously and automatically manage ordinary situations (signals of necessity of ordinary and/or extraordinary maintenance, for example by sound warnings) and critical situations (activation of by pass in the filtering or pumping stations - deviation on the safety tank, etc.).

The plant 1 according to the present invention is furthermore able to break down the amount of foam present in the inlet sewage thanks to an anti-foaming station provided with a mechanical bubble-breaking device 30 (double rotating disk) and a further dispenser 31 which is used only in the event that the bubble- breaking device 30 is not sufficient to eliminate the foam in the inlet sewage. Finally, it is evident that modifications and variations can be made to the plant and method described herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Plant for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories comprising:

at least one inlet line (7, 8) connected to at least one drain (4, 5) of at least one analytical system of at least one clinical laboratory (3);

at least one purifying apparatus (9) configured to purify the sewage coming from the inlet line (7, 8) and drain it into the sewage system (10);

the purifying apparatus (9) comprising at least one filtering station (15, 16, 18) and an anti-foaming station (14), which is arranged upstream of the filtering station (15, 16, 18).

2. Plant according to claim 1, wherein the anti-foaming station (14) comprises at least one main device (30) configured to break the bubbles in the sewage coming from the inlet line (7, 8).

3. Plant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main device (30) is configured to separate the liquids from the gases contained in the sewage coming from the inlet line (7, 8).

4. Plant according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the anti-foaming station (14) comprises an auxiliary device (31) configured to selectively reduce the foam in the sewage leaving the main device (30).

5. Plant according to claim 4, wherein the anti-foaming station (14) comprises a foam sensor (68) configured to detect the presence of foam in the sewage leaving the main device (30); the auxiliary device (31) being activated on the basis of the data detected by the foam sensor (68).

6. Plant according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the main device (30) comprises a fixed plate (61) and a movable plate (60), which are spaced apart from each other to form a gap (65) wherein the sewage coming from the entry line (7, 8) is fed.

7. Plant according to claim 6, wherein the movable plate (60) is rotatable about an axis (A).

8. Plant according to claim 6, wherein the fixed plate (61) is provided with a hole (62) in fluid communication with the gap (65) and a fluid inlet channel (63) fed with the sewage coming from the input line (7, 8).

9. Plant according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the fixed plate (61) and the movable plate (60) are arranged in such a way that at least respective portions (61b 60b) are housed in a chamber (51) provided with a gas outlet (52) and a liquid outlet (53).

10. Plant according to claim 9, wherein the gas outlet (52) and the liquid outlet (53) are arranged at a certain distance along a vertical axis (V).

11. Plant according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the fixed plate (61) and the movable plate (60) are spaced apart from each other by a distance (d) to form a gap (65) lower than the minimum diameter of the bubbles to be broken.

12. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the purifying apparatus (9) comprises a contact filtering station (16) located downstream of the anti-foaming station (14).

13. Plant according to claim 12, wherein the purifying apparatus (9) comprises a UV filtering station (15) between the anti-foaming station (14) and the contact filtering station (16).

14. Plant according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the purifying apparatus (9) comprises a further UV filtering station (15) arranged downstream of the contact filtering station (16).

15. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the purifying apparatus (9) comprises a pumping station (20) located downstream of the anti- foaming station (14).

16. Method for the treatment of drains coming from analytical systems of clinical laboratories comprising the phases of purifying the sewage coming from at least one inlet line (7, 8) connected to at least one drain (4, 5) of at least one analytical system of at least one clinical laboratory (3) and to drain the purified sewage into the sewage system (10); in which the phase of purifying the sewage comprises eliminating the foam present in the sewage and subsequently filtering the sewage.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the phase of eliminating the foam comprises breaking the bubbles in the sewage coming from the inlet line (7, 8) by means of a main device (30).

18. Method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the phase of eliminating the foam comprises separating the liquids from the gases contained in the sewage coming from the inlet line (7, 8) by means of a main device (30).

19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the phase of eliminating the foam selectively comprises reducing the foam in the sewage leaving the main device (30) by means of an auxiliary device (31).