WO2020109982A1

WO2020109982A1 - Apparatus for collecting and neutralizing/degrading organic liquids and respective operation method

Info

Publication number: WO2020109982A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/060149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Umbro SCIAMANNINI; Franco BACCAILLE; Matteo CAPPONI
Original assignee: PRIMIERI, Luca
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2019-11-26
Publication date: 2020-06-04
Also published as: IT201800010590A1; EP3886922A1

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for collecting at least one organic liquid, comprising at least one collection tank (2) provided with a first inlet section (3), a suction line (4) combinable, on one side, with one or more containers (50) for said at least one organic liquid, and with said first inlet section (3) of said collection tank (2) on the other, and pumping means (5) for suctioning said at least one organic liquid from said one or more containers (50) along at least one length (4a) of said at least one suction line (4), said apparatus further comprising at least one further tank (6) for containing a substance for the degradation and/or neutralization of said at least one organic liquid, at least one administration line (7) for administering a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance, and means (8) for administering said predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance from said at least one further tank (6) along said at least one administration line (7), wherein said administration line (7) is fluidically connected to said at least one suction line (4) in a mixing region (10) arranged upstream of said at least one first inlet section (3) and spaced from said first inlet section (3) so that said at least one predetermined amount of said degrading and/ or neutralizing substance mixes with said organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized organic substance at least before it has entered said at least one collection tank (2) and whereby the predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance depends on the organic liquid flow rate measured by measuring means (9).

Description

"Apparatus for collecting and neutralizing/degrading organic liquids and respective operation method"

* * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus for collecting and neutralizing and/or degrading organic liquids and respective operation method.

KNOWN PRIOR ART

The existence of apparatuses for collecting organic liquids suctioned from bags during surgical operations inside operating rooms and the successive degradation and/or neutralization of the same before being eliminated outside of the apparatus is known.

Such apparatuses usually comprise a collection tank for collecting organic liquids, provided with an inlet section, a suction line combinable, on one side, with one or more bags for collecting organic liquids, and with the aforesaid inlet section on the other, and pumping means, such as for example a peristaltic pump for suctioning the organic liquids from the collection bag, or the collection bags,†o the collection tank along the suction line.

However, such solution is no† without drawbacks. In fact, the collection tank is only emptied once it is full, i.e. also after several days from its firs† use. This can be extremely dangerous since in case of an accidental fall of the apparatus or of breakage†o the seals or connection pipes, the suctioned liquid could spill inside the operating room, thus compromising its sterility.

Moreover, the suctioned liquid must necessarily be biologically inactivated with chemical clinical action before proceeding with its disposal. In practice, following the filling of the collection tank, it is thus always necessary†o draw the suctioned liquid from the same collection tank and to then treat it separately inside other containers before being able†o dispose of if. Such operation is potentially dangerous since if puts the operator in contact with the drained liquids and, a† the same time, the same liquid can compromise the sterility of the environment and objects if comes info contact with in case of an accidental fall either of the collection tank or of the apparatus.

In the light of the problems of the apparatuses of the known art described above, collection apparatuses, for collecting organic liquids and able†o neutralize and/or degrade the organic liquid collected inside the collection tank by means of a further tank present in the apparatus, were made.

For example, the European patent EP2734241 B1 in the name of IN. CAS. Sri describes an apparatus for collecting an organic liquid such as, for example, blood, which comprises a collection tank provided with an inlet section, and a suction line combinable, on one side, with a bag for collecting organic liquid, and with the inlet section of the collection tank on the other. The collection apparatus further comprises pumping means for suctioning the organic liquid from the bag†o the collection tank along the suction line and a further tank for containing a substance for the degradation and/or neutralization of the organic liquid contained in the collection tank. The collection apparatus further comprises means for administering a predetermined amount of the degrading and/or neutralizing substance from the further tank†o the collection tank. The aforesaid administration is controlled by a uni† which measures the level of organic liquid contained in the collection tank with an appropriate sensor and, depending on its increase, controls the administering means†o administer a precise amount of neutralizing and/or degrading liquid into the collection tank.

However, also this solution is no† without drawbacks. In fact, the neutralizing and/or degrading liquid mixes with the organic liquid suctioned in the collection tank only after a certain amount of time and only with the help of appropriate stirring means. In practice, the user will no† be able†o discharge the content of the collection tank right after having suctioned and mixed the organic liquid with the neutralizing and/or degrading liquid, but will only be able †o do so after a predetermined amount of time. Moreover, the apparatus neither makes it possible †o know if the amount of degrading and/or neutralizing substance intended †o be administered was actually administered, nor if there are losses of liquids inside the apparatus.

I† should be noted that neutralizing and/or degrading substance means a substance that, once mixed with the organic liquid suctioned, is able †o biologically inactivate the organic liquid†o be treated with chemical clinical action.

Always according†o the known art, the Application W099/00154 in the name of Griffiths describes an apparatus for collecting a† leas† one organic liquid, comprising a† leas† one collection tank provided with a firs† inlet section, a suction line combinable, on one side, with one or more containers for said a† leas† one organic liquid and with said firs† inlet section of said collection tank on the other, and pumping means for suctioning said a† leas† one organic liquid from said one or more containers along a† leas† one length of said a† leas† one suction line. The apparatus further comprises a† leas† one further tank for containing a substance for the degradation and/or neutralization of said a† leas† one organic liquid, a† leas† one administration line for administering a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance, and administering means for administering said predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance from said a† leas† one further tank along said a† leas† one administration line. Both the pumping and administering means comprise their own peristaltic pump. Moreover, the administration line is fluidically connected to the suction line in a mixing region arranged upstream of said a† leas† one firs† inlet section so that said a† leas† one predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with said organic liquid before it has entered the collection tank. According†o such solution, a portion of the suctioning pipe is loaded inside the peristaltic pump of the suction line and the portion of the pipe for suctioning the disinfecting liquid is loaded inside the peristaltic pump of the disinfectant. Since the first peristaltic pump and the second peristaltic pump are moved by a common drive, the amount of disinfectant†o be injected so that†o ensure an appropriate treatment of the liquid medical waste suctioned from the patient can easily be established, by simply entering the respective sizes of the main pipe in relation†o the sizes of the pipe of the disinfecting liquid.

However, such solution cannot provide precise and, especially, safe results. In fact, over time, the portion of fhe suction line and that of the administration line, being in continuous contact with the peristaltic pumps, can get damaged, with the consequence that the amount of administered degrading and/or neutralizing fluid is no† that precise and, thus, the final mixture is no† perfectly degraded and/or neutralized. Moreover, such adminisfering/dosing system does no† allow †o determine any losses in fhe hydraulic circuit of fhe apparatus.

Object of fhe present invention is thus†o make an apparatus for suctioning organic liquids that is able†o overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

In particular, object of the present invention is†o increase the efficiency of the known apparatuses for collecting organic fluids, by reducing the mixing time between the collected organic liquid and the neutralized and/or degraded liquid administered to the maximum.

Still, object of the present invention is also†o increase the safety of the apparatuses of the known art, thus preventing possible risks both†o sterility in the operating room and†o the medical and paramedical personnel involved in the operating room, or who anyhow comes info contact with such an apparatus.

Finally, object of the present invention is†o achieve a method that allows the proper operation of the collection apparatus by considerably reducing the time for neutralizing and/or degrading the organic liquid collected by the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by an apparatus for collecting a† leas† one organic liquid, comprising a† leas† one collection tank provided with a firs† inlet section, a suction line combinable, on one side, with one or more containers for said a† leas† one organic liquid, and with said firs† inlet section of said collection tank on the other, and pumping means for suctioning said a† leas† one organic liquid from said one or more containers along a† leas† one length of said a† leas† one suction line, said apparatus further comprising a† leas† one further tank for containing a substance for the degradation and/or neutralization of said a† leas† one organic liquid, a† leas† one administration line for administering a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance, and means for administering said predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance from said a† leas† one further tank along said a† leas† one administration line, said administration line being fluidica lly connected †o said a† leas† one suction line in a mixing region arranged upstream of said a† leas† one firs† inlet section and spaced from said firs† inlet section so that said a† leas† one predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with said organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized organic substance a† leas† before it has entered said a† leas† one collection tank, wherein said administering means administer, along said administration line, a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the flow rate of said a† leas† one organic liquid suctioned along said length of said a† leas† one suction line, characterized by comprising measuring means for measuring in real time the flow rate of said a† leas† one organic liquid suctioned along said length of said a† leas† one suction line, said measuring means being arranged upstream of said mixing region, and by comprising a control uni††o control the operations of said administering means so that†o administer said predetermined amount of degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the organic liquid flow rate measured by said measuring means.

Thus, in practice, the administration line is engaged along the suction line so that†o allow the neutralizing and/or degrading substance and the suctioned organic substance†o finely mix together downstream of said engagement point, thus forming a neutralized and/or degraded substance before entering the collection tank. Such solution clearly prevents the problem of having†o prearrange stirring means inside the collection tank or†o have†o wait for a predetermined amount of time before being able†o unload the liquid contained inside the collection tank.

Moreover, according†o the invention, such means for measuring the flow rate are advantageously arranged upstream of said mixing region. This allows†o precisely measure the organic substance suctioned along the length of the suction line in which only the organic liquid†o be degraded and/or neutralized flows and consequently allows †o determine, without any doubt, the flow rate of the degrading/neufralizing fluid†o be mixed with the suctioned organic substance†o be degraded and/or neutralized. This is achieved through the aforesaid control uni† which is able†o control the operation of said administering means once the value/signal measured by the flowmeter has been received so that†o precisely administer the predetermined amount of degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the flow rate of organic liquid measured by the measuring means.

A solution of this type is extremely simple and safe such as †o considerably reduce the handling or disposal risks of substances that were no† perfectly degraded and/or neutralized.

Moreover, according†o a further embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises second measuring means for measuring in real time the flow rate of said a† leas† one neutralizing/degrading substance suctioned along said administration line. Such solution considerably increases the safety of use of the apparatus since it is possible†o know in real time if wha† is intended †o be administered is actually administered.

In particular, such measuring means and/or such second measuring means comprise a flowmeter.

Moreover, the apparatus comprises a† leas† one level sensor arranged inside said a† leas† one collection tank for directly or indirectly measuring the amount of degraded and/or neutralized organic substance present inside said collection tank.

Moreover, said control uni† is adapted†o control the interruption of said apparatus depending on the measures obtained by said measuring means, said second measuring means and said a† leas† one level sensor.

In particular, such solution allows†o increase the level of safety of use of the apparatus itself. In fact, in the even† of losses of liquid inside the apparatus (for example due†o a loss in the hydraulic circuit or in the tank), the operation of the apparatus would be immediately interrupted. This is achieved thanks†o the control uni† which performs a simple algebraic sum of the amount of suctioned organic liquid and the amount of administered neutralizing/degrading substance, and by comparing such sum with the amount of degraded and/or neutralized substance present in the collection tank (in the even† of a tank gauge, it is always possible†o know the amount once the level and tank section are known). If there is a difference between the two values so achieved, then there either are problems in the flow meters and/or tank gauges or a loss in the hydraulic circuit. In either case, there anyhow are health risks that require the interruption of the operation of the apparatus for further checks.

According†o a preferred embodiment of the invention, said collection tank comprises a second inlet section and, moreover, said apparatus comprises a† leas† one transfer line for administering a dilution liquid into said collection tank through said second inlet section. According†o a particular aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a tank for containing said dilution liquid; said dilution tank being fluidically combinable with said transfer line. Preferably, although no† limited ly, such dilution liquid is water.

Moreover, said apparatus comprises a† leas† one discharge due† combined with said a† leas† one collection tank for the controlled and on command discharge of said organic liquid collected and degraded and/or neutralized.

According†o the invention, the apparatus comprises means for heating said dilution liquid. Moreover, such apparatus comprises a† leas† one firs† bypass due† for connecting on command said a† leas† one discharge due†, or said collection tank,†o said a† leas† one suction line and a second bypass due† for connecting on command said administration line, or said further tank,†o said transfer line.

Such solution is necessary for the thermo-disinfection of the collection tank and of the entire system. In fact, it is possible†o make a mixture formed by the degrading and/or neutralizing substance and by the dilution liquid recirculate continuously inside the collection tank and along a par† of the suction line. Such mixture is initially filled into the collection tank a† the very star† of the thermo-disinfecting step.

According†o a preferred embodiment of the invention, such collection tank comprises a† leas† one firs† sprayer arranged a† said firs† inlet section. Such firs† sprayer is provided with a diffuser having an opening angle from 100 to 60°.

Moreover, said collection tank comprises a† leas† one second sprayer arranged a† said second inlet section. Said second sprayer is provided with a diffuser having an opening angle from 180 to 160°. The greater diffusion angle allows†o better reach the inner surface of the collection tank during its thermo-disinfection, especially in the highest parts of the collection tank.

According†o a particular embodiment of the invention, said apparatus comprises quantitative and/or qualitative analysis means for quantitatively and/or qualitatively analyzing said organic liquid collected and degraded and/or neutralized coming out of said collection tank, along said a† leas† one discharge due†. In particular, said qualitative and/or quantitative analysis means are selected among a photometer, a spectrophotometer, a low pressure chromatograph.

According†o a preferred embodiment of the invention, said analysis means are functionally connected †o said control uni† so that the operation of said peristaltic pump combined with said discharge due† and functionally connected †o said control uni†, is only allowed whenever a level of degradation and/or neutralization of said organic liquid suctioned greater than a predetermined value, or anyhow appropriate†o be disposed of in the sewerage network, emerges from the analysis performed by said analysis means.

The objects mentioned above are also achieved by a method for operating said apparatus for collecting a† leas† one organic liquid according†o a† leas† claim 1 , wherein said method comprises the step of a) suctioning said a† leas† one organic liquid along a† leas† one length of said suction line and the step of b) administering a predetermined amount of said neutralizing and/or degrading substance through said administration line, wherein said step b) comprises the step of bl ) mixing said predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance with said organic substance suctioned during said step a) of the method along said a† leas† one suction line in a mixing region arranged upstream of said a† leas† one inlet section of said collection tank and spaced from said inlet section so that said a† leas† one predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with said organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized organic substance a† leas† before it has entered said a† leas† one collection tank, said method being characterized in that said step b) comprises the step of b2) measuring the organic liquid flow suctioned along said length of said suction line and the step of b3) administering a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the results obtained during said step b2).

Moreover, said step b) further comprises the step of b4) measuring in real time the flow rate of said a† leas† one neutralizing/degrading substance suctioned along said administration line.

Moreover, said step b) comprises the step of b5) measuring, directly or indirectly, the level of the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance present inside said a† leas† one collection tank, and the step of b6) controlling the interruption of said apparatus depending on the measures obtained during said steps b2), b4) and b5) , if the sum of the amount of liquid suctioned and of neutralizing/degrading substance administered is essentially equal †o the amount of the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance present inside said tank.

Such solution thus allows†o increase the safety of use of the apparatus. In fact, in the even† of losses of liquid inside the apparatus (for example due†o a loss in the hydraulic circuit or in the tank), the operation of the apparatus would be immediately interrupted. This is achieved thanks†o the control uni† which performs a simple sum of the amount of suctioned organic liquid and the amount of administered neutralizing/degrading substance, and by comparing such sum with the amount of degraded and/or neutralized substance present in the collection tank. If there is a difference between the two values so achieved, then there either are problems in the flow meters or tank gauges or a loss in the hydraulic circuit. In either case, there anyhow are health risks that require the interruption of the operation of the apparatus for further checks.

According †o a preferred embodiment, the method comprises, successively†o said step b), the step of c) discharging said neutralized and/or degraded organic substance contained in said collection tank. According†o a preferred embodiment, successively†o said step c) , the method comprises the step of d) thermo-disinfecting, preferably a† high level, said a† leas† one collection tank of the neutralized and/or degraded organic liquids.

In particular, said step d) comprises the step of d l ) heating the liquid contained in said dilution container, the step of d2) connecting said a† leas† one firs† bypass due† between said a† leas† one discharge due†, or said collection tank, and said a† leas† one suction line, the step of d3) connecting said a† leas† one second bypass due† between said a† leas† one administration line, or said further tank, and said a† leas† one transfer line, the step of d4) making a liquid mixture comprising said dilution liquid and said degrading and/or neutralizing substance flow†o said collection tank through said second sprayer, the step of d5) making said mixture comprising said dilution liquid and said degrading and/or neutralizing substance recirculate for a given time period between said collection tank, said firs† bypass due† and said suction line, and the step of d6) discharging said collection tank through said a† leas† one discharge due†.

Always according†o the invention, a system for chemically analyzing an organic liquid contained in a† leas† one test tube is provided, comprising a† leas† one module for positioning and/or moving said a† leas† one test tube, a† leas† one module for extracting a† leas† one sample of said organic liquid from said a† leas† one test tube, a† leas† one module for chemically analyzing said sample of said organic liquid, a† leas† one container for preserving said analyzed organic liquid, and a discharge module for discharging said analyzed organic liquid, characterized in that said discharge module comprises said a† leas† one collection apparatus according†o one or more of claims 1 †o 10, wherein said suction line is combinable with said a† leas† one preservation container for said a† leas† one analyzed organic liquid. BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other aspects of the present invention will become clearer in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment provided herein, by way of example only and without limitations, with reference †o the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 A shows a schematic view of the apparatus for collecting an organic substance according †o the invention, during its normal operation;

figure 1 B shows a schematic view of the apparatus of figure 1 A during the step of discharging the organic liquid suctioned and neutralized and/or degraded;

figure 1 C shows a further schematic view of the apparatus of figure 1 A during the step of fhermo-disinfecfing the apparatus, during the introduction of a mixture comprising a dilution liquid and a neutralizing and/or degrading substance;

figure 1 D shows a further schematic view of the apparatus of figure 1 A during the step of recirculating the mixture comprising a dilution liquid and a neutralizing and/or degrading substance;

figure 1 E shows a further schematic view of the apparatus of figure 1 A during the step of discharging the mixture comprising a dilution liquid and a neutralizing and/or degrading substance;

figure 2 shows a machine for the laboratory analyses, provided with an apparatus according†o the invention;

figure 3 shows a schematic view of the apparatus for collecting an organic substance according†o a further embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference †o the figures above, an apparatus 1 for collecting organic liquids according†o the invention is shown.

An apparatus 1 for collecting organic liquids such as, for example, blood, urine or the like during its normal operation is shown in figure 1 . Such apparatus 1 comprises a collection tank 2 provided with a firs† inlet section 3, a suction line 4 combinable, on one side, with a container 50 for the organic liquid†o be treated, and with the first inlet section 3 of the collection tank 2 on the other, and pumping means 5 for suctioning the organic liquid from the container 50 along a length 4a of the suction line 4. The pumping means 5 comprise a peristaltic pump.

According to the present embodiment, the container 5 is a bag, but the container 5 can also be a rigid tank that can be opened on top in other embodiments, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

In other embodiments, the number of containers 5 and of suction lines 4 can also be greater than one, without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a discharge duct 13 combinable with the collection tank 2 for the controlled and on command discharge of the organic liquid collected and degraded and/or neutralized. Preferably, the discharge duct 13 is combined with the bottom 2a of the collection tank 2. Moreover, a peristaltic pump 60 is also combined with the discharge duct 13 for pumping the liquid contained in the collection tank 2 at the end of the operation of the apparatus 1 or during its cleaning, as will emerge from the description set forth below. The apparatus 1 further comprises a further tank 6 for containing a liquid substance for the degradation and/or neutralization of the organic liquid suctioned. It should be emphasized that such degrading and/or neutralizing liquid is a substance that, once mixed with the suctioned organic substance, is able to degrade and/or neutralize the organic substance itself, thus allowing to easily dispose of it without requiring further treatments.

The apparatus 1 further comprises an administration line 7 for administering a predetermined amount of the degrading and/or neutralizing substance, and means 8 for administering such predetermined amount of the degrading and/or neutralizing substance from the further tank 6 along an administration line 7.

Advantageously, the administration line 7 is fluidically connected to, i.e. is engaged along the suction line 4 in a mixing region 10 arranged upstream of the firs† inlet section 3 and spaced from said firs† inlet section 3 so that the predetermined amount of the administered degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with the organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized organic substance well before it has entered the collection tank 2.

In practice, the administration line 7 is fluidically connected†o the suction line 4 in a mixing region 10 arranged upstream of the firs† inlet section 3 so that the transformation of the organic substance into degraded and/or neutralized organic substance occurs well before such substance enters the collection tank 2. This way, no† only is it no† necessary†o provide any stirrer insider the collection tank 2, but the times for discharging the degraded and/or neutralized liquid are practically zeroed, i.e. it is no† necessary†o wait before being able†o perform the discharging step of the apparatus 1.

The administering means 8 of the peristaltic pump type, for example, administer along the administration line 7 a predetermined amount of the degrading and/or neutralizing substance calculated depending on the flow rate of the organic liquid suctioned along the length 4a of the suction line 4.

In particular, the apparatus comprises measuring means 9 for measuring in real time the flow rate of the organic liquid suctioned along the length 4a of the suction line 4. Such measuring means 9 are arranged upstream of the mixing region 10 and preferably comprise a flowmeter. This way, it is possible†o measure the actual flow rate of the organic substance suctioned before it mixes with the degrading and/or neutralizing substance.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a control uni† CU to control the operations of the administering means 8, in particular the peristaltic pump 8, so that†o administer a predetermined amount of degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the flow rate of organic liquid measured by the measuring means 9. For example, if the flow rate of the organic substance is of 50 ml/sec, taking account of the fact that the transformation effect of such organic substance into degraded and/or neutralized organic substance is achieved by administering thereto an amount of neutralizing and/or degrading substance equal †o 0.25% of the volume†o be neutralized/degraded, then the flow rate that the control uni† CU will calculate and control the peristaltic pump 8 to administer will be of 0.125 ml/sec. Clearly, during the operation of the apparatus, the suction flow rates of the organic liquid can vary, and the flow rates of the neutralizing and/or degrading liquid †o be administered can also vary.

According†o a further embodiment of the invention shown in figure 3, the apparatus 1 comprises second means 90 for measuring in real time the flow rate of the neutralizing/degrading substance suctioned along the administration line 7.

Also in this case, the second measuring means 90 comprise a flowmeter. This allows†o check if the neutralizing/degrading substance introduced into the circuit†o degrade/neutralize the suctioned organic liquid is equal†o the one intended†o be administered.

Always in figure 3, an apparatus 1 further comprising a level sensor 91 arranged inside the collection tank 2 for directly measuring the amount of degraded and/or neutralized organic substance present inside the collection tank 2 itself is shown.

Finally, the control uni† CU of the apparatus 1 of figure 3 is adapted†o control the interruption of the apparatus 1 itself depending on the measures obtained by the measuring means 9, by the second measuring means 90 and by the level sensor 91.

In particular, such solution allows†o increase the level of safety of use of the apparatus 1 itself. In fact, in the even† of losses of liquid inside the apparatus 1 , for example due†o a loss in the hydraulic circuit or in the tank 2, the operation of the apparatus 1 would be immediately interrupted. This is achieved thanks †o the control uni† CU which performs a simple algebraic sum of the amount of suctioned organic liquid (obtained by the flowmeter 9) and the amount of administered neutralizing/degrading substance (obtained by the second flowmeter 90), and by comparing such sum with the amount of degraded and/or neutralized substance present in the collection tank 2 (in the even† of a tank gauge 91 , it is always possible†o know the amount once the level and tank section are known). If there is a difference between the two values so achieved, then there either are problems in the flow meters 9, 90 and/or tank gauges 91 or a loss in the hydraulic circuit. In either case, there anyhow are health risks that require the interruption of the operation of the apparatus 1 for further checks.

According†o the invention, both in the case of the firs† embodiment and the second embodiment shown in figure 3, the collection tank 2 comprises a second inlet section 15 and, moreover, the apparatus 1 comprises a transfer line 16 for administering a dilution liquid into the collection tank 2 through the second inlet section 15. The dilution liquid, as will be clearer below, is used during the thermo-disinfection of the collection tank 2, after the discharge of the degraded and/or neutralized organic liquid from the collection tank 2.

Moreover, the apparatus 1 comprises a tank 20 for containing the dilution liquid. Such dilution tank 20 is fluidically combinable with the transfer line 16 which in turn comprises a valve 40 that either allows or does no† allow, on command, the passage of the dilution liquid along the transfer line 16. It should be noted that, in other embodiments no† shown herein, the dilution tank may also no† be present in the apparatus 1 , thus the inflow of the dilution liquid could be achieved by connecting one of the two ends of the transfer line 16 to a tap of running water or †o an outer tank. The dilution liquid can thus comprise water.

Moreover, as shown in figure 1 A, the apparatus 1 comprises heating means 16 for heating the dilution liquid. Moreover, the apparatus 1 comprises a firs† bypass due† 17 for connecting on command the collection tank 2†o the suction line 4, downstream of said mixing region, and a second bypass due† 18 for connecting on command the further tank 6 to the transfer line 16. It should be noted that, along said second bypass due† 18, a further peristaltic pump 55 is comprised for administering the degrading and/or neutralizing substance during the thermo-disinfecting step.

After having discharged the degraded liquid from the collection tank 2, such configuration allows†o make the degrading and/or neutralizing liquid recirculate inside the collection tank 2 together with the dilution liquid so that†o completely clean the collection tank 2 together with the suction line 4, a† leas† a† the length running from the mixing region 10 to the firs† inlet section 3.

According †o an embodiment of the invention no† shown in the accompanying figures, the firs† bypass due† 17 connects on command the discharge due† 13 to the suction line 4, while the second bypass due† 18 connects on command the administration line 7 to the transfer line 16.

Always according†o the invention, the collection tank 2 comprises a firs† sprayer 25 arranged a† the inlet section 3 of the collection tank 2. Such firs† sprayer 25 is provided with a diffuser having an opening angle b of 70°. In other embodiments, the diffusion angle b of the firs† sprayer

25 can vary in an angle from 100†o 60° without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention. If should be noted that the diffusion angle b is defined as the vertex angle of the diffusion cone of the liquid coming out of the firs† sprayer 25. Such diffusion cone is symmetric with respect†o a vertical plane passing through the vertex of the diffusion cone. The vertex of the diffusion cone is af the outlet section 3.

Moreover, the collection tank 2 further comprises af leas† one second sprayer 26 arranged af the second inlet section 15. Such second sprayer

26 is provided with a diffuser having an opening angle y of 170°. In other embodiments, the diffusion angle y of the second sprayer 26 can vary in an angle from 180 †o 160° without thereby departing from the protection scope of the present invention. If should be noted that the diffusion angle y is defined as the vertex angle of the diffusion cone of the liquid coming out of the second sprayer 26. Such diffusion cone is symmetric with respect†o a vertical plane passing through the vertex of the diffusion cone. The vertex of the diffusion cone is af the second outlet section 15. This way, if is also possible†o clean the fop par† of the collection tank 2 while fhermo-disinfecfing if with the mixture comprising the disinfecting and/or neutralizing substance and the dilution substance. The level of cleaning of the apparatus 1 is thus considerably increased with respect†o that of apparatuses of the known art.

Moreover, according †o the invention, the apparatus 1 comprises means 70 for quantitatively and/or qualitatively analyzing the collected and degraded and/or neutralized organic liquid coming out of the collection tank 2, along the discharge duct 13. Such analysis means 70 allow to check if the mixture coming out of the discharge tank 2 along the discharge duct 13 is degraded and/or neutralized such as to be able to be disposed of within the sewerage network and/or if if has parameters within the levels provided by the current regulations.

In the embodiment described herein, such qualitative and/or quantitative analysis means 70 comprises a photometer. The photometer is able†o measure the main values such as pH, substance percentages, and †o output data such as nitrites, free chlorine, surfactants, hardness of wafer, soils, etc. If is possible†o indirectly know the degradation and/or neutralization state of the treated organic liquid from such data.

If should however be mentioned that in other embodiments, such analysis means 70 can comprise a spectrophotometer or a low pressure chromatograph able or other instrument able †o defect useful parameters, without however departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

Moreover, according †o the invention, such analysis means 70 are functionally connected†o the control uni† CU. In practice, such analysis means 70 are able†o send the results of the investigation performed, i.e. the preset data,†o said control uni† CU. This way, the operation of the peristaltic pump 60 combined with the discharge due† 13 and also functionally connected†o the control uni† CU, is only allowed if a level of degradation and/or neutralization of the organic liquid suctioned and contained in the collection tank 2 would result greater than a predetermined limit value for its disposal in the sewerage network or anyhow suitable for being disposed of in the sewerage network from the analysis carried out by the analysis means 70, also only indirectly. The method for operating the apparatus 1 for collecting an organic liquid comprises the step of a) suctioning an organic liquid along a length 4a of the suction line 4 and the step of b) administering a predetermined amount of neutralizing and/or degrading substance by the administration line 7. Advantageously, the step b) comprises the step of bl ) mixing the aforesaid predetermined amount of degrading and/or neutralizing substance with the organic substance suctioned during the step a) of the method along the suction line 4 in a mixing region 10 arranged upstream of the inlet section 3 of the collection tank 2 and spaced from the inlet section 3 so that the predetermined amount of the degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with the suctioned organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized substance a† leas† before it enters the collection tank 2. More in particular, the step b) comprises the step of b2) measuring the organic liquid flow suctioned along the length 4a of the suction line 4 and the step of b3) administering a predetermined amount of the degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the results obtained during the step b2).

Moreover, the step b) further comprises the step of b4) measuring in real time the flow rate of the neutralizing/degrading substance suctioned along the administration line 7.

Moreover, the step b) further comprises the step of b5) measuring, directly (or indirectly), the level of the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance present inside the collection tank 2, and the step of b6) controlling the interruption of the apparatus 1 depending on the measures obtained during the steps b2), b4) and b5), if the sum of the amount of suctioned liquid and of administered neutralizing/degrading substance is essentially equal†o the amount of the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance present inside said tank.

Moreover, the method comprises, successively†o said step b), the step of c) discharging the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance contained in the collection tank 2. According†o a preferred embodiment, before said step c), the method comprises the step of e) quantitatively and/or qualitatively analyzing said neutralized and/or degraded organic substance contained in the collection tank 2.

Preferably, said step e) comprises the step of el ) preventing said step c) of discharging whenever the level of degradation and/or neutralization of the organic substance contained in the collection tank 2 would result lower than a predetermined level, or anyhow not suitable for being disposed of in the sewerage network, from the analysis of said step e).

Moreover, successively to said step c), the method comprises the step d) of thermo-disinfecting the collection tank 2 of the neutralized and/or degraded organic liquid.

In practice, the step d) comprises the step of dl ) heating the dilution liquid, the step of d2) connecting the first bypass duct 17 between the collection tank 2 and the suction line 4 (see figure 1 C), the step of d3) connecting the second bypass duct 18 between the further tank 6 and the transfer line 16 (see figure 1 C), and the step of d4) making a liquid mixture comprising the dilution liquid and the degrading and/or neutralizing substance flow in the collection tank 2 through the second sprayer 26 (see figure 1 C). Moreover, the step d) comprises the step of d5) making the aforesaid mixture comprising the dilution liquid and degrading and/or neutralizing substance recirculate for a predetermined amount of time between the collection tank 2, the first bypass duct 17 and the suction line 4, by then passing through the inlet section 3 and the first sprayer 25 (see figure 1 D), and the step of d6) discharging the aforesaid mixture from the collection tank 2 through the discharge duct 13 (see figure 1 E).

In another embodiment not shown herein, during the step d2), the first bypass due† 17 connects the discharge line 13 to the suction line 4, and during the step d3), the second bypass due† 18 connects the administration line 7 to the transfer line 16, without however departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

Always according †o the invention, a system 200 for chemically analyzing an organic liquid contained in a test tube 201 is shown in figure 2. Such system 200 comprises a module 202 for positioning the test tube 201 into the system 200, a module 203 for extracting a sample of the organic liquid from the test tube 201 , a module 204 for chemically analyzing the aforesaid sample of organic liquid, and a container 205 for preserving the organic liquid once analyzed. Finally, the system 200 comprises a module 206 for discharging the organic liquid analyzed and contained in the preservation container 205. According†o the invention, the discharge module 206 comprises the apparatus 1 described above. In particular, the suction line 4 is combined with the preservation container 205 of the analyzed organic liquid†o dispose of it only once it has been degraded and/or neutralized according†o the method described above by means of the apparatus 1.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1 ) for collecting a† leas† one organic liquid, comprising a† leas† one collection tank (2) provided with a firs† inlet section (3), a suction line (4) combinable, on one side, with one or more containers (50) for said a† leas† one organic liquid, and with said firs† inlet section (3) of said collection tank (2) on the other, and pumping means (5) for suctioning said a† leas† one organic liquid from said one or more containers (50) along a† leas† one length (4a) of said a† leas† one suction line (4), said apparatus further comprising a† leas† one further tank (6) for containing a substance for the degradation and/or neutralization of said a† leas† one organic liquid, a† leas† one administration line (7) for administering a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance, and means (8) for administering said predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance from said a† leas† one further tank (6) along said a† leas† one administration line (7), said administration line (7) being fluidically connected†o said a† leas† one suction line (4) in a mixing region (10) arranged upstream of said a† leas† one firs† inlet section (3) and spaced from said firs† inlet section (3) so that said a† leas† one predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with said organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized organic substance a† leas† before it has entered said a† leas† one collection tank (2), wherein said administering means (8) administer, along said administration line, a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the flow rate of said a† leas† one organic liquid suctioned along said length (4a) of said a† leas† one suction line (4), characterized by comprising measuring means (9) for measuring in real time the flow rate of said a† leas† one organic liquid suctioned along said length of said a† leas† one suction line (4), said measuring means being arranged upstream of said mixing region (10), and by comprising a control uni† (CU) to control the operations of said administering means (8) so that†o administer said predetermined amount of degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the organic liquid flow rate measured by said measuring means (9).

2. Apparatus according †o claim 1 , characterized by comprising second measuring means (90) for measuring in real time the flow rate of said a† leas† one neutralizing/degrading substance suctioned along said administration line (7).

3. Apparatus according†o claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said measuring means (9) and/or said second measuring means (90) comprise a flowmeter.

4. Apparatus according †o one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a† leas† one level sensor (91 ) arranged inside said a† leas† one collection tank (2) for directly or indirectly measuring the amount of degraded and/or neutralized organic substance present inside said collection tank (2).

5. Apparatus according†o a† leas† claims 2 and 4, characterized in that said control uni† (CU) is adapted†o control the interruption of said apparatus depending on the measures obtained by said measuring means (9), said second measuring means (90) and said a† leas† one level sensor (91 ).

6. Apparatus according†o one or more of claims 1†o 5, characterized in that said collection tank (2) comprises a second inlet section ( 15) and in that said apparatus (1 ) comprises a† leas† one transfer line (16) for administering a dilution liquid into said collection tank (2) through said second inlet section (15).

7. Apparatus according†o claim 6, characterized by comprising a tank (20) for containing said dilution liquid, said dilution tank being fluidically combinable with said transfer line ( 1 6) .

8. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized by comprising at least one discharge duct ( 13) combined with said at least one collection tank (2) for the controlled and on command discharge of said organic liquid collected and degraded and/or neutralized.

9. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized by comprising means ( 1 6) for heating said dilution liquid, and by comprising at least one first bypass duct ( 1 7) for connecting on command said at least one discharge duct ( 13), or said collection tank (2), to said at least one suction line (4) , and a second bypass duct for connecting said administration line (7) , or said at least one further tank (6), to said transfer line ( 1 6) .

10. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said collection tank (2) comprises at least one first sprayer (25) arranged at said first inlet section, said first sprayer being provided with a diffuser having an opening angle from 100 to 60°.

1 1 . Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said collection tank (2) comprises at least one second sprayer (26) arranged at said second inlet section, said second sprayer (26) being provided with a diffuser having an opening angle from 180 to 1 60°.

12. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising quantitative and/or qualitative analysis means for quantitatively and/or qualitatively analyzing said organic liquid collected and degraded and/or neutralized coming out of said collection tank (2) , along said at least one discharge duct ( 13) .

13. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said quantitative and/or qualitative analysis means are selected among a photometer, a spectrophotometer, a low pressure chromatograph or the like.

14. Method for operating said apparatus ( 1 ) for collecting a† leas† one organic liquid according†o a† leas† claim 1 , said method comprising the step of a) suctioning said a† leas† one organic liquid along a† leas† one length of said suction line (4) and the step of b) administering a predetermined amount of said neutralizing and/or degrading substance through said administration line (7), wherein said step b) comprises the step of bl ) mixing said predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance with said organic substance suctioned during said step a) of the method along said a† leas† one suction line (4) in a mixing region (10) arranged upstream of said a† leas† one inlet section (3) of said collection tank and spaced from said inlet section (3) so that said a† leas† one predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance mixes with said organic liquid, therefore forming a degraded and/or neutralized organic substance a† leas† before it has entered said a† leas† one collection tank (2), said method being characterized in that said step b) comprises the step of b2) measuring the organic liquid flow suctioned along said length (4a) of said suction line and the step of b3) administering a predetermined amount of said degrading and/or neutralizing substance depending on the results obtained during said step b2).

15. Method according†o claim 14, characterized in that said step b) further comprises the step of b4) measuring in real time the flow rate of said a† leas† one neutralizing/degrading substance suctioned along said administration line (7).

16. Method according†o claims 14 and 15, characterized in that said step b) comprises the step of b5) measuring, directly or indirectly, the level of the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance present inside said at least one collection tank (2) , and the step of b6) controlling the interruption of said apparatus depending on the measures obtained during said steps b2), b4) and b5) , if the sum of the amount of suctioned liquid and of administered neutralizing/degrading substance is essentially equal to the amount of the neutralized and/or degraded organic substance present inside said tank.

1 7. Method according to one or more of claims 14 to 1 6, characterized by comprising, successively to said step b) , the step of c) discharging said neutralized and/or degraded organic substance contained in said collection tank.

18. Method according to one or more of claims 14 to 1 7, characterized in that, successively to said step c), the method comprises the step of d) thermo-disinfecting said at least one collection tank of the neutralized and/or degraded organic liquids.

1 9. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that said step d) comprises the step of d l ) heating said dilution liquid, the step of d2) connecting the first bypass duct between said at least one discharge duct, or said collection tank, and said at least one suction line, the step of d3) connecting the second bypass duct between said at least one suction line, or said further tank, and said transfer line ( 1 6), the step of d4) making a mixture comprising said dilution liquid and said degrading and/or neutralizing substance flow to said collection tank (2) through said second sprayer, the step of d5) making said mixture comprising said dilution liquid and said degrading and/or neutralizing substance recirculate for a given time period between said collection tank, said first bypass duct and said suction line, and the step of d6) discharging said collection tank through said at least one discharge duct ( 13) .