Microbial Inactivation by microwave treatment

The Sterilwave solution for disinfecting biomedical waste is based on a combination of shredding by rotating blades and temperature rise by microwave technology, the most respectful of the environment. 100% electric, this innovative patented technology allows microbial inactivation of medical waste in 30 minutes. Compared to traditional autoclave solutions, which consume high amount of energy (generation of steam / water / electricity / treatment of effluents) and require the management of a vessel under several pressure bars by qualified technicians, Sterilwave solutions minimize the significant risks of pressure thanks to their ease of use by unqualified operators. Their maintenance is simple and low cost compared to competing technologies (incineration / autoclave / friction).

All types of solid waste as well as liquids packaged without specific segregation (plastic, glass, metal, textiles, blades, sharps, etc.) can be treated by the Sterilwave system which records the entire process in order to ensure full traceability of all operations (printed ticket + memory card recording + possibility of remote connection to export data in real time). Besides the efficient and rapid decontamination of waste with a microbial inactivation level of up to 8 log10 (higher than the sterilization level) on a stable and fully automated cycle of 30 minutes, Sterilwave also makes it possible to convert biohazardous waste into dry and inert waste, reducing their weight by up to 25% and their volume by up to 80%. This resulting material similar to municipal waste can also serve as energy-efficient secondary fuel and offers circular economy possibilities.

PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Through a fully automated 30-minute cycle in one single vessel and a rapid and efficient temperature rise up to 110 ° C, Sterilwave transforms infectious waste into decontaminated municipal waste.

COMPARISON

Incineration has been the most widely used method for treating infectious waste. However, biomedical waste incinerators release a wide variety of pollutants in the air, including organic compounds such as benzene, chlorophenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), vinyl chloride and dioxins, heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, etc.), acid gases (hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides), carbon monoxide, and particulate matter such as fly ash. Pathogens can also be found in the solid residues and exhaust gases of poorly designed and poorly used incinerators.

For the treatment of solid biomedical waste (and liquid waste packaged in suitable packaging / containers), there are alternative heat treatments so-called “low temperature” incineration by dry or humid heat. These decontamination technologies must be combined with mechanical methods such as shredding or crushing, to destroy pathogens. The shredders improve the rate of heat transfer and expose more waste surface for processing.