In Situ Biomedical Waste Flocculation-Solidification for Instant Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing biomedical waste, particularly solid and fluid samples, are inadequate in providing instantaneous disinfection and solidification, leading to the spread of infectious diseases and high disposal costs.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the use of an alkaline solution of metal silicates, followed by an organic or inorganic acid, and a solidifying agent like metal oxides or phosphates, achieving instantaneous flocculation and solidification with >99.9% microbial disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional disinfection methods (hypochlorite, ethanol, formaldehyde) are used, then microbial disinfection is achieved, but instantaneous solidification is not provided and disposal costs remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated process: the metal silicate solution serves as both the disinfectant (killing microbes) and the solidification agent (forming solid blocks). This merging of disinfection and solidification functions into one step achieves both microbial elimination and instantaneous solidification simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between reliable disinfection and productive solidification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material formation by reacting metal silicates with organic/inorganic acids to create a composite solid matrix that traps and immobilizes biomedical waste. This composite structure provides both the disinfection capability of metal silicates and the solidification effect of the acid-reacted matrix, achieving simultaneous disinfection and solidification.
2Ease of operation
If liquid waste is left in pourable state, then handling is simple, but spillage risks and occupational exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by converting liquid biomedical waste into solid blocks through the chemical reaction between metal silicate solution and organic/inorganic acids. This phase change from liquid to solid eliminates spillage risks and occupational exposure while maintaining ease of operation, as the solid blocks are simple to handle and dispose of.
3Reliability
If multiple treatment steps are used for disinfection and solidification, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but process complexity and disposal costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple treatment steps (disinfection, solidification, and waste immobilization) into a single integrated process step. By adding metal silicate solution followed by organic/inorganic acid to liquid waste, all treatment functions are achieved simultaneously in one operation, reducing process complexity while maintaining high treatment effectiveness through the synergistic action of the chemical reagents.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process effectively disinfects and solidifies biomedical waste, reducing spillage risks, occupational exposure, and disposal costs by creating a non-pourable environment for fluid wastes and immobilizing solid wastes, making disposal safer and more efficient.
Implementation Method 1
addition of the waste samples to an alkaline aqueous solution of metal silicates
Implementation Method 2
addition of an inorganic or organic acid leading to a flocculated state
Implementation Method 3
addition of a metal oxide or phosphate based solid powders at a defined volumetric and/or weighted composition leading to instantaneous solidification
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention intends to disclose a process for in situ flocculation followed by solidification of biomedical waste that is capable of simultaneously treating and disinfecting solid and fluid samples. The process comprises of the addition of the waste samples to an alkaline aqueous solution of metal silicates followed by the addition of an organic or inorganic acid for flocculation and a solid metal oxide or phosphate at a defined volumetric and/or weighted composition leading to instantaneous solidification with >99.9% microbial disinfection and an all-in-one disinfecting device for treatment of biomedical waste. The present disclosure also provides a disinfection-flocculation-solidification and disposal device comprising the disinfection composition.