Halogenated Hydrocarbon Recovery via Steam Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack a process to recover and sterilize inhalation anesthetics, which are potent greenhouse gases and ozone depleters, from patients' breathing air, making it difficult to reuse them safely.
Innovation Solution
A two-step process involving desorption and sterilization, where halogenated hydrocarbons adsorbed on filter materials are desorbed using dry water vapor at elevated temperatures, followed by sterilization using steam at specific temperature and pressure conditions to ensure pathogen inactivation without decomposing the anesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If halogenated hydrocarbons are recovered from patients' breathing air, then environmental protection and economic benefits are improved, but the risk of pathogen contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery process is divided into distinct functional stages: adsorption of halogenated hydrocarbons from breathing air, desorption using heated inert gas, and sterilization. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, with sterilization specifically addressing the pathogen contamination risk while maintaining the environmental benefits of recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary sterilization step is introduced between desorption and reuse of the recovered anesthetic. This sterilization barrier (using heat or chemical agents) eliminates pathogen contamination while preserving the halogenated hydrocarbons, thus resolving the contradiction between recovery benefits and safety concerns.
2Reliability
If sterilization is added to the recovery process, then safety for reuse is improved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization function is merged with the existing desorption apparatus by integrating a sterilization chamber or sterilization cycle into the desorption unit. This allows sterilization to be performed using the same equipment infrastructure, minimizing additional device complexity while ensuring safety for reuse.
3Reliability
If high temperature steam is used for sterilization, then pathogen inactivation is improved, but decomposition of anesthetics may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization parameters (temperature, time, pressure) are precisely controlled and optimized to achieve pathogen inactivation while staying below the decomposition threshold of halogenated hydrocarbons. For example, using saturated steam at 121°C for 15-30 minutes provides effective sterilization without degrading the anesthetic agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization process utilizes phase transition of water (liquid to vapor) to transfer heat efficiently and uniformly to the adsorbent and trapped pathogens, achieving sterilization at controlled temperatures that prevent anesthetic decomposition. The vapor phase allows penetration and uniform heating.
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 recovers and sterilizes inhalation anesthetics, ensuring their safety for reuse while minimizing environmental impact by reducing the release of harmful gases.
Implementation Method 1
an adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons is streamed through by a volume flow essentially consisting of dry water vapor at an elevated temperature, wherein the adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons is flown through by water vapor. As a result, the adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons are desorbed by the adsorbent and absorbed into the volume flow
Implementation Method 2
The secondary volume flow is converted by cooling into a condensate containing halogenated hydrocarbons and water
Implementation Method 3
in a sterilization step preceding the desorption step, the adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons is brought into contact with water vapor for at least 10 min, in particular for 10 to 60 min, at a temperature of more than 120° C., in particular from 121 to 150° C.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention describes a two-step process for the recovery of halogenated hydrocarbons. In a desorption step, water vapor is passed through an adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons, resulting in a secondary volume flow containing halogenated hydrocarbons. The secondary volume flow is converted by cooling into a condensate containing halogenated hydrocarbons and water, from which the halogenated hydrocarbons are separated. In a sterilization step preceding the desorption step, the adsorbent comprising adsorbed halogenated hydrocarbons is brought into contact with water vapor for at least 10 min at a temperature of more than 120° C. and at a pressure of 0.15 MPa to 0.4 MPa.