Combusting Medical Waste for Energy
Medical waste is a major issue in the healthcare industry. It is estimated that more than 50 million tons of medical waste is generated annually, most of which is non-hazardous, such as syringes, bandages, and packaging. However, some medical waste is hazardous, such as needles and other sharps, laboratory chemicals, and medical equipment contaminated with blood or other body fluids. Disposing of medical waste properly is essential to protecting the environment and public health.
Medical waste treatment is a critical and important process of the medical industry. It is essential to understand the variety of medical waste treatment technologies available, as well as the best practices for managing medical waste. Medical waste is any type of material that has been used in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans and animals. This includes sharps, such as needles, syringes, and lancets, as well as items such as bandages, gloves, and gauze. Medical waste also includes laboratory waste, such as cultures, stocks, and animal carcasses.
Medical waste is typically classified into two categories: infectious and non-infectious. Infectious waste includes materials that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids and are capable of causing disease. Non-infectious waste includes items such as bandages, gloves, and gowns, which are not capable of causing disease. Medical waste treatment is the process of treating medical waste in order to make it safe for disposal or reuse. This process typically involves a series of steps, such as collection, segregation, storage, treatment, and disposal.
Collection involves collecting medical waste from the source and transporting it to a designated area for treatment. Segregation is the process of separating the medical waste into its various categories, such as infectious and non-infectious. Storage involves storing the medical waste in a secure and safe place until it is ready for treatment. Treatment is the process of treating the medical waste to make it safe for disposal. This typically involves sterilization, incineration, or autoclaving. Sterilization is the process of destroying microorganisms and other pathogens. Incineration is the process of burning medical waste at high temperatures. Autoclaving is the process of using steam and pressure to kill microorganisms and other pathogens.
Finally, disposal involves disposing of the treated medical waste according to local, state, and federal regulations. This typically involves sending the treated medical waste to a licensed medical waste disposal facility. Medical waste treatment is essential for protecting the environment and public health. It is important to understand the various processes involved in medical waste treatment and to follow best practices for managing medical waste.
Our offering to treating medical and other non-hazardous and semi-hazardous wastes, the wasteWOIMA® WtE plant, is a robust solution for combusting different waste streams to energy. The combustion temperature of well over 1000oC and retention time at 850oC for over two seconds ensure the sterilization and full combustion of medical waste. A single boiler island (WOIMAline) wasteWOIMA® plant uses roughly 40,000 to 50,000 tons of waste fuel per annum. Several WOIMAlines can be integrated to create a larger power plant. The state-of-the-art flue gas treatment renders the combustions gases inert and safe enabling the construction of the plant also in populated areas.
Read more about the medical waste treatment practices in Cairo, Egypt Medical Waste in Cairo: Impact and Health Problems — Shorthand Social
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WOIMA Corporation is a Finnish supplier of best-in-class waste-to-value products, projects and services worldwide. We have developed solutions that enable us, and the customer, to transform and recycle virtually any waste stream into raw materials and energy. At WOIMA we combine Finnish engineering know-how in waste management with power generation design expertise. These solutions are used in Finland every day. They support the circular economy ideology and ensure that less than 1% of Finland’s waste ends up in landfills.
Our mission is to improve quality of life both locally and globally, as well as empower people to utilize waste as a commodity. Our decades of international project management experience ensure an on-time, in-budget and high-quality WOIMA solution delivery across the globe.
