Autoclaving: Difference between revisions

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The autoclave was re-invented for medical and scientific use by Charles Chamberland in 1879. Chamberland was a microbiologist who worked with Louis Pasteur<ref name="Qor" />.

==Application to Waste Sector in UK==

Whilst Autoclaves are used for the disinfection of medical equipment to allow them to be reused, the application of Autoclaving in the UK for waste as a [[Mechanical Heat Treatment]] ([[MHT]]) has focused on three main waste streams to date:

* [[Healthcare Waste]] is the most wide spread application of the use of Autoclaving as a [[treatment]] process, with more recent applications to specific waste streams such as single use nappies.

* [[Municipal Solid Waste]] <ref>[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221040/pb13891-heat-treatment-waste.pdf DEFRA Publication on MHT Application to Municipal Solid Waste February 2013]</ref> applications have been developed in the past, which focused on the production of a [[Waste Derived Fuel]].

** [[Graphite Resources]] (Derwenthaugh EcoParc - Newcastle)

** [[Orchid Environmental]] (Merseyside)

** [[Sterecycle]] (Rotherham) - closed and company went into liquidation following an explosion at the plant in 2011 with a resulting fatality<ref>[https://www.britsafe.org/publications/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2014/waste-firm-sterecycle-fined-500k-for-corporate-manslaughter-after-autoclave-explosion/ British Safety Council Article]</ref>

** [[Aero Thermal]] (Plymouth) - not progressed

* [[Food Waste]] Autoclaving as part of a pre-treatment process prior to [[Anaerobic Digestion]] is still being promoted<ref>[http://www.aerothermalgroup.com/markets-applications/ Aero Thermal Website]</ref> as increasing [[biogas]] yields by [[Aero Thermal]]

==Operation of an Autoclave with Healthcare Waste==

Items to be autoclaved are subjected to gradual temperature increases under high pressure until 121 °C is reached and then steamed for around 15–20 minutes<ref name="Qor" />. The autoclave allows steam to flow around items in the chamber. The length of time and temperature necessary for sterilization depend on the items to be sterilized and whether they are wrapped or left directly exposed to the steam,<ref name="Qor" />. Items should be separated to allow the steam to penetrate the load evenly. The steam can reach in small crevices and can kill all bacteria, viruses and bacterial spores<ref name="Qor" />.

Autoclaves can be used to eliminate microorganisms and for hydrothermal synthesis<ref name ="Qor" />. [[Autoclaving]] is a very dependable method for the sterilization and decontamination of laboratory glassware, medical instruments and certain types of [[Healthcare Waste]], reagents, and other media. Autoclaves can inactivate fungi, bacteria, spores, viruses and other microorganisms on surgical instruments such as scalpels, scissors and other metal items<ref name="Qor" />.

Some autoclaves are designed to shred [[Healthcare Waste]] during the treatment cycle; other systems rely on the use of a pre-treatment process to macerate the [[Healthcare Waste|waste]] before the [[Healthcare Waste|waste]] is heated<ref name ="Health">[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/167976/HTM_07-01_Final.pdf/ HTM_07_01 Safe Management of Healthcare Waste]</ref>.

==References==

~~<ref> />~~

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 The autoclave was re-invented for medical and scientific use by Charles Chamberland in 1879. Chamberland was a microbiologist who worked with Louis Pasteur<ref name="Qor" />.
+==Application to Waste Sector in UK==
+Whilst Autoclaves are used for the disinfection of medical equipment to allow them to be reused, the application of Autoclaving in the UK for waste as a [[Mechanical Heat Treatment]] ([[MHT]]) has focused on three main waste streams to date:
+* [[Healthcare Waste]] is the most wide spread application of the use of Autoclaving as a [[treatment]] process, with more recent applications to specific waste streams such as single use nappies.
+* [[Municipal Solid Waste]] <ref>[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221040/pb13891-heat-treatment-waste.pdf DEFRA Publication on MHT Application to Municipal Solid Waste February 2013]</ref> applications have been developed in the past, which focused on the production of a [[Waste Derived Fuel]].
+** [[Graphite Resources]] (Derwenthaugh EcoParc - Newcastle)
+** [[Orchid Environmental]] (Merseyside)
+** [[Sterecycle]] (Rotherham) - closed and company went into liquidation following an explosion at the plant in 2011 with a resulting fatality<ref>[https://www.britsafe.org/publications/safety-management-magazine/safety-management-magazine/2014/waste-firm-sterecycle-fined-500k-for-corporate-manslaughter-after-autoclave-explosion/ British Safety Council Article]</ref>
+** [[Aero Thermal]] (Plymouth) - not progressed
+* [[Food Waste]] Autoclaving as part of a pre-treatment process prior to [[Anaerobic Digestion]] is still being promoted<ref>[http://www.aerothermalgroup.com/markets-applications/ Aero Thermal Website]</ref> as increasing [[biogas]] yields by [[Aero Thermal]]
+==Operation of an Autoclave with Healthcare Waste==
+Items to be autoclaved are subjected to gradual temperature increases under high pressure until 121 °C is reached and then steamed for around 15–20 minutes<ref name="Qor" />. The autoclave allows steam to flow around items in the chamber. The length of time and temperature necessary for sterilization depend on the items to be sterilized and whether they are wrapped or left directly exposed to the steam,<ref name="Qor" />. Items should be separated to allow the steam to penetrate the load evenly. The steam can reach in small crevices and can kill all bacteria, viruses and bacterial spores<ref name="Qor" />.
+Autoclaves can be used to eliminate microorganisms and for hydrothermal synthesis<ref name ="Qor" />. [[Autoclaving]] is a very dependable method for the sterilization and decontamination of laboratory glassware, medical instruments and certain types of [[Healthcare Waste]], reagents, and other media. Autoclaves can inactivate fungi, bacteria, spores, viruses and other microorganisms on surgical instruments such as scalpels, scissors and other metal items<ref name="Qor" />.
+Some autoclaves are designed to shred [[Healthcare Waste]] during the treatment cycle; other systems rely on the use of a pre-treatment process to macerate the [[Healthcare Waste|waste]] before the [[Healthcare Waste|waste]] is heated<ref name ="Health">[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/167976/HTM_07-01_Final.pdf/ HTM_07_01 Safe Management of Healthcare Waste]</ref>.
 ==References==
-<ref> />