Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies in Europe

Steriflash
Steriflash is an autoclave intended for a small
waste quantity. It can be installed near the place
of waste origin.
Waste deposited in the hopper is mechanically
shredded and then falls into the treatment tank.
The process begins by the injection of saturating
wet steam supplied by an external steam
generator (outside the process chamber).
The temperature achieved is 134°C at 2.3 bar
pressure for 20 minutes.
At the end of the cycle, the front door opens
automatically and the solid spun waste is
released into a container - liquids are drained off
via the waste water system.
Gaseous discharges are filtered (0.3µ filter),
condensed and treated by bubbling.
Steriflash installations operate in France, Greece,
and Spain. Company is also present on German,
Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish market.
Capacity: Approx. 16 kg/cycle (0.38 m3). Capital costs: 30 000 EUR.
Technical information: Temperature: 134°C;
pressure: 2.3 bar; time of exposure: 20 minutes.
Stage of commercialisation: Commercialised.
Vendor’s contact: T.E.M.; Hôtel d'entreprises
ZI la Pradelle voie la pradelle, 31190 Auterive,
France; tel.: + 33 5 342 80 234, fax: + 33 5 342 80
237, e-mail: tem31@wanadoo.fr, www.steriflash.fr
Sterival
The Sterival system is designed for on-site
sterilisation of infectious waste. The system is
modular and its configuration can be adapted at
any time to the capacity required.
The Sterival system consists of an energy (base)
and steam supply module. The base module may
control up to 4 sterilisation modules and by
adding extensions units of 2 up to 4 modules can
be assembled. The system uses 60 litres reusable
Sterifant PC-waste bins. These can be used in
average 200-300 times, depending on the bin
model.
The duration of the complete sterilisation cycle at
136°C ranges from 25 to 35 minutes, depending
on the waste content, and assuming 12 kg of
waste per bin.
The systems require no chemicals, as wastes are
sterilised solely by a pulsed vacuum and saturated
steam.
Combining the modules with the Sterifant standalone
shredder can reduce the volume of the
post-process waste up to 80%.
The waste treatment process is specified in the list
of approved disinfecting processes under § 10 c of
the German Epidemics Control Act compiled by
the Federal German Health Agency under the
name of Valides® System. Sterival modular
sterilisation system of medical waste is installed
(as the Valides® System) in the new constructed
London Hospital in Kuwait, moreover in the
major hospital in Munich, Germany.
Capacity: Approx. 21 – 84 kg/h.
Capital costs: 98 100 – 200 400 EUR.
Technical information: Temperature: 136°C;
pressure: 2.1 bar; time of exposure: 30 minutes.
Stage of commercialisation: Commercialised.
Vendor’s contact: Sterifant Vertriebs GmbH; 12,
Rue Jean Engling, L-1466 Luxembourg; tel.: +352-
43 22 22-1, fax: +352-42 60 59, sterilux@pt.lu,
www.sterifant.com
STI Chem-Clav
With the STI Chem-Clav, the waste is loaded via
feed conveyors or cart dumpers into the hopper
where a negative pressure is maintained by
drawing air through a high efficiency particulate
air filter (HEPA). The waste in the hopper drops
into a heavy-duty shredding unit where
downward pressure is applied using a ram.
An integral process controller controls the feed
mechanism. Shredded material enters a rotating
auger conveyor where low-pressure steam is
introduced through multiple ports maintaining
the temperature in the conveyor between 114 to
128°C. Downstream of the conveyor is a
dehydration section wherein a steam jacket
increases temperatures above 118°C. The steam is
discharged through a vent at the very end of
Non-Incineration Medical Waste Treatment Technologies in Europe 19