METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ISOLATION OF POTENTIALLY HARMFUL MATERIAL
First Claim
1. A method for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, present in dissolved state in bodily waste, said method comprising:
- in at least one buffer tank (22), receiving an aqueous composition containing potentially harmful medical substances present in dissolved state in bodily waste;
temporarily storing the aqueous composition in the buffer tank (22);
transferring the aqueous composition in batches from the buffer tank (22) to a vaporization unit (24) comprising one or more vaporization chambers (26, 28);
in said one or more vaporization chambers (26, 28), vaporizing water from the aqueous composition for producing a water-reduced waste material containing said potentially harmful medical substances;
passing the vaporized water through one or more protective structures (59, 79), such as one or more demisters, arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets to pass through;
transferring the waste material from the vaporization unit (24); and
subjecting the waste material to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, is disclosed. An aqueous composition, such as blackwater, contains potentially harmful medical substances present in dissolved state in bodily waste. The aqueous composition is temporarily stored in a buffer tank and is then transferred in batches to a vaporization unit comprising one or more vaporization chambers for producing a water-reduced waste material containing said potentially harmful medical substances. The waste material is subjected to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, present in dissolved state in bodily waste, said method comprising:
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in at least one buffer tank (22), receiving an aqueous composition containing potentially harmful medical substances present in dissolved state in bodily waste; temporarily storing the aqueous composition in the buffer tank (22); transferring the aqueous composition in batches from the buffer tank (22) to a vaporization unit (24) comprising one or more vaporization chambers (26, 28); in said one or more vaporization chambers (26, 28), vaporizing water from the aqueous composition for producing a water-reduced waste material containing said potentially harmful medical substances; passing the vaporized water through one or more protective structures (59, 79), such as one or more demisters, arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets to pass through; transferring the waste material from the vaporization unit (24); and subjecting the waste material to a destructive treatment, such as a high-temperature incineration process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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- 4. The method as claimed in any of the proceeding claims, further comprising vaporizing additional water from the waste material for producing a further water-reduced waste material.
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26. An apparatus for isolating potentially harmful medical substances, such as antibiotics, present in dissolved state in bodily waste, said apparatus comprising:
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at least one buffer tank (22) which is arranged to receive and temporarily store the aqueous composition; a vaporization unit (24) which is arranged to receive the aqueous composition in batches from the buffer tank (22), said vaporization unit (24) comprising one or more vaporization chambers (26, 28) arranged to vaporize water from the aqueous composition for producing a water-reduced waste material; and one or more protective structures (59, 79), such as one or more demisters, which are arranged to prevent aerosols or droplets in the vaporized water to pass through. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification