WO2004006970A1

WO2004006970A1 - Waste decontaminating method and bag therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2004006970A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/002171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Céric BERAUD
Original assignee: Bag Teck
Priority date: 2002-07-10
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Also published as: FR2842111B1; FR2842111A1; AU2003273431A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for decontaminating contaminated waste, in particular hospital or industrial waste, which consists in subjecting said waste to a specific decontaminating temperature. Said method is characterized in that: said waste is introduced into a decontaminating bag selected in a thermoplastic material whereof the plastic melting point is lower than the decontaminating temperature, introducing, in a sealed compactor, said bag containing the waste while maintaining said bag under a specific or variable temperature, raising the temperature of said bag by conduction up to the decontaminating temperature. The invention also concerns a bag designed to contain contaminated waste and adapted to implement said decontaminating method.

Description

PROCESS FOR DECONTAMINATION OF WASTE AND BAG FOR IMPLEMENTING IT

The present invention relates, on the one hand, to a method of decontamination of contaminated waste, in particular hospital or industrial, and, on the other hand, to a bag intended to contain such waste and to implement said method of deontontamination. .

The invention relates to the field of decontamination of waste and, more particularly, the field of the manufacture of devices making it possible to carry out such a decontamination and / or to be used during a decontamination process.

It is already known methods for decontaminating hospital-type waste (for example syringes) and consisting in collecting such waste in a container, in particular a box specifically designed for this purpose, before proceeding with their disposal. incineration. Such incineration is usually carried out using a plasma device this in order to ensure effective decontamination of this waste. Such a method has a certain number of disadvantages consisting in that it requires, for its implementation, a specific and expensive device as well as a large amount of energy.

The present invention seeks to overcome the drawbacks of the devices and methods of the prior art.

To this end, the invention relates to a process for decontaminating contaminated waste, in particular hospital or industrial waste, consisting in subjecting this waste to a determined decontamination temperature, characterized in that:

- Said waste is introduced into a decontamination bag chosen from a thermoplastic material whose plastic melting temperature is lower than the decontamination temperature; - Said bag containing the waste is introduced into a waterproof compactor while maintaining said bag under a determined or variable pressure; .

- the temperature of this bag is raised by conduction to the decontamination temperature.

This method consists, again, in what is collected, at the level of the means which the bag comprises and which are arranged to supply or exchange information with a central unit which the compactor comprises or which is associated with the latter, information concerning this bag and / or its contents, this, as the case may be, either before introducing this bag into the compactor, or after introduction of this bag into the compactor and before maintaining this bag under pressure, before raising the temperature before or before compacting it.

The present invention also relates to a bag intended to contain contaminated waste, in particular hospital or industrial, and intended to be introduced into a compactor in order to be subjected to a process for decontaminating this waste in particular in accordance with the above-mentioned process. This bag is made of a thermoplastic material whose plastic melting temperature is lower than the decontamination temperature.

An additional characteristic consists in that this bag is provided with means arranged to supply information to, or even to exchange information with, a central unit which the compactor comprises or which is associated with the latter, this information being relating to this bag and / or its content.

The advantages of the present invention consist in that the waste bag is placed inside a compactor in which the bag is compacted and the volume to be treated is reduced, which makes it possible to optimize heat treatment of waste and bag. The fact of subjecting the bag containing waste to a decontamination temperature higher than the plastic melting temperature of this bag advantageously makes it possible, on the one hand, to decontaminate this waste and, on the other hand, to soften the bag which marries the shape of the waste and traps this waste in a protective film which has a small volume corresponding, substantially, to that of said waste.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will emerge during the description which follows, relating to embodiments which are given only by way of indicative and nonlimiting examples.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawing in which:

- Figures 1 to 5 correspond to the different stages of the decontamination process according to the invention;

- Figure 6 corresponds to a schematic side view in section of a bag according to the invention.

The present invention relates to the field of waste treatment, more particularly hospital or industrial waste, and will find an application when it comes to ensuring the decontamination of this waste.

This invention relates to a process for decontaminating contaminated waste 1, in particular hospital or industrial, consisting in subjecting this waste 1 to a determined deσontamination temperature. This process is characterized by the fact that: - Said waste 1 is introduced into a decontamination bag 2 chosen from a thermoplastic material whose plastic melting temperature is lower than the decontamination temperature;

- Introducing, into a sealed compactor 3, said bag 2 containing the waste 1 while maintaining said bag 2 under a determined or variable pressure;

- The temperature of this bag 2 is raised by conduction to the decontamination temperature.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the method also consists, after introduction of the bag 2 into the compactor 3, in compacting the bag 2 containing the waste 1 so as to evacuate, at least in part, the air contained in bag 2 and in waste 1. Ceσi allows, subsequently, to carry out an optimal heat treatment of this bag 2 and waste 1, more particularly by conduction, this in the presence of a small volume of air.

It will be observed that, during or after compaction, it is ensured a discharge, out of σe σompaσteur 3, of part of the air contained in this σompaσteur 3 and σonstituted, at least in part, by air initially σontained in bag 2 and waste 1.

In this regard, it will be noted that the air is evacuated through a germ-tight filter so that the latter remain trapped in the compactor 3.

Another σaraσtéristique of the invention σonsiste in σe that the pressure under which the saσ 2 is maintained, is σ between 2 and 7 bars, preferably of the order of 4 bars.

Yet another characteristic relates to the fact that the temperature at which the bag 2 is raised is greater than 110 °, preferably of the order of 140 °. It should be observed that the waste 1 contains, initially, a certain quantity of water and that, through the rise in temperature in the compressor 3, this water is transformed into saturated water vapor capable of ensuring a decontamination, more particularly of the bag 2 and of the waste 1 contained therein.

In addition, through this rise in temperature, the bag 2 softens, follows the shape of the waste 1 and traps the latter in a protective film 4 capable of defining a hermetic envelope.

In this regard, it will be observed that when the temperature rises or when the temperature has reached the decontamination temperature, the method according to the invention can, again, include an additional phase of compaction.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the σonsiste proσédé, enσore, en σe that we collect information concerning the bag 2 and / or its content, ceσi at the level of means that σ carries the saσ 2 and which are arranged to provide or exchange information with a central unit which comprises the compaσtor 3 or which is associated with the last 3.

This information is collected, as the case may be, either before introducing the bag 2 into the compactor 3, or after introducing the bag 2 into the compactor 3.

Also and according to a particular embodiment, such a saσ 2 can be presented in front of or near a means arranged to glue such information (sensor or the like) and associated with a central unit, this before the introduction of this bag. 2 in this comparator 3.

However, according to another embodiment, this information is collected after the bag 2 has been introduced into the σompaσteur 3 and, this, before maintaining under pressure this bag 2, before raising the temperature of the latter 2 or before proceeding to compact it σelui 2.

The method then consists in that in the absence of information collected or when the information collected does not conform to what is expected by the central unit, the decontamination process is interrupted or is not initiated , or even the compaσteur 3 remains closed to prevent the introduction of the bag 2, or even it can not be closed.

Such an embodiment makes it possible to avoid decontamination of waste 1 placed in a bag 2 which is not intended to contain such waste 1 and / or to withstand the conditions (temperature, pressure, degradations liable to be caused to the bag by waste) of the process according to the invention.

This embodiment also allows not to start or not to continue a decontamination process when the compaσtor 3 is empty or when deσhets 1 are placed there in trueσ (that is to say without being disposed in a bag 2 ).

However, when the information conforms to what the central unit expects, the decontamination process is continued or initiated.

The method according to the invention then consists in that the information collected is used (in particular after having been processed, more particularly at the level of said central unit) for, depending on the nature of this information collected (or the absence of information), order the continuation, initiation or interruption of the decontamination process.

According to another characteristic of this process, the collated information is used (more particularly after processing, in particular at the level of the central unit) in order to ensure the traceability of saσ and / or deσhets contained in this bag 2, more particularly after decontamination.

The last step of the method according to the invention consists in cooling the bag 2 which hardens to be in a solid state.

The present invention also relates to a bag 2 intended to contain contaminated waste 1 and designed capable of implementing this decontamination process.

To do this, this saσ 2 is made of a thermoplastic material whose plastic melting temperature is lower than the deσontamination temperature.

In fact, this saσ 2 is made of a material σ designed to withstand a temperature above 110 °, preferably of the order of 140 °.

According to another characteristic, this bag 2 is, again, made of a material designed capable of withstanding a pressure of between 2 and 7 bars, preferably of the order of 4 bars.

Such a bag 2 can take different shapes and have different sections (ovoid, polygonal, cylindrical as shown in Figure 6). It is delimited by at least one wall 5 and possibly includes a bottom 6.

According to another σaraσtéristique, the wall (s) 5 of this bag 2 and, possibly its bottom 6, are defined by a stack of layers of plastic materials.

According to a preferred embodiment, such plastic materials are defined by polyamide and / or polyethylene.

In fact, such a stack consists of at least one layer of polyamide, oriented towards the outside of the bag 2, and covered by at minus a layer of polyethylene oriented towards the inside of this saσ 2.

In this regard, it will be observed that a layer of such a plastic material has a thickness σ between 30 and 400 miσrons, preferably between 50 and 200 miσrons.

In fact, a polyamide layer has a thickness of between 50 and 70 microns, preferably approximately equal to 60 microns, while a polyethylene layer has a thickness of between 160 and 200 microns, preferably approximately equal to 180 microns.

In addition, such a saσ 2 can σomport agenσés means to ensure its closure, σeci in a non-hermetic manner. Such closing means can be defined by a flap, a zipper or even a groove-rib.

It should be observed that such a bag 2 can be produced in different ways, in particular by modeling through a die. However and according to a preferred embodiment, such a bag 2 is produced by cutting parts from a film (consisting of a stack of plastic materials) which will be assembled, in particular by heat sealing.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the bag 2 is provided with means arranged to supply information to a central unit which comprises the compactor 3 or which is associated with the latter 3. Such means can, again, be arranged to exchange such information with such a central processing unit. In fact, the information supplied or exchanged by the means that said bag 2 relates to sae 2 and / or its content (deeds D •

In this regard and according to a first embodiment, such means arranged to provide information can be defined by specific identification means (for example a barcode) intended to be identified by a sensor (for example a barcode reader) associated with scanner 3.

However and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means arranged for supplying or exchanging such information are constituted by means capable of producing a radiofrequency link between said bag 2 and said central unit. These connecting means can consist of at least one transponder or the like associated with bag 2.

In fact, such a transponder has, then, an emitting σirσuit (even an emitting / receiving σirσuit) arranged to σooper with a receiving σircuit (respectively emitting / receiving) notably defined at the level of the compactor 3 or at level of a device designed capable of piloting this compactor 3 and associated with αelui-σi 3.

It is, more particularly, in the light of the information collected (even the absence of collated information or when the latter do not correspond to σe that the central unit expects) whether or not the decontamination of the waste 1.

It is also in the light of this information that we can ensure the traceability of saσ 2 and / or its σontent (waste).

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to the forms, materials and combinations of these. various elements, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1) Process for deσontamination of contaminated waste (1), particularly hospital or industrial waste, consisting of subjecting the waste (1) to a determined deσontamination temperature, characterized by the fact that:

said waste (1) is introduced into a deσontamination saσ (2) chosen from a thermoplastic material whose plastic melting temperature is lower than the decontamination temperature;

- said bag (2) containing the waste (1) is introduced into a sealed pump (3) while maintaining said bag (2) under a determined or variable pressure;

- the temperature of σe saσ (2) is raised by σonduσtion up to the deσontamination temperature.

2) Decontamination process according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that, after introduction of the sap (2) into the pump (3), we carry out an αompaσtage of the sap (2) containing the waste (1) in a manner to evacuate, at least in part, the air contained in the saσ (2) and in the waste (1).

3) Decontamination process according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that, during or after the pumping, an evaσuation is ensured, outside the pump (3), of part of the air contained in the pump (3). ) and constituted, at least in part, by air initially contained in the saσ (2) and the waste (1).

4) Decontamination process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the pressure under which the bag (2) is held is between 2 and 7 bars, preferably of the order of 4 bars.

5) Deσontamination process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature to which the saα (2) is raised is greater than 110°, preferably of the order of 140°.

6) Deσontamination process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that one collects, at the level of means included in the bag (2) and which are arranged to provide or exchange information with a central unit that comprises the compactor (3) or which is associated with the latter (3), information σonσernant σe saσ (2) and/or its σcontents, this, depending on the case, either before introducing σe saσ (2) into the compactor (3), either after introducing this bag (2) into said σompactor (3) and before maintaining under pressure σe saσ (2), before raising the temperature of σe last (2) or before proceeding with the compaction of this one σi (2) .

7) Deσontamination process according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the information collected at the level of the means of supply or exchange of information that the saσ (2) carries are used, either to ensure the traceability of the bag (2 ) and/or its contents, whether or not to carry out waste decontamination (1).

8) Bag (2) intended to contain contaminated waste (1), in particular hospital or industrial waste, and intended to be introduced into a comparator (3) with a view to being subjected to a process for deontamination of waste (1) in particular in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that σe saα (2) is made of a thermoplastic material whose plastic melting temperature is lower than the deσontamination temperature. 9) Bag (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that it is made of a material designed to withstand a temperature above 110°, preferably of the order of 140°.

10) Saσ (2) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it is made of a material designed capable of withstanding a pressure of between 2 and 7 bars, preferably of the order of 4 bars.

11) Bag (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by the fact that it is delimited by at least one wall

(5) and, possibly, by a bottom (6), and that σette or σes walls

(5) and, optionally, the bottom (6), are defined by a stack of layers of plastic materials, preferably defined by polyamide and/or polyethylene.

12) Bag (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that the stack of layers is constituted by at least one layer of polyamide, oriented towards the outside of the bag (2), and covered by at least one layer of polyethylene oriented towards the inside of the saσ (2).

13) Saσ (2) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized by the fact that a layer of a plastic material has a thickness of between 30 and 400 microns, preferably between 50 and 200 microns.

14) Bag (2) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a polyamide layer has a thickness of between 50 and 70 miσrons, preferably approximately equal to 60 miσrons, while a layer polyethylene has a thickness of between 160 and 200 microns, preferably approximately equal to 180 microns.

15) Bag (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that it is made either by modeling with through a die, or by cutting and heat sealing from a film.

16) Saσ (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 15, characterized by the fact that it is provided with means arranged to provide information to, or even to exchange information with, a central unit which comprises the compaσtor ( 3) or which is associated with the latter (3), σthis information being relating to this knowledge (2) and/or its content.

17) Saσ (2) according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that the means arranged to provide or exchange information are constituted by means capable of producing a radio frequency link between said saσ (2) and said central unit, such means being, for example, constituted by at least one transponder or the like associated with the bag (2).