Medical Waste Treatment Technologies for Energy, Fuels, and Materials Production: A Review

The importance of medical waste management has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increase in medical waste quantity and the significant dangers of these highly infected wastes for human health and the environment. This innovative review focuses on the possibility of materials, gas/liquid/solid fuels, thermal energy, and electric power production from medical waste fractions. Appropriate and promising treatment/disposal technologies, such as (i) acid hydrolysis, (ii) acid/enzymatic hydrolysis, (iii) anaerobic digestion, (vi) autoclaving, (v) enzymatic oxidation, (vi) hydrothermal carbonization/treatment, (vii) incineration/steam heat recovery system, (viii) pyrolysis/Rankine cycle, (ix) rotary kiln treatment, (x) microwave/steam sterilization, (xi) plasma gasification/melting, (xii) sulfonation, (xiii) batch reactor thermal cracking, and (xiv) torrefaction, were investigated. The medical waste generation data were collected according to numerous researchers from various countries, and divided into gross medical waste and hazardous medical waste. Moreover, the medical wastes were separated into categories and types according to the international literature and the medical waste fractions’ percentages were estimated. The capability of the examined medical waste treatment technologies to produce energy, fuels, and materials, and eliminate the medical waste management problem, was very promising with regard to the near future.

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Medical waste management

Serbian Journal of Engineering Management ◽

10.5937/sjem2101030k ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 30-36

Author(s):

Milan Krivokuća

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Waste Disposal ◽

Reduction Potential ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Medical Waste ◽

Economic Advantage ◽

Integrated Method ◽

Medical Waste Management ◽

Hierarchical Management

Medical waste management is of great importance for people and the environment. Irresponsible management and classification of medical waste can lead to environmental hazards and cause health risks to both employees and patients. Traditional waste disposal on landfills are the most common form of waste disposal in our country, although the authors see the most efficient incineration solution as a more appropriate method or an integrated method of hierarchical management from the generation stage to waste treatment, which brings economic advantage and risk reduction potential damages. In order to live in harmony with the environment, the problem of waste disposal must be recognized as one of the important tasks of all structures involved in its creation and disposal.

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A sustainable medical waste collection and transportation model for pandemics

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x211000437 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2110004

Author(s):

Erfan Babaee Tirkolaee ◽

Nadi Serhan Aydın

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Medical Waste ◽

Service Organizations ◽

Management Problem ◽

Environmental Aspects ◽

Public Service Organizations ◽

Management Policies ◽

Medical Waste Management ◽

And Control ◽

Practical Implications

We are currently experiencing a critical period for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 related waste is a threat to global public environmental health. Medical waste management during this pandemic is one of the major issues facing public service organizations such as municipalities, which is of great importance in terms of logistics, environment and social aspects. The discussion of logistics operations is related to the collection, transportation and disposal of waste, which imposes high expenses. Many methods have been applied to develop and improve waste management policies in the literature. Apart from these studies, very few researchers have improved vehicle operations in waste management considering environmental aspects and the possibility of outsourcing. In this paper, by examining the gaps in the field, we try to explain and formulate the sustainable medical waste management problem for pandemics. Finally, by designing several practical examples with different scales, we solve the problem using CPLEX solver, compare different conditions and discuss the practical implications using the sensitivity analysis of demand parameter.

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Sustainable waste management of medical waste in African developing countries: A narrative review

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x211029175 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2110291

Author(s):

Jade Megan Chisholm ◽

Reza Zamani ◽

Abdelazim M Negm ◽

Noha Said ◽

Mahmoud M Abdel daiem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Medical Waste ◽

Decision Makers ◽

National Guidelines ◽

African Countries ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Medical Waste Management ◽

Treatment And Disposal ◽

The Right

Africa is the second populous continent, and its population has the fastest growing rate. Some African countries are still plagued by poverty, poor sanitary conditions and limited resources, such as clean drinking water, food supply, electricity, and effective waste management systems. Underfunded healthcare systems, poor training and lack of awareness of policies and legislations on handling medical waste have led to increased improper handling of waste within hospitals, healthcare facilities and transportation and storage of medical waste. Some countries, including Ethiopia, Botswana, Nigeria and Algeria, do not have national guidelines in place to adhere to the correct disposal of such wastage. Incineration is often the favoured disposal method due to the rapid diminishment of up to 90% of waste, as well as production of heat for boilers or for energy production. This type of method – if not applying the right technologies – potentially creates hazardous risks of its own, such as harmful emissions and residuals. In this study, the sustainability aspects of medical waste management in Africa were reviewed to present resilient solutions for health and environment protection for the next generation in Africa. The findings of this research introduce policies, possible advices and solutions associated with sustainability and medical waste management that can support decision-makers in developing strategies for the sustainability by using the eco-friendly technologies for efficient medical waste treatment and disposal methods and also can serve as a link between the healthcare system, decision-makers, and stakeholders in developing health policies and programmes.

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Analysis of medical waste management and impact analysis of COVID-19 on its generation in Taiwan

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x21996803 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2199680

Author(s):

Wen-Tien Tsai

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Impact Analysis ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Medical Waste ◽

Medical Services ◽

Waste Generation ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Rate Of Increase ◽

Medical Waste Management ◽

The Impact

Medical waste management in Taiwan is a crucial issue due to its highly environmental and human health risks. The main objectives of this paper were to analyse the status of medical waste generation and treatment in recent years, and also address the discussions on the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on its generation in the first half of 2020. It showed that the reported quantities have slightly increased from 35,747 metric tonnes (Mt) in 2016 to 40,407 Mt in 2019, showing an average increase by 4.17%. This rate of increase was consistent with the hospital services. When classified by the reported codes, the C-type waste (infectious waste) accounted for about 89% of the reported quantities, which indicated an annual increase by 4.14% during the same period. In addition, the medical waste treatment in 2019 was mainly dependent on the commissioned treatment (80.18%), followed by the recycling (18.53%) and the self-treatment (1.29%). Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the medical waste generation in Taiwan was not significant in the first half of 2020 compared to the data during the years of 2016–2019. It was indicated that the consistent trend was observed at the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan during this period. Obviously, the reduction in the hospital medical services during the COVID-19 outbreak should be offset by the increase in medical waste generation from the medical services. In order to try to ensure safe and complete destruction of the COVID-19 virus, all the waste generated from the healthcare facilities should be treated in the incineration plants.

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RESULTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN 6 PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS HIGHLAND AREA 2011-2013

Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy ◽

10.34071/jmp.2016.1.13 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 101-108

Author(s):

Duy Tao Tran ◽

Trong Si Hoang

Keyword(s):

Waste Water ◽

Radioactive Waste ◽

Waste Management ◽

Environmental Monitoring ◽

Monitoring And Evaluation ◽

Medical Waste ◽

Contamination Rate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical Waste Management ◽

Central Highlands

Objective: Monitoring and evaluation of air environmental quality, waste water and medical waste management activities in some hospitals in the Central Highlands. Research Methodology: Cross-sectional descriptive survey was deployed in 6 provincial hospitals of the Central Highlands in 7th- 8th months every year for 3 years, 2011, 2012, 2013. Observing the process of waste management in hospitals, weighing the medical solid waste generated daily, sampling and environmental monitoring of air, water waste samples after treatment of hospitals. Findings: The percentage of substandard sample of radioactive 2011 was 5.88%, in 2012 was 5%, 2013 was 0.02%. Mainly in dose laboratories, rinse the nuclear medicine department, hatch covers radioactive waste storage. 100% of the air sample of wastewater treatment areas have NO2 target and 60% of SO2 target sample have not reached allowed regulations. The atmosphere at the garbage area hospitals in Kon Tum and Lam Dong provinces through 2 years of monitoring in 2012, 2013 exceeded SO2 target standards. Monitoring results incinerator emissions sample at 3 hospitals: Kontum, Gia Lai, Dak Nong in 3 years reached Regulations allow. The observation sample treated waste water of the hospital in 2013 with low contamination rate than in 2011 and 2012 in terms of physics and chemistry. Particularly criteria Total coliforms 3 years are from 40-50% of samples exceeded standards. Regarding waste management, the results of monitoring in 2013 showed that 60% of faculties have sharps instruments and 20% of the faculties have satisfactory utensils anatomical waste. 59.48% of the faculties have the guidelines for waste separation. Condition misclassified not many and occur in two hospitals Gia Lai, Dak Lak. Only Lam Dong hospitals have waste transportation vehicles secured closed during transport. The amount of waste / beds / 24 hours is 1.097kg. In particular infectious waste is 0.26kg. Only two hospitals in Daklak, Lam Dong has generated radioactive waste with a total of 0.9 kg/day. Key words: Medical waste, medical waste management.

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A Review of Medical Waste Management in South Africa

Open Environmental Sciences ◽

10.2174/1876325101810010034 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 34-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olaniyi FC ◽

Ogola JS ◽

Tshitangano TG

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Waste Management ◽

South African ◽

Management Practice ◽

National Policy ◽

Medical Waste ◽

African Government ◽

The Past ◽

Government Documents ◽

Medical Waste Management

Background:Poor medical waste management has been implicated in an increase in the number of epidemics and waste-related diseases in the past years. South Africa is resource-constrained in the management of medical waste.Objectives:A review of studies regarding medical waste management in South Africa in the past decade was undertaken to explore the practices of medical waste management and the challenges being faced by stakeholders.Method:Published articles, South African government documents, reports of hospital surveys, unpublished theses and dissertations were consulted, analysed and synthesised. The studies employed quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods and documented comparable results from all provinces.Results:The absence of a national policy to guide the medical waste management practice in the provinces was identified as the principal problem. Poor practices were reported across the country from the point of medical waste generation to disposal, as well as non-enforcement of guidelines in the provinces where they exit. The authorized disposal sites nationally are currently unable to cope with the enormous amount of the medical waste being generated and illegal dumping of the waste in unapproved sites have been reported. The challenges range from lack of adequate facilities for temporary storage of waste to final disposal.Conclusion:These challenges must be addressed and the practices corrected to forestall the adverse effects of poorly managed medical waste on the country. There is a need to develop a medical waste policy to assist in the management of such waste.

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