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Autoclaves for Medical Waste

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An autoclave is a sealed chamber that applies heat, pressure and steam. Autoclaves are used for sterilizing medical equipment such as surgical knives, forceps and clamps. They’re also used to sterilize medical waste prior to disposal in landfills or before further treatment. The waste is sterilized in batches, as it’s not a continuous process. One of the advantages of autoclaving is that it uses no chemicals.

Autoclaving is best done on waste that won’t combust or give off too much gas when heated. Incinerators are made with pollution control systems, but autoclaves are too small for this so it’s not economical to treat the gases being emitted from the unit. This can lead to a problem of aerosolized chemicals being released into the facility and the environment.

Once the medical waste has been autoclaved it is normally cooled and then compacted. It is sometimes shredded before compaction takes place. This greatly reduces the volume.

Autoclaves are a viable substitute for incinerators for the bulk of infectious waste produced in a healthcare facility. They’re available in a large range of sizes. If your facility already has a source of steam, it can be connected to the autoclave. If not, you’ll need to produce steam by heating with electricity.