Share thisAs we venture into this second article, let us recap briefly. Alkaline hydrolysis has been used to treat animal carcasses for over 100 years, was approved in the 1970s and documented in the Federal Register, and today, with many enhancements, it is used in biocontainment as an approved method to not only reduce animal waste but to also provide sterilization.
Dr. Gordon Kaye modernized the technology in 1992 at the University of Albany along with Dr. Peter Weber, constructing a unit for the treatment of their facility tissue waste. The technology, somewhat crude in comparison to modern systems, continues to process waste and prove functionality of the technology.
It was after the success of Dr. Kaye and Dr. Weber’s early testing and the development of a company to supply the alkaline hydrolysis technology that several lower classification containment labs began using the digester system for the treatment of their waste streams. Older technology, such as rendering equipment at the Winnipeg BSL-4 lab, can still be found in operation (without the use of caustic), and of course many facilities continue to use incineration while a handful of others to continue to use landfill.
What does all this lead to?
All forms of waste treatment have been approved for the waste classification that is being generated through their laboratories. However, new technology is advancing to meet higher demands being placed on labs based on the waste classification and environmental issues. The process selection now may involve dealing with the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). The EPA is placing more stringent requirements for the use of incinerators or landfill, while guidelines are placing more stringent requirements on assurance of sterilization to avoid the release of a select agent.
Evaluating a System
So how do you evaluate which system is right for you? One of the first steps is to have a seasoned consultant on your team who is either up to speed on the available options or can complete a detailed investigation on the technologies, keeping in mind what potential modifications or design issues you may be faced with, development of a load profile, material handling, byproducts from waste treatment selected, safeguards, and security. The list of qualified consulting architectural and engineering firms is actually a small group in the U.S. and Canada that have solid experience in biocontainment and these technologies.