COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF TWO AND THREE CHAMBERED INCINERATORS FOR HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Hospitals are established and operated for providing healthcare services to physically and mentally unhealthy human beings. Such facilities, therefore, generate more amount of waste than normal domestic waste. Environmental regulations promulgated in Pakistan during 2005, make it a binding on concerned authorities for proper management & disposal of hospital waste. Hospital Waste Management (HWM) is core to the function of a healthy society but unfortunately, the disposal of hospital waste in the developing countries like Pakistan is inappropriate and prone to sickening the environment and community rather than curing. The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of two different types of incinerators installed at site A & B in order to fulfil the requirements of waste management rules. Incinerator A operates in the temperature ranges < 800oC while incinerator B operates in the ranges of 600 to 1200oC. Working capacity of these Incinerators is 45 kg/hr and 150 kg/hr respectively. To compare working efficiency, segregated waste types (plastics, mix waste and pathological waste) were incinerated alone and in combination at different temperatures to observe gas emissions and ash content along with its composition using XRF. The flue gases produced were analysed through flue gas analyzer Model Testo S-350 at the designated emission points. Emissions observed during incineration showed that incinerator “A” produced more CO emissions (4050 mg/m3) than incinerator “B” (762 mg/m3) in case of Pathological waste, whereas NOx and SO2 remained within NEQs limits in both cases. Ash analysis showed its pH of basic in nature due to higher Calcium Oxide (CaO) concentration which was further confirmed in both cases using XRF. Moreover; quantity of ash produced after incineration was 11% and 4% for incinerator A & B, respectively which confirms that three chambered setup is suitable for meeting the HWM rules in the country.