Inactivation of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores by alkaline hydrolysis applied to medical waste treatment

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2015

Autores

Sílvia C. Pinho (Autor) FEUP; Olga C. Nunes (Autor) FEUP; Alexandre Lobo da Cunha (Autor) Outra; Manuel F. Almeida (Autor) FEUP

Revista

Título: Journal of Environmental Management

Vol. 161

Páginas: 51-56

ISSN: 0301-4797

Editora: Elsevier

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citações

Scopus - 10 Citações

Classificação Científica

CORDIS: Ciências Naturais > Ciências biológicas > Biologia > Biologia ambiental ; Ciências Tecnológicas > Tecnologia > Tecnologia ambiental

FOS: Ciências da engenharia e tecnologias > Engenharia do ambiente ; Ciências exactas e naturais > Ciências biológicas

Projetos Associados

PTDC/SAU-SAP/114855/2009 - Hidrólise alcalina de resíduos hospitalares infecciosos

LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00G-CHG

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.06.045

Abstract (EN): Although alkaline hydrolysis treatment emerges as an alternative disinfection/sterilization method for medical waste, information on its effects on the inactivation of biological indicators is scarce. The effects of alkaline treatment on the resistance of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores were investigated and the influence of temperature (80 degrees C, 100 degrees C and 110 degrees C) and NaOH concentration was evaluated. In addition, spore inactivation in the presence of animal tissues and discarded medical components, used as surrogate of medical waste, was also assessed. The effectiveness of the alkaline treatment was carried out by determination of survival curves and D-values. No significant differences were seen in D-values obtained at 80 degrees C and 100 degrees C for NaOH concentrations of 0.5 M and 0.75 M. The D-values obtained at 110 degrees C (2.3-0.5 min) were approximately 3 times lower than those at 100 degrees C (8.8-1.6 min). Independent of the presence of animal tissues and discarded medical components, 6 log10 reduction times varied between 66 and 5 min at 100 degrees C-0.1 M NaOH and 110 degrees C-1 M NaOH, respectively. The alkaline treatment may be used in future as a disinfection or sterilization alternative method for contaminated waste.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 6