CES Technology employs tightly- controlled operating temperatures, sufficient to ensure thermal breakdown of materials and destruction of pathogens. Conversion is accomplished without pre-processing, making it an ideal solution for disposing of medical, laboratory and other forms of biohazardous waste, as well as disposal of confiscated drugs and related materials. Importantly, CES systems are capable of simultaneously and efficiently handling a broad spectrum of wastes including cytotoxic cancer medications, medical records and materials containing patient information, as well as high energy materials not suitable for standard incineration. In addition, the gradual application heat in an oxygen-controlled environment allows CES Technology to safely process waste regardless of packaging. For example, the CES process breaks down the seals in aerosol containers, releasing contents for thermal processing before sufficient pressure builds that might cause containers to explode. CES has safely processed waste in aerosol containers, metal tubes, foil packaging, as well as bagged solid waste, syringes, and tubing.
Processing High Energy Waste
Precise oxygen control in the CES Gasification Module prevents combustion and excessive thermal release, allowing even highly concentrated drugs and lab wastes to be processed safely. CES has already successfully tested its system with loads of purified chemical compounds. Although these substances burn at temperatures of several thousand degrees, the controlled oxygen environment of the CES Gasification Module precludes burning and gasification occurs normally between 800 and 1600°F. Syngas from this process is delivered to the Oxidizer Module, ensuring complete thermal destruction of these compounds.
Cytotoxic Drugs
Cytotoxic drugs are used extensively in the treatment of cancer. These compounds are both highly toxic and resistant to thermal breakdown. As a result, autoclaving and single stage incineration methods are not recommended methods. (Autoclaving does not achieve high enough temperatures to destroy these substances and single stage incineration may allow air dispersion of contaminants without fully destroying their toxic chemical makeup). The CES 3-chamber thermal destruction process is consistent with, and exceeds, the standards established by the World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health for destruction of cytotoxic drugs and contaminated materials. For additional information see: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/unwantpharm.pdf
HIPAA ( 45 CFR 164.530(c))
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, requires that health care providers implement reasonable safeguards to ensure the privacy of Protected Health Information. The CES process thermally destroys all paper, plastic or other media that might contain Protected Health Information. At the completion of the cool-down cycle, the only remaining materials are recyclable metal and glass, and a small quantity of ash. For additional information, see: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/enforcement/examples/disposalfaqs.pdf
Controlled Substances (21 CFR Parts 1300 to 1399)
Controlled substances must be destroyed so that they are beyond reclamation and two healthcare professionals must document the destruction. These include Schedule I drugs that have no accepted medical use such as heroin and cocaine, Schedule II drugs that are used medically but have a high potential for abuse such as morphine, and Schedule III, IV, and V drugs that have lower abuse potential such as sedatives and cough suppressants. Since hospitals and other agencies no longer generally have ready access to incinerators in which to burn these drugs, small quantities are often disposed of via the sewer system. In larger quantities, such as laboratory waste, or contraband materials seized by law enforcement, destroying controlled substances is a significant issue. CES presents a new alternative that avoids the contaminant risk of single-stage incineration but is scaled to meet the needs of hospitals, labs and law enforcement.
The CES Solution: Clean,Efficient, Compact and Portable
The number of medical waste incinerators in the United States has declined drastically from 6,200 in 1988, to less than 100 today. Eliminating on-site destruction means that hospitals, labs and law enforcement now bear significant costs in transporting, storing, and providing security for these substances. CES offers small-scale versions of its technology that are ideally suited to reduce these costs and provide an on-site or near-site destruction capability that is clean and efficient.
Processing High Energy Waste
Precise oxygen control in the CES Gasification Module prevents combustion and excessive thermal release, allowing even highly concentrated drugs and lab wastes to be processed safely. CES has already successfully tested its system with loads of purified chemical compounds. Although these substances burn at temperatures of several thousand degrees, the controlled oxygen environment of the CES Gasification Module precludes burning and gasification occurs normally between 800 and 1600°F. Syngas from this process is delivered to the Oxidizer Module, ensuring complete thermal destruction of these compounds.
Cytotoxic Drugs
Cytotoxic drugs are used extensively in the treatment of cancer. These compounds are both highly toxic and resistant to thermal breakdown. As a result, autoclaving and single stage incineration methods are not recommended methods. (Autoclaving does not achieve high enough temperatures to destroy these substances and single stage incineration may allow air dispersion of contaminants without fully destroying their toxic chemical makeup). The CES 3-chamber thermal destruction process is consistent with, and exceeds, the standards established by the World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health for destruction of cytotoxic drugs and contaminated materials. For additional information see: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/unwantpharm.pdf
HIPAA ( 45 CFR 164.530(c))
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, requires that health care providers implement reasonable safeguards to ensure the privacy of Protected Health Information. The CES process thermally destroys all paper, plastic or other media that might contain Protected Health Information. At the completion of the cool-down cycle, the only remaining materials are recyclable metal and glass, and a small quantity of ash. For additional information, see: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/enforcement/examples/disposalfaqs.pdf
Controlled Substances (21 CFR Parts 1300 to 1399)
Controlled substances must be destroyed so that they are beyond reclamation and two healthcare professionals must document the destruction. These include Schedule I drugs that have no accepted medical use such as heroin and cocaine, Schedule II drugs that are used medically but have a high potential for abuse such as morphine, and Schedule III, IV, and V drugs that have lower abuse potential such as sedatives and cough suppressants. Since hospitals and other agencies no longer generally have ready access to incinerators in which to burn these drugs, small quantities are often disposed of via the sewer system. In larger quantities, such as laboratory waste, or contraband materials seized by law enforcement, destroying controlled substances is a significant issue. CES presents a new alternative that avoids the contaminant risk of single-stage incineration but is scaled to meet the needs of hospitals, labs and law enforcement.
The CES Solution: Clean,Efficient, Compact and Portable
The number of medical waste incinerators in the United States has declined drastically from 6,200 in 1988, to less than 100 today. Eliminating on-site destruction means that hospitals, labs and law enforcement now bear significant costs in transporting, storing, and providing security for these substances. CES offers small-scale versions of its technology that are ideally suited to reduce these costs and provide an on-site or near-site destruction capability that is clean and efficient.
The CES Medical, Laboratory & Contraband Waste Destruction Process
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