Development of equipment for the electrochemical treatment hospital sewage

• Grant number: 02/02196-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: August 01, 2002
• End date: November 30, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Orlando José Bratfich
• Grantee: Orlando José Bratfich

Abstract

Hospital sewage is composed of human dejecta which, since they are in an environment prone to the development of diseases, carry a high number of pathogenic and multi-drug resistant pathogens. Among them we can mention Staphylococos aureus and Enterococos faecalis. Also present in this effluent is the water from washing contaminated materials and the waste from the cleaning of surfaces and floors, among others, particular to hospital activity. The central aim of this project is to transform the process of electrochemical and photo-electrochemical oxidation of hospital sewage into a commercial process which: 1. Does not demand the addition of any chemical reagent or subsequent biological treatment; 2. Does not generate sub-products which require new inertization treatments; 3. Have a faster kinetics than biological treatments; and 4. Occupy a smaller physical space. In phase 1 of the work, electrochemical technology was applied for the treatment of sanitary sewage deriving from the Center for the Complete Care of Women’s Health, annexed to the Hospital de Clínicas of the State University of Campinas, Unicamp. The results were excellent and promoted the inactivation of the pathogeny present in the solution in 10 minutes, using a low density of current. In the second phase a station will be built for the electrochemical treatment of the hospital sewage at the same Center, which will remain in operation during the two years of the project. (AU)