SHIPBOARD MEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM

THIS PROJECT IS DIRECTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SHIPBOARD MEDICAL WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MUST MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF A LAND-BASED SYSTEM, PLUS THOSE ABOARD A NAVAL VESSEL. THE LATTER HAS THE GREATER PREMIUM ON SPACE, THE GREATER NEED FOR RELIABILITY OF OPERATION AND EASE OF REPAIR, AND THE EVEN GREATER REQUIREMENT FOR SAFETY AND PREVENTION OF INFECTION. TO MEET THESE OBJECTIVES WE HAVE SELECTED A MECHANICAL-CHEMICAL TREATMENT SYSTEM WHICH SATURATES THE WASTE WITH A HIGH-LEVEL DISINFECTANT, SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE, AND PULVERIZES IT INTO SAND-LIKE PARTICLES IN A ULTRA HIGH-SPEED HAMMERMILL. THIS REDUCES THE VOLUME AS MUCH AS 10 FOLD. THIS EQUIPMENT FOR LAND-BASED SYSTEMS HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND EMPLOYED WITH SATISFACTION IN HOSPITALS. IN THIS RESEARCH WE WILL DEVISE A SYSTEM FOR SHIPBOARD USE BASED ON THIS PRINCIPLE. WE WILL (1) DEVELOP DESIGNS FOR REDUCING SPACE REQUIREMENTS OF THE APPARATUS, (2) GENERATE THE DISINFECTANT ON BOARD FROM SALT WATER AS NEEDED SO IT WILL NOT HAVE TO BE STORED, AND (3) IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE OPERATION BY DEVELOPING A SPECIAL SHREDDING MACHINE THAT WILL PERMIT THE HAMMERMILL TO MORE RAPIDLY DISINTEGRATE WASTES THAT TAKE LONGER TO GRIND.