Modular process and compound assembly to render medically contaminated ethylene oxide fit for disposal.

摘要

Following the sterilisation of medical equipment with ethylene dioxide, the gas is rendered suitable for disposal by a compound assembly consisting of two or more stages (1, 1'). Each consists essentially of a sterilisation chamber (SK1-SK6), a gas washer (CO1-CO6) and a gas pump linking the chambers and washers operating in parallel. All the gas washers receive a supply of washing liquid via valves and a feed pump (PS) via a common pipe (2) through a washing fluid preparation stage (4). The washing fluid is discharged from the individual gas washers (CO1-CO6) via a common pipe (3) through valves to a neutralisation system (5). Also claimed is a commensurate disposal process for ethylene oxide.