Technical principle and characteristics of autoclave system for medical waste
For medical waste that will be disposed of, autoclaves can be used as heat treatment processing units to destroy microorganisms before disposal in a traditional landfill or further treatment. Autoclaves are a batch process, not a continuous one. Autoclaves are "chemical free" and that appeals to many stakeholders in a complex waste management environment.
Autoclaves are best for wastes that are unlikely to combust or give off substantial off-gas. While incinerators can be built with pollution abatement systems, autoclaves are smaller and it is not economical to unit make a treatment system for vapors emitting from the unit.
Autoclaved medical waste is usually compacted after it cools down. The compaction process may include shredding before the compression. The compaction process reduces the volume of the treated waste significantly.
Are autoclaves a substitute for incineration? Yes, to a large extent. Autoclaves can be used to process the large bulk of infectious waste produced at a hospital or clinic. Autoclaves come in a wide range of sizes and capacities. If you have steam in your facility, you can hook it up to a steam autoclave.