| Category/Subcategory |
Laboratory Chemicals and Equipment
Solvent Recovery Equipment
Dr. Russell Mankes, Associate Professor of the Albany Medical Center points out that Formaldehyde is an EPA regulated hazardous waste (RCRA-U122) if it is in the original container or is not spent. Waste from tissue processors or spent fixative may not be
RCRA regulated, but in most areas cannot be discharged to sewers as it adversely affects the bacterial sewage treatment.
Besides, Dr. Mankes asks, why would you want to pour money down the drain? Formaldehyde for fixation of tissues is expensive. The Albany Medical College has been recycling formalin since 1995. Between 1995 and 2004, they recycled
~40,000 pounds of formaldehyde waste in one 5 gallon capacity recycling unit. The original equipment cost of ~$10,000
resulted in avoiding $185,000 in disposal costs and $142,000 in chemical purchase costs. Even for a small hospital, this is
economically beneficial.
Thanks to Dr. Mankes for sharing this information |
| Product & Manufacturer |
Comments |
B/R Solvent Recycler
B/R Instrument Corporation
800-922-9206
brsales@brinstrument.com
http://www.brinstrument.com
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- B/R Instrument offers a variety of equipment for recycling waste solvents from the histology and pathology laboratories
- Models are available for recycling formalin, xylene, xylene substitute and alcohol
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| Product & Manufacturer |
Comments |
CBG Biotech Solvent Recycler
CBG Biotech
800-941-9484
http://www.cbgbiotech.com
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- CBG Biotech Recyclers process xylene, xylene substitutes, alcohols, formalin, acetone, and other solvents
- Contact the manufacturer for detailed information on performance capabilities and safety standards
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| Product & Manufacturer |
Comments |
S&G Enterprises, Inc. Vyleater Vial Crusher
S&G Enterprises, Inc.
(888) 726-3528
http://www.vyleater.com/
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- Hospitals report using the Vyleater Vial Crusher to crush methanol containing vials (e.g. thin prep for Pap Smears) in order to remove liquid and disfigure patient information. In some cases, this has allowed hospitals to become small quantity generators, rather than large quantity generators.
- A great variety of vials from one quarter to two inches in diameter with metal tops or ornamental closures can be destroyed with ease. The vials may be plastic or in some cases, glass with a plastic coating. Volume reduction is achieved by not only removing the liquid contents but in some cases allowing the remaining plastic to be disposed of as solid waste. Complete destruction is possible with the Enhanced Vyleater as it destroys any identification labels that may contain sensitive product or patient information.
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| Product & Manufacturer |
Comments |
Suncycle Technologies Inc. Alcohol Recycling Cartridges
Suncycle Technologies, Inc.
866-786-2925
http://www.suncycletech.com
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- Suncycle Technologies, Inc. has developed the Gravity Recycling Alcohol Cartridge (GRAC) system and the Gravity Recycling Alcohol Cartridge for Tissue Processors (GRAC-TP) system. There are three major components; the "dirty" alcohol container, the GRAC filter cartridge, and the "recycled" alcohol container, which are all connected by hoses. Dirty alcohol is simply poured into the "Dirty Alcohol" container. Gravity does the rest of the work of processing the alcohol through the GRAC filter cartridge and collecting it into the "Recycled Alcohol" container. Unattended processing time is approximately 45-60 minutes per gallon (60-75 minutes per gallon for the GRAC-TP). Each GRAC filter cartridge is capable of processing 100-150 gallons of alcohol.
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| Product & Manufacturer |
Comments |
Triangle Biomedical Sciences Solvent Recyclers
Triangle Biomedical Sciences
919-384-9393
http://www.trianglebiomedical.com
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- TBS offers a line of recycling equipment for the laboratory to recover xylene, alcohol, or formalin.
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