John L. Murray, Jr., CHMM, CSP, CIH Safety Director Baystate Health System Springfield, MA

H2E Teleconference 1

John L. Murray, Jr., CHMM, CSP, CIH

Safety DirectorBaystate Health System

Springfield, MA

Solvent ReclamationAnd Management

At Baystate Medical Center

Hazardous Waste Minimization - Solvent Recovery Systems and

Product Substitution June 11, 2004


Solvent Reclamation and Management\At Baystate Medical Center



Solvent Reclamation

Baystate Medical Center currently operates 5 solvent management units: Two distillation units (stills);two filters; and, a vial crusher to separate wastemethanol and obliterate patient Information.

Estimated savings from these operations is $19,000/yr.


A Brief History

BMC began solvent reclamation in 1980.

The original still was installed to reclaim a xylenefrom wax generated during tissue processing.

A second still was installed in 1990 to recoverethanol from tissue staining.





Xylene Still – Used toreclaim xylene from a solvent/waxsolution.

Originally installed in 1980.

Product is better than the reagentpurchased to replace waste.





COST AVOIDANCE – Xylene Wax Still

Cost avoidance of new product purchase $4,560480 gallons/yr @ $9.50/gallon

Cost avoidance of waste disposal $ 744480 gallons/yr @ $1.55/gallon ______

$5,304

Initial cost - $15,000. The waste wax is disposed of as a flammable solid.





Ethanol Still – Used toreclaim ethanol.

Originally installed in 1990.





COST AVOIDANCE – Ethanol Still



$1,620

Initial cost - $15,000. Waste material disposed of as flammableliquid.





Methanol Filter – Used toreclaim Wright’s Stain.

This gravity fed unit hold6 gallons of stain per fill.

Chromatographic analysis ofreclaimed product matchesnew material with one exception. Reclaimed materialhas a “fruity” odor. Performanceof reclaimed material is good.





COST AVOIDANCE – Methanol Filter


Cost avoidance of waste disposal $2,275 500 gallons/yr @ $4.55/gallon ______

$9,680

Initial cost - $1,400. New filter cost - $500. After 10 months, the quality of the is still acceptable. Specific gravity is checkedas a measure of quality. The filter is disposed of as a flammable solid.





Ethanol Filter – Used toreclaim ethanol in Cytology.

This gravity fed unit holds15 gallons per fill.

Product performanceof reclaimed material is good.Specific gravity is measured for quality control.





COST AVOIDANCE – Ethanol FilterCost avoidance of new product purchase $1,872

360 gallons/yr @ $5.20/gallon


$2,430

Initial cost - $2,000. New Filter Cost - $900. After 6 months, the quality of the is still acceptable. The filter is disposed of as a flammable solid.





Vyleater Vial Crusher – Crushes methanol containingvials to remove liquid anddisfigure patient information.





In 2003, 82,000 vialswere processed. Approximately twogallons per week of liquid waste are generated.





COST AVOIDANCE – Vyleater Vial Crusher

Barrel all vials and dispose of as hazardous wasteEstimated @ 41 drums/year @ $250/drum $10,250

OR

Ergonomic exposure of opening all vials andpouring off the liquid $ !!!!!

Initial cost - $20,000. The liquid waste is disposed of as aflammable liquid. The crushed vials are disposed of as regular trash.





External Influences on Success

Air Permits

Waste Management Scheme





Questions?





Thank you.




Documents

John L. Murray, Jr., CHMM, CSP, CIH Safety Director Baystate Health System Springfield, MA