The Science of Amalgam Separators

AL DubéPresident

Toppen Solutions, LLC69 Roy Avenue

Holliston, MA 01746508-397-9725

ALDube@ToppenSolutions.com

Amalgam Separator Standards

International Standards Organization 11143

American National Standards Institute / American Dental Association 108-2009

EPA Proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category (ELGSDC)

ISO 11143

Solids Standard

Based on weight

Requires certified particle distribution size

Must test 6 times, 3 full / 3 empty

Efficiency based on the lower of the two test sets

95% removal is required to be certified

Types: Type 1 Centrifugal, Type 2 Sedimentation, Type 3 Filtration,

Type 4 any combination of 1,2 and 3

ANSI / ADA (108 / 2009)

Start with ISO 11143

Add a few wrinkles

More rinse water

Loosening in the status of the systems

Proposed ELGSDC

99% ISO, 2008 Standard

Receive all waste containing amalgam (Cuspidors Sinks?)

Inspected by facility once per month to verify functionality (should change) not bypassing.

Grandfather clause 10 years (should change)

Certification Testing

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF currently performing most if not all ISO certifications in the US.

Amalgam SeparatorsWhat is an Amalgam Separator? Solids Collectors

What do they do? Collect all the solids from the evacuation system

in a dental office

How do they do it? Three separation technologies

Manufacturers

What is the manufacturers #1 goal?

Design to beat the standard.

Manufactures specifications?

Capacity? 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years?

It’s all marketing

Manufactures

Air Techniques ApaVia Avprox

DRNA M.A.R.S. MedenteX

Metasys R&D Services Rebec

SolmeteX The Simple Anterior Quest

Separation Technology

Centrifugal: Will not find in the US at this time

Sedimentation: Vast majority in the US

Filtration: Two

Combination: No manufacture will admit to it.

Sedimentation

Air Techniques RebecMedenteX

Sedimentation

M.A.R.S. Metasys SolmeteX

Sedimentation

DRNA R&D Services

ApaVia

Filtration

AvproXThe Simple One

What do Amalgam Separators do?

Pollution Prevention Device

Separate Solids and Liquids

Capture and Collect S0lids

Remove solids to greater than 99% Efficiency

Significantly reduce mercury discharge from dental offices

What “Don’t” Amalgam Separators Do?

Capture specifically mercury

Capture dissolved mercury

Meet discharge limits, Unless you don’t have one.

Cause major issues for the dental practice

Create a major expense for the dental practice

How They Work

Air From

Chairs

Air Bypass

Water Decant

Water

Air

Amalgam

Floaters

Clear vs Black Box

Clear vs Black Box

Clear

Can inspect visually to verify functionality and solids collection volume

Can easily understand how to maintain the system

Allows for ELGSDC inspection requirement

Black Box

Can only see a system is installed

No knowledge of functionality

Could be in bypass

ELGSDC inspection requirement?

Does a window count?

Amalgam Separator Installations

Centrally located vs Chair-Side

Central: Near or next to the vacuum pump, last 6 months - 2 years

Chair-side: Next to the chair in the operatory, “filters”, last about a month.

Designed for # of Chairs

1 Chair

1-6 Chairs

1-10 Chairs

10-20 Chairs

Large Clinics or school

Separator Costs

Manufacture dependent / Size Matters

$150 per Chair for Chair-side units

$300 - $1200 covers 90% of the market

Annual Operational costs $300 - $600

Expect the costs to reduce when and if EPA Dental Rule is applied.

Potential Issues

Filter systems plug fast and need frequent changes because vacuum is pulled through the filter

Central systems can plug and bypass. This is not restricted to certain manufactures

Inspections

Bring Flashlight for clear systems

No flashlight necessary if Black Box

Chair-sides systems in the treatment room

Central systems will be located near the vacuum pump, usually a utility closet or basement

ELGSDC: How can you inspect a Black Box?

Inspection Questions to Ask

How many vacuum users in the practice?

Where is the amalgam separator located, chair or central?

How many users is the separator rated for?

When was the last time the collection container was disposed of?

What evacuation line cleaner are you using?

Waste Disposal

Most separator companies have disposal options through pre-paid labels to recycling centers or staging centers for disposal

Several mercury refining companies in the US one in Europe

Proper Disposal should not be an issue

Dissolved Mercury

Amalgam Separator are not designed to catch dissolved mercury

One company makes the claim by using carbon however limited amount of contact with carbon

Polishing system possible however does not completely remove all mercury

Amalgam separators should get mercury levels to low ppb range

Tank System

Anteriot Quest

Central location never needs

changing

Tank?

Tank systems collect all waste from dental vacuum

Tank contents are pumped out and collected for transport approximately 60 day schedule

Brought to proper facility for disposal

Solid waste is refined

Not available everywhere.

Not ISO or ANSI / ADA 108 / 2009 approved Does it need to be? Meets ELGSDC amalgam definition?

Line Cleaners

Many line cleaners with varying pH

Some have oxidizers

Chemical

Enzymes

Micro Biological

Proposed ELGSDC

pH 6 - 8

Non-bleach / Non- chlorine (Expect a change)

Weekly Cleaning (Should be daily for standard cleaners once to twice a week for micro-biologicals)

Best Management Practice

Collection of scrap amalgam contact and non-contact

Collect waste in chair-side traps

Collect vacuum pump filters

Properly dispose of collection containers

ELGSDC BMP’s

Similar to ADA’s BMP’s

BMP’s would be required in some capacity.

May be the Standard under Dental Industrial Users (DIU)

ELGSDC Status

Public Comment ended Feb 20, 2015

Should be working on replies to comments

An NGO spoke with EPA HQ which stated “EPA will publish its final amalgam rule in June 2016. This is unconfirmed however from a reliable source, don’t holding my breath

No official word and its anyones guess if it happens

Dental Vacuum Flow

Vacuum is negative

No positive pressure

Pulls, not gravity

Flow only when High Speed suction is open

High speed is sporadic

Vacuum lines must be cleaned regularly

Dry vs Wet Vacuum Pumps

Dry Vacuum

Wet Vacuum

Discharges an extra 360 - 520 gpd

VS

Any Water Restrictions?

Tap water is used to operate wet vacuum

Water usage is becoming an issue for states specifically California

What is the water use of wet ring pumps?

Recycle about 1/4 gpm clean tap water

Some have recyclers which cuts water use to 10%, not as frequent

Wet Ring Vacuum

1 hp 360 gpd90,000 gpy

Dual Vac 720 gpd180,000 gpy

Wet Ring Vacuum

2 hp pump 520 gpd130,00 gpy

Dry Vacuum

Dry Vacuum Advantage

Uses no water for operation

More expensive however savings from water usage could pay for the pump (San Fran 14 month payback)

Can be financed for no upfront costs, virtually free

No delusion effect

More power efficient

Separator Work

No questions on the ability to reduce mercury for influent or effluent

Questions?

THANK YOU