Technologies in the Control of Legionella€¦ · ECAS4 Water Disinfection Systems Engineering for Health and Hygiene Disinfecting approaches: pros & cons (2/2) system cons Thermal

Engineering for Health and Hygiene ECAS4 Water Disinfection Systems

Presented by • Antony Amorico – Ecas4 Director Australia Supported by • Sergio Ferro – Electrochemist, University of Ferrara, Italy

Technologies in the

Control of Legionella

Mimicking Nature’s Way:

Biofilms predator - Hypochlorous Acid


Presentation Overview Understanding Bio Film structures Disinfection Approaches - Pros & Cons HOCl - Relationship to nature and Biofilm destruction Ecas4 Technology and the Active Anolyte solution Hospital Installations and equipment requirements Hospital- Disinfection results Legionella detection limits - Australian vs European Conclusion


Microorganisms & Biofilms: of what are we talking about?

Microorganism: any organism too small to be viewed by the unaided eye, as bacteria, protozoa, and some fungi and algae.

Biofilm: a thin layer of microorganisms adhering to the surface of a structure, which may be organic or inorganic, together with the polymers that they secrete.

[microbiology] a slimy matrix of extracellular polymeric substances produced by bacteria which protects them when aggregated, as in dental plaque, the in ear, intestine, skin, etc.


A hint from the scientific literature

Science, vol. 284, pp. 1318-1322 (1999)


Antimicrobial agents and biofilm

Science, vol. 284, pp. 1318-1322 (1999)


Biofilm: structure and composition

I.W. Sutherland, TRENDS in Microbiology, vol. 9, pp. 222-227 (2001)


Reactivity of the various components: Microbial cells (1/2)

Table 1 (in the paper) reports evidences for 31 aerobic/facultative bacteria, 12 anaerobic bacteria, 7 bacterial spores, and 3 eukaryotes.


Reactivity of the various components: Microbial cells (2/2)

Among the different target organisms, those listed below are typically of particular concern: Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp Staphylococcus spp. (MRSA), Streptococcus spp. Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium difficile Aspergillus spp., Candida spp., Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts


Reactivity of the various components: Proteins (1/2)

Proteins are large complex molecules, consisting of one or more long chains of aminoacidic residues:


Reactivity of the various components: Proteins (2/2)

Amino- and sulfur- functional groups, as well as peptide bonds (–C(=O)–NH–) are particularly sensitive to oxidation:


Reactivity of the various components: DNA, RNA

DNA and RNA are biopolymers (polynucleotides) composed by nitrogen-containing molecules, monosaccharide molecules and phosphate groups:

As seen for proteins, amino-groups can be attacked by an oxidizing agent

RNA


Reactivity of the various components: Polysaccharides (2/2)

Contrary to hypochlorite, which only allows a conversion (partial oxidation) of the sugar molecules, but in the form of Hypochlorous acid it is able to completely mineralize the various substrates (i.e., it converts them into carbon dioxide and water) Experimental evidences are available in the literature: • “Action of chlorine on cellulose”, Tappi 49, 310 (1966)

• “Identification of the adsorbed intermediate of the electrooxidation of chloride by the CV technique” Electrochim. Acta 41, 2917 (1996)

• “Electrochemical incineration of glucose as a model organic substrate. Role of active chlorine mediation”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 147, 592 (2000)

• “Anodic mineralization of organic substrates in chloride-containing aqueous media”, Electrochim. Acta 46, 305 (2000

• “Electrosynthesis of dehydrocholic acid from cholic acid”, J. Appl. Electrochem. 30, 995-998 (2000)

• “Electrochemical incineration in the presence of halides”, Electrochem. Solid-State Lett. 8, D35 (2005)

• “Green electrochemical approach for delignification of wheat straw in second-generation bioethanol production”, Energy Environ. Sci. 4, 551 (2011)


Disinfecting approaches: pros & cons (1/2)

system Effects on microorganisms Effects on biofilm

Thermal treatment ++ (temporary) - Chlorination (NaClO) + - Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) +++ ++ Copper / Silver ions ++ - Ozone ++ (temporary) - Chloro-amines ++ + Filtering ++ - UV radiations + - Hydrogen peroxide ++ (temporary) + Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) +++ +++


Disinfecting approaches: pros & cons (2/2)

system cons

Thermal treatment high energy costs, damage to pipes, burns, no residual effects

Chlorination (NaClO) chlorinated byproducts, chlorates

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) chlorites, damage to pipes, doesn’t work in hot water

Copper / Silver ions loss of potability, no residual effects

Ozone high costs, no residual effects

Chloro-amines low efficacy

Filtering high costs, no residual effects

UV radiations high costs, no residual effects

Hydrogen peroxide low efficacy, no residual effects

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) none (newest approach) effective - in Cold, Warm and Hot water systems


A new (old) active agent: hypochlorous acid

Phagocytes deliberately generate Oxygen O2

●-, Hydrogen Peroxide H2O2 and Hypochlorous Acid. These chemical compounds are used to inactivate bacteria and viruses. The “reactive oxygen metabolites” (ROMs) can oxidize lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and other macromolecules, causing tissue damage and cell death.

How nature does it?


At first, (white blood cells) are responsible for destroying foreign substances or, at least, for limiting the disease; their action is based on phagocytosis, and on the cytotoxic activity of hypochlorous acid, which is produced with the aid of an enzyme (myeloperoxidase) through a reaction involving hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chloride anions.

Our immune systems defense levels


The human body produces hypochlorous acid naturally to fight against bacteria and pathogens; the Ecas4 reactor mirrors our body’s defence system

Once hypochlorous acid is introduced into water systems, it is able to destroy and remove biofilm from the pipe networks and eradicate microorganisms effectively.

So what is the connection to natures way.?


Why not “copy” natures way?

There is no evidence of mutagenicity / carcinogenicity M.K. Bruch in Disinfection by sodium hypochlorites: dialysis applications,

C. Ronco and G.J. Mishkin (Eds.), Contributions to Nephrology vol. 154, Karger AG, Basel (Switzerland), 2007

“industrial” electrochemical reactors allow to operate safely, while optimizing the process yield


Electrolysis of dilute brine solutions (chlorine and oxygen evolution reactions)

�

�

o

o2 2

2Cl + 2

2H O O + 4H + 4

e

e2Cl

� �2Cl + OH + ClHOCl

+2 3HOCl + H O + H O-ClO

Anode reactions:

Equilibria in solution:

Cathode reaction: o -OH2 22H O + 2e H + 2

o

o


Ecas4 – the secret lies in the Reactor (1/2)

Actually, various approaches exist, which are all based on electrochemical cells, provided with or without a separator.

However, only a few of them allow the synthesis of a biocide solution under controlled and well reproducible conditions.


Our patented technology relies upon a reactor with four chambers; it represents the optimized outcome of the original research as previously mentioned, focused on the electrochemical activation of water, and it allows the production of the so-called Anolyte: a solution containing HOCl, at a rigorously neutral pH.

Ecas4 – Reactor (2/2)


Ecas4: It’s a water solution containing HOCl

The active hypochlorous acid solution is produced just before utilization through an electrochemical synthesis (electrolysis of a diluted brine solution).

HOCl has a Higher disinfectant efficacy, with respect to ClO− At around 80 times more; see e.g., S.D. Faust, O.M. Aly, Chemistry of Water Treatment, 2nd ed.; Lewis Publishers: New York, USA, 1998; pp. 509-517

Contrary to other forms of so-called active chlorine (i.e., hypochlorite and gaseous chlorine), the HOCl molecule is rather unstable, and cannot be synthesized or stored for long periods and used at request.


So the Legionella detection limits in Australia are not as rigorous as the European standards. As a result, the success of the Ecas4 technology obtained overseas must be regarded as particularly significant.

Drinking Water guidelines: Australia vs. Overseas Australian Legionella detection limits are 10 cfu/mL using 50-100 mL water sample European, Legionella detection limits 10 cfu/L with greater than 1 Litre water samples and most regulations are based on 1-10 cfu/L

Testing samples are 1000 times lower than in Australia


Reference list – Italy

“S. Andrea” Hospital, Vercelli 250 beds (280 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS80

“C. Besta” National Neurological Institute, Milan 220 beds (250 m3/d water) Installed machine: 2×WDS80


“Villa Igea” Private Hospital, Ancona 100 beds (45 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS40

“Cardinal Massaia” Hospital, Asti 471 beds Installed machines: 4×WDS80 + 1×WDS40




“Maria Vittoria” Hospital, Turin 302 beds Installed machine: 1×WDS80

“Camilliani” Hospital, Casoria (NA) 90 beds (40 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS80


“San Camillo Forlanini” Hospital, Roma 90 beds (50 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS40

Leno Hospital (BS) 80 beds (140 m3/d water) Installed machines: 2×WDS80



“Santo Spirito” Private Hospital, Bressanone (BZ) 105 beds Installed machine: 1×WDS80

Muraglia Hospital (PU) 100 beds (100 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS40




“Quisisana” Private Hospital, Ostellato (FE) 120 beds Installed machine: 1×WDS40

“Santa Croce” Hospital, Fano (PU) 290 beds (200 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS40


Rosenheim Clinic (D) Installed machines: 2×WDS80

“St. Hubertus” Medical Park Bad Wiessee (D) 125 beds Installed machine: 1×WDS40

Reference list – Germany


Donostia-San Sebastián Hospital (E) 1172 beds (750 m3/d water) Installed machines: 5×WDS80

Basurto Hospital, Bilbao (E) 200 beds (136 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS80

Reference list – Spain


Reference list – hotels

Hotel Admiral Park, Bologna (I) 120 beds (40 m3/d water) Installed machine: 1×WDS80

Hotel Ghironi, La Spezia (I) 104 beds Installed machine: 1×WDS40


Reference list – Food processing, flowers, cosmetics

Center for treatment of Mussels, Oristano (I) Installed machine: 1×WDS80

Agricola Campidanese, Terralba (I) Installed machine: 1×WDS80

Dostofarm Westerstede (D) Installed machines: 2×WDS80

Adelaide (AU) Installed machines: 2×WDS80

Colep Laupheim, Lauphen (D) Installed machines: 2×WDS80


Example 1: “Marche Nord” Hospitals, Pesaro (I)

“S. Salvatore” hospital

Muraglia hospital

“Santa Croce” hospital


The hospital has 373 beds and 1,281 employees; the area of installation comprises 240 beds, with an average daily consumption of cold water that amounts to a 150 m3

(two separated systems)

“S. Salvatore” Hospital, Pesaro (I)


Installation 1×WDS40

2nd dosing unit


“S. Salvatore” Hospital, Pesaro (I)

The hospital was initially managed through periodic hyper-chlorination. The installation treats both the cold water system (even if it generally does not represent a problem for Legionella) and the hot water system; In the former network (CWS), the Anolyte solution is dosed in such a way to obtain a residual chlorine content of about 0.3 mg/L on distal points . Regarding the HWS, the anolyte is typically dosed at about 0.5 mg/L.


Muraglia Hospital, Pesaro (I)

This establishment comprises 100 beds, with an average daily consumption of cold water that amounts to a 100 m3

It has two separate dosing systems.



2nd dosing unit

The hospital was initially managed through a Chlorine Dioxide equipment (manufactured by XXXXX) with two storage tanks (3+3 m3).


Santa Croce Hospital, Pesaro (I)

The hospital has 290 beds and 768 employees; the water treated with Ecas Anolyte comprises 270 beds, with an average daily consumption of cold water that amounts to a 200 m3

The hospital was initially managed with four separate systems: three of them were based on Chlorine dioxide ClO2. disinfection agent.




Typical Set-up remote monitoring


Results obtained at the Muraglia hospital

As previously anticipated, this healthcare facility was initially managed through a chlorine dioxide system, which was repeatedly modified in order to optimize its functioning. Unfortunately, results have never been satisfactory. Looking for a better solution, the Medical Direction decided to test the ECAS technology, which was implemented in pavilion n. 5 on November 2013. Water samples were collected monthly from 22 different sites distributed within the three levels of the pavilion, starting on November 20:



Lines show the number of samples that were above the indicated thresholds (100, 1.000 and 10.000 CFU/L)



All tendencies show a clear decrease of the contamination: in most cases, Legionella colonies were eradicated after 5-6 months of operation.






New installation (in progress): “Ospedale del Mare”, Napoli


New installation (in progress): “Ospedale del Mare”, Napoli

The hospital comprises about 460 beds, with an average daily consumption of cold water estimated in a 600 m3.

The thermal power plant comprises 4 boilers (5 m3 each); the flow rate under recirculation (HWS) amounts to 48 m3/h. Installed machines: 2×WDS80

The ECAS Anolyte will be dosed on both the cold and hot water systems, in such a way to guarantee 0.2 mg/L of residual chlorine within the CWS, and 0.2-0.3 mg/L of residual biocide at distal points in the case of the HWS.


Ecas4 systems have been successfully installed in major hospitals, university clinics, on ferries, in hotels and in swimming pools.

We have acquired a considerable expertise in dealing the issues related to water disinfection.

Ecas4

Legionella Eliminates Legionella in hot & cold water systems.

Biofilm Eliminates Biofilm in network pipe systems.

Cooling Tower Eradicates Legionella from cooling tower water network.

Air Sanitiser Nebulisation: sanitises Air and working area to maintain CIP areas. Hospital air-ducts.

ECAS4 Systems in Healthcare Facilities


• Mimics natural occurring immune defence mechanism

• Non toxic / Non Corrosive / Non Hazardous

• Has no synthetic chemical residue • Destroys & Removes Biofilms • Replaces all disinfecting agents • Effective in Cold, Warm and Hot water • Verified Results by Australian Water Quality Centre Drinking water Standard AS/NZS 4020

Electro-Chemical Disinfection


Ecas4 technologies challenge all current disinfecting systems The Equipment and systems are easy to work with, fully Automated, Completely Safe, Reliable and able to be electronically and remotely monitored. Reduce maintenance and infrastructure replacement costs Energy Saving No requirements for Hyper Chlorination.





WSD 80


WSD 40



Ecas4 – Anolyte Nebulisation (MRI)


Nebulisation - Dry Fog


Air & Electric Room Nebulisers



We had been advised…

Today’s problems cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when we created them

Albert Einstein


Presented by • Antony Amorico – Ecas4 Director Australia Supported by • Sergio Ferro – Electrochemist, University of Ferrara, Italy

Technologies in the Control of Legionella

mimicking Nature: the potentialities

of hypochlorous acid


Contact us Unit 8 / 1 London Road Mile End South Adelaide 5031 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


the Ecas4 equipment – the main apparatus


the Ecas4 equipment – the softener


the Ecas4 equipment – the dosing pump


the Ecas4 equipment – the counter


the Ecas4 equipment – the injection point

Thermostatic probe

injection of

anolyte


the Ecas4 equipment – the chlorine meter

filter

chlorine meter

chlorine probe


the Ecas4 equipment – the chlorine probe


the Ecas4 equipment – remote monitoring

Documents

Technologies in the Control of Legionella€¦ · ECAS4 Water Disinfection Systems Engineering for Health and Hygiene Disinfecting approaches: pros & cons (2/2) system cons Thermal