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Title: AN ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS TISSUE DIGESTION SYSTEM FOR A BSL-3-AG CONTAINMENT FACILITY

Author
item MUTH, MARK - USDA, ARS, ABADRL
item HUNT, GREGG - USDA, ARS, ABADRL
item Schmidtmann, Edward

Submitted to: Anthology of Biosafety, VI: Arththropod-Borne Diseases
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2003
Publication Date: 11/28/2003
Citation: Muth, M.R., Hunt, G.J., Schmidtmann, E.T. 2003. An alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion system for a bsl-3-ag containment facility. Anthology of Biosafety, VI: Arththropod-Borne Diseases.

Interpretive Summary: For personnel at the Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory (ABADRL) to work safely with animal pathogens, arthropod vectors, and livestock, the renovation and construction of a Biosafety Level (BSL) 3-AG containment facility was initiated in 1985 and completed in 1991. In addition, a meticulous insect security plan was established in 1994. The ABADRL research program requires a technology for sterilization of any conceivable pathogen, since no one can predict what types of animal disease agents might be encountered in the future. Because of significant costs for upgrading the antiquated pathologic waste incinerator and for complying with stringent clean air regulations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the ABADRL installed equipment in 2000 using the latest technology for the destruction of pathogen-infected animal carcasses and related infectious materials. This technology uses alkaline hydrolysis at an elevated temperature to digest animal tissues and infectious materials into a sterile, aqueous solution that is suitable for disposal into a sanitary system. The advantages of this system include the absence of air pollution, no adverse affect on the operation of a wastewater treatment facility, neutralization of unwanted acidic conditions that are normally created during the sewage biodegradation process, reduction in operational costs, and complete biocontainment of infectious materials during most failure modes. This chapter reviews an alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion system capable of processing up to 680.4 kilograms of animal tissue per cycle that was installed, tested, and operated at the ABADRL BSL-3-AG containment facility since 2000. Numerous problems (e.g., with the electrical, steam, water, programming, and holding tanks for the liquid effluent) were encountered during the installation, testing, and operation of the tissue digestion system. All of these problems were corrected by ABADRL and manufacturer personnel. Subsequently, acceptable levels of various parameters [e.g., inorganics (pH), metals, organics (biochemical oxygen demand or BOD), and total suspended solids] for the discharge of an industrial liquid effluent into a wastewater treatment facility had to be achieved for the USDA to receive an industrial wastewater contribution permit from the City Department of Public Works. An independent testing laboratory detected unacceptable levels for the pH, BOD, and total suspended solids in which ABADRL personnel made adjustments in the amounts of chemical (sodium hydroxide) being added during the digestion process, the effluent was regulated and monitored for a continuous flow rate, and batch discharges were eliminated and, again, the effluent was regulated and monitored for a continuous flow rate. Afterwards, the Department of Public Works issued an industrial wastewater contribution permit that authorized the USDA to discharge decontaminated industrial wastewater from the ABADRL BSL-3-AG containment facility into the City Wastewater Utility system. The alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion system represents safe and efficient technology that replaced the decommissioned pathologic waste incinerator for the destruction of pathogen-infected animal carcasses. Reductive cremation by alkaline hydrolysis provides a new sterilization tool for personnel to work safely with animal pathogens and large livestock during studies of arthropod-borne animal diseases. For future plans, a larger tissue digestion system capable of handling up to 3,175.1 kilograms of large animal carcasses (without dismemberment) is required for the ABADRL BSL-3-AG containment facility and other large-animal research facilities. Also, forthcoming tests will use potassium hydroxide as an alternative to sodium hydroxide because potassium hydroxide facilitates the suspension of solids at a lower temperature duri

Technical Abstract: An alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion system was installed at the Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory (ABADRL) Biosafety Level (BSL) 3-AG containment facility in 2000 to replace the antiquated pathologic waste incinerator because of significant costs for upgrading this incinerator and for complying with stringent clean air regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency. The tissue digestion system is capable of destroying up to 680.4 kilograms of pathogen-infected animal carcasses and related infectious materials per cycle. Numerous problems with the electrical, holding tanks, liquid effluent (e.g., pH, biochemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids), programming, steam, and water were encountered and, then, corrected during the installation, testing, and operation of the tissue digestion system. Afterwards, the USDA received an industrial wastewater contribution permit from the City Department of Public Works to discharge sterile industrial liquid effluent into the wastewater treatment facility. Reductive cremation by the alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion system represents safe and efficient technology that replaced the decommissioned pathologic waste incinerator for the destruction of pathogen-infected animal carcasses. The advantages of this system include the absence of air pollution, no adverse affect on the operation of a wastewater treatment facility, neutralization of unwanted acidic conditions that are normally created during the sewage biodegradation process, reduction in operational costs, and complete biocontainment of infectious materials during most failure modes. A larger tissue digestion system capable of processing up to 3,175.1 kilograms of large animal carcasses (without dismemberment) would be required for the ABADRL BSL-3-AG containment facility and other large-animal research facilities.