Global Solutions Enterprise

Chemistry of the Alkaline Hydrolysis Process

• Decontamination

• Sterilization

• Biocontainment

• Break Down of

      Anatomical Waste

      (Animal carcasses)

Hydrolysis is a process whereby chemical bonds are broken by the insertion of water between the atoms in the bond. Hydrolysis can be catalyzed by enzymes, metal salts, acids, or bases. Bases are typically water solutions of alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). Heating the reactants dramatically accelerates the hydrolysis reaction. 

The process thus destroys all of these classes of compounds, reducing them to their building blocks and, in some cases, degrading them even further into smaller molecules. All proteins, regardless of their origin, are destroyed during the alkaline hydrolysis process. 

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Amino acids are linked to each other in a peptide (amide) bond in which the carboxyl group of one amino acid is condensed to the amino group of another amino acid with elimination of water. The resulting polymer is called a polypeptide or protein. All polypeptides consist primarily of the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, along with smaller amounts of other elements, mainly sulfur and phosphorous. Hydrolysis reverses the condensation of amino acids into proteins by the acid- or alkali- catalyzed breaking of the peptide bonds and the addition of water at the break

Tissue Digesters - Alkaline Hydrolysis

BioSAFE Life Sciences' process uses alkaline hydrolysis at elevated temperature and pressure to convert the proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids of all cells and tissues, as well as infectious microorganisms, to a sterile aqueous solution of small peptides, amino acids, sugars, soaps, and electrolytes. The alkali itself is consumed in the process by generating the salts of the hydrolysis products. The only byproducts of the process are the mineral constituents of the bones and teeth of vertebrates. These are soft enough after the organic matter has been degraded to be easily crushed (even by bare hands) and recovered as calcium phosphate powder (sterile bone meal).

This process will:

• Convert animal, human, and microbial tissues into a sterile, neutral, 
  aqueous solution suitable for disposal to a sanitary sewer.

• Sterilize and digests in one operation, reducing waste volume and weight 
  by up to 97% and completely destroying all known pathogens.

• Eliminate radioactivity contaminated tissues and neutralizes toxic fixing agents, 
  cytotoxic agents, and many other toxic compounds.

• Release NO materials to the atmosphere.

• Operate at a fraction of the cost of an incinerator.

Tissue Digesters 

Engineered Systems Capacity:

• 1500 lb Capacity

• 2000-3000 lb Capacity

• 4,000 lb Capacity Mobile

• 4000-6000 lb Capacity

• 7000-10000 lb Capacity

• Cadaver

• 280 lb Tissue Digester/EDS Combo

Standard Systems Capacity:

• 11 lb Capacity

• 30 lb Capacity

• 45 lb Capacity

• 80 lb Capacity

• 200-300 lb Capacity

• 500 lb Capacity

Dehydrator Features Include:

• Scalable for all BioSAFE Engineering Tissue Digester Systems

• Steam-heated

• Collector Tank and Discharge Bin

• Adjustable Processing Rates / Moisture Content

• Operates Autonomously from the Tissue Digester

• Vacuum Odor Control System with 0.2 um Hydrophobic Exhaust Filter

Effluent Decontamination

Effluent Decontamination Systems (EDS) are required to treat all laboratory wastewater/effluent produced within biocontainment boundaries. This effluent typically originates from the laboratory sinks, showers, floor drains, and autoclaves. EDS are recommended, and/or required by law, across the world for facilities classified as Bio-safety Level 3 and Level 4 (BSL-3 and 4).

Effluent Decontamination Systems use a combination of heat and pressure to ensure that any potentially dangerous microbiological agents in the effluent are destroyed before release to the public sewer. Effluent Decontamination Systems can operate as continuous or as a continuous-batch process, the latter of which is the chosen standard for our systems due to the inherent safety control and containment advantages. 

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 BioSAFE Life Sciences also produce stand alone EDS. We offer a wide selection of configurations and capacities and are designed to treat thousands of gallons per day. EDS can be sized for any facility from a single laboratory room to a large multi-user facility. We also offer a unique "prion cycle" feature, incorporating our patented Alkaline Hydrolysis technology, for the safe disposal of potentially TSE infected effluent.