Application of Sterilization Process for Inactivation of Bacillus Stearothermophilus in Biomedical Waste and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions

This study investigated the biomedical waste collection, transportation, and treatment activities in the city of Kocaeli, Turkey. As an alternative to incineration technology, a steam autoclave was used to sterilize the biomedical waste. Information regarding the collection, transportation, treatment and associated greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) were also investigated. Prior to sterilization, biological indicator vials containing Bacillus stearothermophilus were placed in the center of the load to ensure that the pathogens were destroyed. GHG emissions were calculated based on the fuel consumed by the biomedical waste collection vehicles and the electricity/natural gas used at the sterilization plant. Results of this work revealed that the total biomedical waste generated per year increased from 1362 tons in 2009 to 2375 tons in 2019. The amount of biomedical waste generated per hospital bed was determined as 1.19 kg.bed−1.day−1. Results show that for efficient sterilization of biomedical wastes, the steam treatment system process should be operated at a contact time of 45 min, a temperature of 150 °C, and at a steam pressure of 5 bar. Biological indicator tests showed that the number of living Bacillus stearothermophilus decreased significantly, with removal rates greater than 6log10. Finally, it was determined that the biomedical waste management activities generated a total of GHG emissions of 5573 ton CO2 equivalency (tCO2-e) from 2009 to 2019. Furthermore, the average global warming factor (GWF) was calculated to be 0.269 tCO2-e per ton of biomedical waste generated. This study showed that the sterilization process is very effective in destroying the pathogens and the management of biomedical waste generates considerable amounts of GHG emissions.