Aspen Plus designing and optimizing the hospital wastewater treatment by wet air oxidation method

Abstract

Healthcare establishments, pharma industries, and medical laboratories generate various waste materials, collectively called hospital or healthcare waste. Waste management regulations differ depending on the laws and acts adopted by the authorities and their level of compliance. For instance, in the United States of America, hospitals follow the rules set by the Environmental Protection Agency. In Europe, hospitals adhere to guidelines and standards set by the European Environmental Agency, while globally, the World Health Organization has established standardized policies and regulations. As a result, waste treatment technologies have become more prevalent for making medical waste non-infectious. These treatments include thermal treatment using microwave technologies (e.g., Wet air oxidation), steam sterilization, electro-pyrolysis, and chemical and mechanical systems. This research aims to model the treatment of hospital wastewater by wet air oxidation method using Aspen Plus for the first time in Lebanon. The simulation showed that the reaction conversion yield for thiols or mercaptans was 89.7% and 83.8% for sodium hydrosulfide, and the COD and BOD5 levels were reduced by 79.1% and 88%, respectively.