Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have conducted a study on the fate and transport of viruses through compacted natural clays for pathogenic waste disposal. The study, published in the esteemed American Chemical Society journal Langmuir, offers a promising solution to the growing challenge of managing pathogenic waste, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Significance of Proper Pathogenic Waste Management
Table of Contents
Biomedical waste (BMW) with viruses poses serious threats to human health, food safety, animal well-being, and the environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a surge of hazardous waste from hospitals and isolation centers, requiring immediate attention and specialized management.Unfortunately, during the pandemic, COVID-19 waste was often treated similarly to municipal solid waste (MSW) and disposed of in existing MSW landfills. This practice raised concerns because geosynthetic landfill liners can become ineffective in the presence of landfill leachate containing high-concentration salt solutions. As a result, infectious viral pathogens could escape from such facilities and potentially cause secondary infections in humans. Thus, there is an urgent need for proper management and safe disposal protocols for pathogenic waste.
Innovative Study by IIT: Research Findings on Compacted Clays
The study conducted by IIT-Guwahati researchers investigated the behavior of viruses in compacted clays such as bentonite and kaolin, which have different surface charge densities. They utilized the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as a surrogate for the coronavirus and examined its interactions with the clays. The research findings revealed that viral decay was faster on bentonite compared to kaolin clay. The removal efficiency of the NDV depended on the quality of bentonite and the multilayer sorption of the virus on clay surfaces.
Implications and Benefits of the Study
The experimental evidence from this study showed a 99.6% reduction in viral contamination and very low diffusion rates when using compacted clays like bentonite and kaolin. These findings indicate that both bentonite and kaolin clays in powdered form can effectively prevent viral contamination from entering the environment. Therefore, the study suggests that compacted clays can be used as liners in biomedical waste facilities or as a protective layer for pathogenic waste in closed containers, which can then be disposed of in existing MSW landfills.
The study’s implications extend beyond addressing the disposal of pathogenic waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also offers insights into waste management during outbreaks of diseases like Newcastle disease in poultry. The proposed handling protocol involves utilizing compacted powder bentonite or kaolin clays as liners in biomedical waste facilities or placing pathogenic waste in closed containers with these clays before disposing of them in existing MSW landfills.
The research conducted by IIT-Guwahati scientists sheds light on the efficiency of using compacted clays, such as bentonite and kaolin, for containing viral waste and preventing its spread. This study provides valuable experimental evidence that can aid in the development of proper management and safe disposal protocols for pathogenic waste, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of diseases like Newcastle disease. By employing compacted clays in waste disposal practices, the risks associated with viral contamination can be significantly mitigated, safeguarding human health, animal health, and the environment.
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