Introduction

Hospitals in the Netherlands generate approximately 1.3 million kg of waste from the polypropylene (PP) wrapping paper (WP) used to wrap surgical instruments each year. The aim of this study was to develop a method to recycle WP waste into new medical devices.

Methods

WP was recovered from Maasstad Hospital, Netherlands. The WP was melted into bars, granulated, and mixed with virgin material at different ratios and temperatures. Dog bones were injection-molded from volume (v.%) virgin, mixed (%R), and recycled (100%R) granulate, and a tensile testing machine was used to compare the material properties before and after ten disinfection cycles at the sterilization department. Then, 25 instrument openers were made from the 50%R material and circulated for four weeks.

Results

The data indicated no significant differences in the mechanical properties at different melting temperatures. For dog bones made from the 100%R, 50%R, and virgin granulate, the Young's moduli were 1021 (SD13), 879 (SD13), and 795 (SD14) MPa, and the strains were 8%, 12%, and 14%. Ten disinfection cycles did not significantly change the material properties. After one month, the openers did not show any deterioration or damage other than surface scratches.

Discussion

The results indicated that the initial WP melting temperature did not influence the mechanical properties. Although devices could be produced directly from the recycled WP granulate, increasing the recycled granulate in the mix ratio increased the strength and brittleness.

Conclusions

It is feasible to recycle WP waste into a high-quality raw material for the injection molding of medical devices without using additives. This would allow hospitals to become more compliant with the circular economy enabling economically viable and circular processes that positively contribute to cleaner technical processes, sustainable products, and the reduction of medical waste.

中文翻译：

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手术废物再处理：使用手术室回收的蓝色包装纸注塑成型

介绍

荷兰的医院每年从用于包装手术器械的聚丙烯 (PP) 包装纸 (WP) 中产生大约 130 万公斤废物。本研究的目的是开发一种将 WP 废物回收到新医疗设备中的方法。

方法

WP 是从荷兰马斯塔德医院回收的。可湿性粉剂被熔化成条，造粒，并以不同的比例和温度与原始材料混合。狗骨由体积 (v.%) 的原始、混合 (%R) 和回收 (100%R) 颗粒注塑成型，并使用拉伸试验机比较 10 次消毒循环前后的材料性能灭菌部门。然后，由 50%R 材料制成 25 个仪器开启器并循环使用 4 周。

结果

数据表明不同熔化温度下的机械性能没有显着差异。对于由 100%R、50%R 和原始颗粒制成的狗骨，杨氏模量分别为 1021 (SD13)、879 (SD13) 和 795 (SD14) MPa，应变分别为 8%、12% 和14%。十次消毒循环没有显着改变材料特性。一个月后，开瓶器除了表面划痕外没有表现出任何变质或损坏。

讨论

结果表明初始可湿性粉剂熔化温度不影响机械性能。虽然设备可以直接由回收的可湿性粉剂颗粒生产，但增加回收颗粒的混合比例会增加强度和脆性。

结论

在不使用添加剂的情况下，将可湿性粉剂废料回收为用于医疗器械注塑成型的优质原材料是可行的。这将使医院更加适应循环经济，从而实现经济上可行的循环过程，为更清洁的技术过程、可持续产品和减少医疗废物做出积极贡献。