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Chapter 6 Metal recovery from biomedical waste: prospects and Perspectives

  • Hemanga Kumar Das and Shivangee Solanki
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Biomedical Waste Management
This chapter is in the book Biomedical Waste Management

Abstract

Comprehensive global analytical statistics indicate a positive correlation between population expansion and the unrestrained accumulation of biomedical waste (BMW) generated predominantly from research centers, healthcare facilities, and laboratories affiliated with hospitals, alternatively referred as “healthcare waste.” In the face of grave risk imposed by hazardous biomedical waste, concerns over health, human welfare, and environmental safety for current as well as forthcoming generations have grown substantially. A spike in BMW due to massive disease breakouts has an adverse bearing on the quality of natural resources (water, air, and soil) as they contain heavy metals, animal tissue residues, body fluids, etc. which additionally makes BMW potentially infectious and pathologically toxic. In particular, bottom ash from incinerated BMW contains lethal concentration of, but not limited to, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cr, Ca, etc. which demand to be disposed of responsibly. Thus, the debate over biomedical waste management (BMWM) has emerged as a subject of prime significance, legal obligation, and social duty garnering major attention of researchers to be on the lookout for proficient BMWM strategies. This systemic review intends to highlight conventional methodologies for salvaging metals from BMW and the innovation of cutting-edge technologies to address their shortcomings. Modern thermal plasma technology, hydrometallurgy, and others have proven to be potent candidates to efficiently extract heavy metals and bolster protection against metal toxicants of the local community. Furthermore, this study elucidates the underlying mechanisms, their pragmatic utilities, and prospective insights into the future of recovery of heavy metals from biomedical waste.

Abstract

Comprehensive global analytical statistics indicate a positive correlation between population expansion and the unrestrained accumulation of biomedical waste (BMW) generated predominantly from research centers, healthcare facilities, and laboratories affiliated with hospitals, alternatively referred as “healthcare waste.” In the face of grave risk imposed by hazardous biomedical waste, concerns over health, human welfare, and environmental safety for current as well as forthcoming generations have grown substantially. A spike in BMW due to massive disease breakouts has an adverse bearing on the quality of natural resources (water, air, and soil) as they contain heavy metals, animal tissue residues, body fluids, etc. which additionally makes BMW potentially infectious and pathologically toxic. In particular, bottom ash from incinerated BMW contains lethal concentration of, but not limited to, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cr, Ca, etc. which demand to be disposed of responsibly. Thus, the debate over biomedical waste management (BMWM) has emerged as a subject of prime significance, legal obligation, and social duty garnering major attention of researchers to be on the lookout for proficient BMWM strategies. This systemic review intends to highlight conventional methodologies for salvaging metals from BMW and the innovation of cutting-edge technologies to address their shortcomings. Modern thermal plasma technology, hydrometallurgy, and others have proven to be potent candidates to efficiently extract heavy metals and bolster protection against metal toxicants of the local community. Furthermore, this study elucidates the underlying mechanisms, their pragmatic utilities, and prospective insights into the future of recovery of heavy metals from biomedical waste.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. List of contributing authors IX
  4. Chapter 1 Current status of biomedical waste generation in the world 1
  5. Chapter 2 Conventional and modern biomedical waste management technologies 15
  6. Chapter 3 Biomedical waste management: challenges and opportunities 39
  7. Chapter 4 Technological advancements for biomedical waste management 51
  8. Chapter 5 Segregation of biomedical waste: methodologies and importance 65
  9. Chapter 6 Metal recovery from biomedical waste: prospects and Perspectives 85
  10. Chapter 7 Biomedical waste treatment and energy generation 103
  11. Chapter 8 Biomedical waste and bioenergy: prospects and challenges 115
  12. Chapter 9 Utilization of biomedical waste as construction substitute 131
  13. Chapter 10 Segregation of biomedical waste: methodologies and importance 147
  14. Chapter 11 Biomedical waste management strategies: prospects and future scenario 161
  15. Chapter 12 The significance of information technology in enhancing revenue generation from biomedical waste management 179
  16. Chapter 13 Economics and market scenario of biomedical waste management 193
  17. Chapter 14 Biomedical waste: economics and market trends 207
  18. Chapter 15 Government initiatives and futuristic plans for waste management and revenue generation 219
  19. Chapter 16 Biomedical waste: environmental impacts and sustainable management 231
  20. Chapter 17 Environmental impact of diverse biomedical waste and their sustainable management strategies 261
  21. Chapter 18 Recovery of silver from used X-ray film for Sphingomonas paucimobilis MX8 273
  22. Index 283
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111305288-006

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. List of contributing authors IX
  4. Chapter 1 Current status of biomedical waste generation in the world 1
  5. Chapter 2 Conventional and modern biomedical waste management technologies 15
  6. Chapter 3 Biomedical waste management: challenges and opportunities 39
  7. Chapter 4 Technological advancements for biomedical waste management 51
  8. Chapter 5 Segregation of biomedical waste: methodologies and importance 65
  9. Chapter 6 Metal recovery from biomedical waste: prospects and Perspectives 85
  10. Chapter 7 Biomedical waste treatment and energy generation 103
  11. Chapter 8 Biomedical waste and bioenergy: prospects and challenges 115
  12. Chapter 9 Utilization of biomedical waste as construction substitute 131
  13. Chapter 10 Segregation of biomedical waste: methodologies and importance 147
  14. Chapter 11 Biomedical waste management strategies: prospects and future scenario 161
  15. Chapter 12 The significance of information technology in enhancing revenue generation from biomedical waste management 179
  16. Chapter 13 Economics and market scenario of biomedical waste management 193
  17. Chapter 14 Biomedical waste: economics and market trends 207
  18. Chapter 15 Government initiatives and futuristic plans for waste management and revenue generation 219
  19. Chapter 16 Biomedical waste: environmental impacts and sustainable management 231
  20. Chapter 17 Environmental impact of diverse biomedical waste and their sustainable management strategies 261
  21. Chapter 18 Recovery of silver from used X-ray film for Sphingomonas paucimobilis MX8 273
  22. Index 283
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