Oct 20 2009
Pharmafilter BV, a bioenergy technology company based in Amsterdam, has selected Mirel bioplastics for a suite of disposable products for hospital use. Pharmafilter BV is currently commercializing its patented Pharmafilter system as a cleaner, more efficient way for hospitals and the healthcare industry to reduce contaminated solid waste, food, and wastewater through anaerobic digestion. The Pharmafilter process reduces solid waste first through a grinding station and then through a series of purification steps, including anaerobic digestion. Outputs are biogas for fuel or power generation, biomass for energy conversion, and clean water.
The initial range of single use products to be made from Mirel include: service ware items, bed pans and trash bags. Use of such disposable products made from Mirel can mitigate the need for reusable items, thus reducing human contact with contaminated service ware and its related safety concerns. Mirel products will be disposed of along with the hospital and healthcare wastes, and fed to the Pharmafilter system. The initial pilot project is scheduled to begin operation in March 2010 at Delft Hospital in Amsterdam.
"We selected Mirel because it fits right into our system," said Eduardo Van Den Berg, CEO of Pharmafilter BV. "Mirel has the performance properties for single-use plastic service applications and it is biobased and biodegradable, so it is the most appropriate solution for the Pharmafilter process."
"Mirel's broad range of applications and biodegradation properties make it an ideal product to integrate with anaerobic digestion systems for waste disposal and bioenergy production," said Bob Engle, General Manager, Telles. "We are excited about our role in this innovative process for the conversion of potentially harmful waste products into bioenergy. In addition to the primary use of Mirel as a biobased plastic for high performance service ware and packaging, Mirel may offer a secondary value as an energy source arising from its disposal through anaerobic digestion."