Thorough Disinfection Ensures Worry-Free Hospital Sewage Treatment

In the medical field, the treatment of wastewater is a crucial task. Hospital sewage not only contains a large amount of organic pollutants but also potentially carries various pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. If discharged without effective treatment, it can pose severe threats to both the environment and public health. Therefore, the core of hospital sewage treatment lies in effective disinfection to ensure safe wastewater discharge and sustainable environmental development.

Characteristics of Hospital Sewage

Hospital sewage primarily originates from various departments, including clinics, laboratories, wards, and laundries. Its composition is complex, containing organic pollutants, pathogenic microorganisms, viruses, and even radioactive substances. This wastewater is characterized by spatial pollution, acute infectivity, and latent transmissibility. Without proper treatment, it can become a significant pathway for the spread of epidemics and a major source of environmental pollution.

Importance of Disinfection in Hospital Sewage Treatment

Disinfection is the core process of hospital sewage treatment, aimed at eliminating pathogenic microorganisms and viruses from wastewater to prevent disease transmission and environmental contamination. Common disinfection methods include physical, chemical, and biological disinfection.

• Physical Disinfection Methods: These involve techniques such as heat treatment, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and ozone disinfection. Physical methods destroy the cell structures or nucleic acids of microorganisms, rendering them inactive. While these methods are simple to operate and produce no secondary pollution, their effectiveness may be influenced by equipment performance and treatment duration.

  
  

• Chemical Disinfection Methods: Chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and sodium hypochlorite are widely used. These disinfectants react rapidly with pathogens in wastewater, destroying their cell structures or nucleic acids to achieve disinfection. Chemical disinfection is highly effective and fast-acting but may produce by-products and secondary pollution.

  
  

• Biological Disinfection Methods: Biological treatment utilizes microorganisms to degrade organic pollutants and pathogens in wastewater through metabolic activities. This method is environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, but it requires a longer processing time and is sensitive to water quality and temperature.

  
  

In hospital sewage treatment, the choice of disinfection method should be based on factors such as wastewater characteristics, treatment scale, and equipment conditions. Additionally, to ensure effective disinfection, the following considerations should be kept in mind:

• The dosage of chlorine powder for disinfectant should be determined based on the level of wastewater contamination and disinfection requirements, ensuring sufficient contact time for effective disinfection.

  
  

• The chlorine powder for disinfectant must comply with relevant national standards and regulations to avoid the use of harmful disinfectants.

  
  

• Strict control over operating conditions is essential to maintain stable and reliable disinfection results.

  
  

• Post-disinfection water quality should be tested to ensure compliance with discharge standards.

  
  

Application of Disinfection Technologies in Hospital Sewage Treatment

With the increasing emphasis on environmental protection and technological advancements, disinfection technologies for hospital sewage treatment are continuously evolving. Common disinfection technologies include biological degradation, UV disinfection, and ozone disinfection.

• Biological Degradation: This involves aeration devices introducing oxygen into the wastewater, facilitating the oxidation and decomposition of organic pollutants and pathogens by microorganisms. This method is effective and stable but requires a large treatment area and is sensitive to water quality and temperature.

  
  

• UV Disinfection Technology: UV radiation is used to damage the nucleic acid structure of pathogens, rendering them inactive. This method is simple to operate and produces no secondary pollution. However, it is affected by suspended solids concentration and requires adequate UV dosage.

  
  

• Ozone Disinfection Technology: Ozone's strong oxidative properties effectively destroy the cell structures of pathogens. This method provides excellent disinfection results and produces no by-products. However, it involves higher equipment and operational costs.

  
  

In practice, the selection of an appropriate disinfection technology or a combination of multiple methods depends on the actual condition of hospital sewage and treatment requirements. Furthermore, enhancing the construction and management of sewage treatment facilities is essential to ensure the safe treatment and discharge of hospital sewage.