Astell units sterilise contaminated lab waste

Published: 9-Jun-2010
Manufacturing Sustainability Regulatory

Astell markets liquid waste treatment plants for Category 3 and 4 labs

Autoclave and steriliser manufacturer, Astell, has introduced a range of contaminated liquid waste containment and treatment plants for Category 3 and 4 laboratories, including veterinary and medical research, pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare.

Current legislation requires that all waste water from sinks, washrooms, sanitary installations and similar facilities within these designated areas have to be sterilised prior to discharge to sewer. The Astell units cover capacities from 100 to 5000 litres of liquid waste per day.

In the standard batch processing unit, liquid waste is collected in a stainless steel jacketed containment tank. When the radar level controller detects that the tank is full, the heat sterilisation sequence starts automatically.

Heating is by steam supplied either from the unit’s integral steam generator or from an external source. Once the sequence is complete, the sterilised effluent is discharged to sewer using compressed air.

Continuous processing units are provided with two tanks. The first tank is filled as in the batch operation, and commences sterilisation. Influent liquid waste is then diverted to the second tank. When the sterilisation sequence is complete, the tank remains idle until the second tank is full. In this way effluent collection is continuous so there is no delay to laboratory operations.

Each tank is fully contained and all connections are above liquid level eliminating dangerous and costly leaks. A vent filter ensures that no microbial contaminants can be discharged with air or vapour. Access to the fully programmable controller is via Astell’s PIN protected, full colour touch screen which displays cycle information and has facilities for data archiving and ethernet monitoring.

Astell offers full project assistance including an initial site survey to ascertain the volume of waste and advise the best treatment method, detailed engineering proposals, manufacture, delivery and installation of the equipment and IQ and OQ validation packages.

See more

You may also like

Containment

Biocontainment facilities: Down the drain

Read more
Graham Scarr, Technical Director of AstellBio, discusses approaches to effluent decontamination in containment level 2 and level 3 facilities

Trending Articles

  1. SCIEX expands integrated software ecosystem with six mass spectrometry workflow collaborations The firm has announced six software collaborations designed to unify instrument control, data processing and compliance within a single analytical environment, with more partnerships set to be revealed at ASMS 2026
  2. BioNTech to cut up to 1860 jobs and end COVID vaccine production in Germany The German biotech has announced it will cease production at its manufacturing sites in Germany and Singapore in its Q1 earnings report, cutting up to 22% of its workforce in the process as it pivots from COVID-19 vaccines to oncology
  3. FDA issues first cGMP warning letter citing AI misuse in pharmaceutical manufacturing A Michigan-based lab has become the subject of the FDA's first dedicated enforcement action on artificial intelligence misuse in drug manufacturing — a landmark event with far-reaching implications for cGMP compliance across the pharmaceutical supply chain
  4. Amarox recalls sertraline batch after citalopram blister strips found inside sealed cartons The MHRA has issued a class two recall of one batch of Amarox's sertraline 100 mg film-coated tablets following a secondary packaging error that resulted in citalopram 40 mg blister strips being included in sealed cartons

Upcoming event

CHEMUK 2026

20–21 May 2026 | Conference and Exhibition | Birmingham, UK See all

You may also like

Containment

Biocontainment facilities: Down the drain

Graham Scarr, Technical Director of AstellBio, discusses approaches to effluent decontamination in containment level 2 and level 3 facilities
Manufacturing

Astell helps the fight against cancer

Astell Scientific, the UK’s leading supplier of autoclaves, is helping to ensure the safety and reliability of laboratory work at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Manufacturing

Astell expands steam generator range

Free-standing models designed with peak demand in mind
Regulatory

E for Essential

E range autoclaves from Astell offer a small price tag and a small footprint
Manufacturing

Domino demonstrates an integrated approach to next-generation coding at Interpack 2026

At Interpack 2026, Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) will focus on the key challenges manufacturers face as variable data printing enters a new era shaped by 2D codes, intelligent automation, sustainability, and growing traceability demands. Domino specialists will be available throughout the show to highlight integrated solutions designed to work together on the factory floor – developed in collaboration with key industry partners to help to reduce complexity, risk, and operational friction for manufacturers
Manufacturing

Bristol Myers Squibb licenses Lonza ADC linker-payload technology for undisclosed target

BMS has secured exclusive access to Lonza’s SYNtecan linker-payload platform, alongside GlycoConnect and HydraSpace technologies, to advance development of an antibody-drug conjugate against an undisclosed target
Manufacturing

Former Catalent Chair and CEO George Fotiades joins eXmoor Pharma board as Chair

Angela Osborne steps back from operational duties and continues as Founder and Board Director, providing strategic continuity as eXmoor builds the leadership depth to support its expanding integrated CDMO model
Subscribe now