A Dutch hospital is looking for new methods and ideas to sustainably process their chemical waste liquids from their test laboratories

Summary

A large Dutch hospital, with various locations, implements a sustainable policy for their laboratory operations and is seeking partners with sustainable solutions and technologies for the liquid waste streams coming from their test laboratories. They are seeking solutions from industry or academia, that have some experience with labs, chemicals, recycling and environmental technologies to collaborate via technical cooperation agreement.

Description

A large Dutch hospital, with various locations, originated from a merger in 2015. By bundling knowledge and expertise, the hospital strengthens what they have been doing successfully for a long time, namely working together. By working well together they are able to bring individual care to exceptional quality. So that they can meet the challenges of the future even better.

One of the challenges concerns an intelligent and sustainable solution for the liquid waste streams from their test laboratories.
Currently, polluted liquids from their laboratories must now be removed as expensive chemical waste. For instance, at their pathology laboratory the polluted liquids contain formalin, alcohol and/or xylene; the amount is approximately 70-80 litres per week. At another location, a clinical chemical laboratory, approximately 35 litres of liquid per week is disposed containing dyes and liquid chromatography residues.

Due to the increase in laboratory research and changing regulations, the amount of these liquids will only increase.
The hospital has a policy for business and laboratory operations that are as sustainable as possible. However, the hospital lacks the expertise for environmental impact analysis and the technical and chemical knowhow, to introduce an alternative and endurable approach.
It is for this reason that the hospital is looking for solutions, ideas and partners, who could help them solving this challenge.
The basic questions is: “How can the hospital use chemical liquids in their pathology and clinical chemical laboratories more sustainably?”

Although out of the box idea’s and solutions are welcome, the hospital suggests two approaches:
1. New laboratory techniques and chemical knowledge might avoid these chemical liquids by applying more sustainable liquids.
2. Purification and or recycling of the polluted liquids in the building of the laboratory before transport can reduce the amount of disposed waste streams.

The hospital aims for a technical cooperation agreement. When serving the purpose also other agreements can be envisioned.
Important desired characteristics are that the partner is familiar with:
- laboratory techniques
- chemistry / chemical technology
- recycling knowhow / (waste)regulations
- clean and environmental technology

IMPORTANT NOTE: This technology request is part of an innovation challenge and is published on an open innovation platform from the 4th of October and will close on the 8th of November. If an organization does express interest in collaboration with this company before closing date, it will be guided through this open innovation platform and be introduced to the company’s experts. Mind that posts on this platform are not confidential.
Next step is that the company will select the SMEs with whom they would like to cooperate in the development of the solution. Once the challenge is closed, EOIs for this technology request will be handled in the traditional way.

Expertise sought

The hospital is looking for solutions, ideas and partners, who could help them solving this challenge.
The following expertise is considered:
- laboratory techniques
- chemistry / chemical technology
- recycling knowhow / (waste)regulations
- clean and environmental technology

For instance, the foreseen partner can be:
• Suppliers of equipment test laboratories, chemicals, and chromatography equipment.
• Organisations that assess test laboratories.

Stage of Development

Available for demonstration

Stage of Development Comment

The company would expect the stage of the technology to be at or beyond proof of feasibility and preferably already be proven in commercial applications.

Requested Partner

The hospital is looking for technical partners, SMEs, inventors or academia for the development of new methods, ideas or alternatives to sustainable process their chemical waste liquids from their test laboratories.

The envisioned role of the partner is creative thinking from a customer’s perspective and have knowledge of:
- laboratory techniques and setting
- chemistry / chemical technology
- recycling knowhow / (waste)regulations
- clean and environmental technology

The request comprises a further offer regarding:

-potential pilot location & assignment
-interesting network
-the possibility to contribute to a more sustainable healthcare sector