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- 1. The Science of AmalgamSeparators AL Dubé President Toppen Solutions, LLC 69 RoyAvenue Holliston, MA 01746 508-397-9725 ALDube@ToppenSolutions.com
- 2. Amalgam Separator Standards InternationalStandards Organization 11143 American National Standards Institute / American Dental Association 108-2009 EPA Proposed Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Dental Category (ELGSDC)
- 3. ISO 11143 Solids Standard Basedon weight Requires certified particle distribution size Must test 6 times, 3 full / 3 empty Efficiency based on the lower of the two test sets 95% removal is required to be certified Types: Type 1 Centrifugal, Type 2 Sedimentation, Type 3 Filtration, Type 4 any combination of 1,2 and 3
- 4. ANSI / ADA(108 / 2009) Start with ISO 11143 Add a few wrinkles More rinse water Loosening in the status of the systems
- 5. Proposed ELGSDC 99% ISO,2008 Standard Receive all waste containing amalgam (Cuspidors Sinks?) Inspected by facility once per month to verify functionality (should change) not bypassing. Grandfather clause 10 years (should change)
- 6. Certification Testing National ScienceFoundation (NSF) NSF currently performing most if not all ISO certifications in the US.
- 7. Amalgam Separators What isan Amalgam Separator? Solids Collectors What do they do? Collect all the solids from the evacuation system in a dental office How do they do it? Three separation technologies
- 8. Manufacturers What is themanufacturers #1 goal? Design to beat the standard. Manufactures specifications? Capacity? 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years? It’s all marketing
- 9. Manufactures Air Techniques ApaViaAvprox DRNA M.A.R.S. MedenteX Metasys R&D Services Rebec SolmeteX The Simple Anterior Quest
- 10. Separation Technology Centrifugal: Willnot find in the US at this time Sedimentation: Vast majority in the US Filtration: Two Combination: No manufacture will admit to it.
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- 15. What do AmalgamSeparators do? Pollution Prevention Device Separate Solids and Liquids Capture and Collect S0lids Remove solids to greater than 99% Efficiency Significantly reduce mercury discharge from dental offices
- 16. What “Don’t” Amalgam SeparatorsDo? Capture specifically mercury Capture dissolved mercury Meet discharge limits, Unless you don’t have one. Cause major issues for the dental practice Create a major expense for the dental practice
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- 18. Clear vs BlackBox Clear vs Black Box
- 19. Clear Can inspect visuallyto verify functionality and solids collection volume Can easily understand how to maintain the system Allows for ELGSDC inspection requirement
- 20. Black Box Can onlysee a system is installed No knowledge of functionality Could be in bypass ELGSDC inspection requirement? Does a window count?
- 21. Amalgam Separator Installations Centrallylocated vs Chair-Side Central: Near or next to the vacuum pump, last 6 months - 2 years Chair-side: Next to the chair in the operatory, “filters”, last about a month.
- 22. Designed for #of Chairs 1 Chair 1-6 Chairs 1-10 Chairs 10-20 Chairs Large Clinics or school
- 23. Separator Costs Manufacture dependent/ Size Matters $150 per Chair for Chair-side units $300 - $1200 covers 90% of the market Annual Operational costs $300 - $600 Expect the costs to reduce when and if EPA Dental Rule is applied.
- 24. Potential Issues Filter systemsplug fast and need frequent changes because vacuum is pulled through the filter Central systems can plug and bypass. This is not restricted to certain manufactures
- 25. Inspections Bring Flashlight forclear systems No flashlight necessary if Black Box Chair-sides systems in the treatment room Central systems will be located near the vacuum pump, usually a utility closet or basement ELGSDC: How can you inspect a Black Box?
- 26. Inspection Questions toAsk How many vacuum users in the practice? Where is the amalgam separator located, chair or central? How many users is the separator rated for? When was the last time the collection container was disposed of? What evacuation line cleaner are you using?
- 27. Waste Disposal Most separatorcompanies have disposal options through pre-paid labels to recycling centers or staging centers for disposal Several mercury refining companies in the US one in Europe Proper Disposal should not be an issue
- 28. Dissolved Mercury Amalgam Separatorare not designed to catch dissolved mercury One company makes the claim by using carbon however limited amount of contact with carbon Polishing system possible however does not completely remove all mercury Amalgam separators should get mercury levels to low ppb range
- 29. Tank System Anteriot Quest Centrallocation never needs changing
- 30. Tank? Tank systems collectall waste from dental vacuum Tank contents are pumped out and collected for transport approximately 60 day schedule Brought to proper facility for disposal Solid waste is refined Not available everywhere. Not ISO or ANSI / ADA 108 / 2009 approved Does it need to be? Meets ELGSDC amalgam definition?
- 31. Line Cleaners Many linecleaners with varying pH Some have oxidizers Chemical Enzymes Micro Biological
- 32. Proposed ELGSDC pH 6- 8 Non-bleach / Non- chlorine (Expect a change) Weekly Cleaning (Should be daily for standard cleaners once to twice a week for micro- biologicals)
- 33. Best Management Practice Collectionof scrap amalgam contact and non-contact Collect waste in chair-side traps Collect vacuum pump filters Properly dispose of collection containers
- 34. ELGSDC BMP’s Similar toADA’s BMP’s BMP’s would be required in some capacity. May be the Standard under Dental Industrial Users (DIU)
- 35. ELGSDC Status Public Commentended Feb 20, 2015 Should be working on replies to comments An NGO spoke with EPA HQ which stated “EPA will publish its final amalgam rule in June 2016. This is unconfirmed however from a reliable source, don’t holding my breath No official word and its anyones guess if it happens
- 36. Dental Vacuum Flow Vacuumis negative No positive pressure Pulls, not gravity Flow only when High Speed suction is open High speed is sporadic Vacuum lines must be cleaned regularly
- 37. Dry vs WetVacuum Pumps Dry Vacuum Wet Vacuum Discharges an extra 360 - 520 gpd VS
- 38. Any Water Restrictions? Tapwater is used to operate wet vacuum Water usage is becoming an issue for states specifically California What is the water use of wet ring pumps? Recycle about 1/4 gpm clean tap water Some have recyclers which cuts water use to 10%, not as frequent
- 39. Wet Ring Vacuum 1hp 360 gpd 90,000 gpy Dual Vac 720 gpd 180,000 gpy
- 40. Wet Ring Vacuum 2hp pump 520 gpd 130,00 gpy
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- 42. Dry Vacuum Advantage Usesno water for operation More expensive however savings from water usage could pay for the pump (San Fran 14 month payback) Can be financed for no upfront costs, virtually free No delusion effect More power efficient
- 43. Separator Work No questionson the ability to reduce mercury for influent or effluent
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