Blog: How are anesthetic gases disposed of and what needs to be considered?

The disposal of anesthetic gases is a complex task that requires a combination of technical innovation, proven methods and conscious handling of the gases. This is so important because the gases are potentially harmful to the environment and human health. In addition, anesthetic gases such as desflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane are potent greenhouse gases that are very persistent in the atmosphere and can contribute to climate change.

We will show you what disposal options are available and how we can support you.

Methods for the destruction or disposal of anesthetic gases

First of all, it is advisable to fundamentally reduce the use of anesthetic gases. This requires optimization of the anaesthesia equipment and techniques in order to reduce gas consumption. The use of alternative anesthesia methods, such as intravenous anesthesia, can also be considered for reduction.

If the equipment and corresponding settings have already been optimized and no alternative methods are available, anaesthetic gases can also be recycled to save resources. To do this, gases are isolated from the exhaust gas stream, purified and reused. However, this method is still in its infancy and is currently only used to a limited extent.

Mechatronic - Die Entsorgung von Narkosegasen ist eine komplexe Aufgabe

Finally, anesthetic gases that are no longer usable must be disposed of or destroyed. Possible methods for this are

Active suction: The system extracts the gases and directs them into a special device for disposal.
Thermal oxidation: With the help of high-temperature combustion, anesthetic gases can be converted into less harmful substances using this method.
Catalytic destruction: The gas is converted into less harmful compounds in a reactor using a catalyst.

How we support you

At Mechatronic, we have extensive experience in the disposal of anaesthetic gases by means of active extraction and a combination of thermal oxidation and/or catalytic destruction.

This combination makes it possible to build systems that are not only compact and flexible in terms of location, but are also easy to operate and reduce the burden on personnel and the environment.

Sounds exciting to you? Then please send us a brief inquiry.