Amalgam separators are used in dental practices to remove potentially hazardous materials from wastewater before it is drained. There are different types, including centrifugal, sedimentation, and filter systems, and they can be small and portable. They can be connected to the piping of the suction system and waste particles can be removed daily or every few months.
Amalgam, a compound typically used in dental fillings, is often made from a mixture of silver, copper, tin, or mercury. Generally good for restoring teeth, it can be dangerous to the environment because incinerators in sewage treatment plants can release materials that can build up in groundwater and the ocean. An amalgam separator usually allows dentists to remove these materials from wastewater before it is drained. There are different types based on how they work. Centrifugal, sedimentation, and filter systems are common varieties, while others may also feature combined processing mechanisms.
Some systems use centrifugal force or a rotary motion to separate the amalgam particles from the water. The waste particles can then be disposed of separately and the water discharged into the sewer system with little risk of contamination. A settling amalgam separator typically works by slowing wastewater. Suspended particles can sink to the bottom when the water flow doesn’t keep pushing them through the solution.
An amalgam separator sometimes includes a filter to block the flow of particulate matter. The gritty and fine particles are typically trapped by the filtration material and the water it passes through is usually free of any type of potentially hazardous material that can leak into the environment. To remove smaller particles and dissolved mercury, an amalgam separator can combine two different methods, or sometimes more if necessary.
The cost and size of dental equipment is often an issue because some offices have limited space. A small amalgam separator can fit in a confined space; some machines built this way mount to the floor or wall. There is also a portable version that can be used in clinics or medical facilities that occasionally perform dental procedures. It can be stowed away when not needed, so clinics that do other more regular work have the space they need.
Depending on the type of amalgam separator, it can be connected to the piping of the suction system in the dental practice. Systems with this configuration are often close to the dental chair, while amalgam separation can occur before the wastewater reaches the vacuum pump. Some machines are installed at the outlet of the air and water separator. The waste particles collected by the amalgam separator can be removed daily or once every several months, depending on the model and how much it is used by the dentist.
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