Evan Griffing

Electrohydrodynamics of Thin Flowing Films

Thin films of oil flowing down a nearly-vertical plate were subjected to a strong normal electrostatic field. Steady-state height profiles were measured by fluorescence imaging. For electrode potentials less than that required to produce an instability, the two-dimensional response of the interface was < 1%. Calculations of the fluid height coupled with the electric field solution were identical to uncoupled calculations for electric fields below the stability threshold. Pressure profiles under the film and three-dimensional effects are also discussed.

Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable and Disposable Cleanroom Coveralls

Cleanroom garments serve a critical role in such industries as pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and semiconductor manufacturing. These textiles are available in reusable and disposable alternatives. In this report, the environmental sustainability of cleanroom coveralls is examined using life cycle assessment technology. The complete supply chain, manufacture, use, and end-of-life phases for reusable and disposable cleanroom coveralls are compared on a cradle-to-end-of-life cycle basis. Three industry representative coveralls are examined: a reusable woven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) coverall, a disposable flash spunbonded high-density polyethylene (HDPE) coverall, and a disposable spunbond-meltblown-spunbond polypropylene (SMS PP) coverall. The reusable cleanroom coverall system shows substantial improvements over both disposable cleanroom coverall systems in all environmental impact categories. The improvements over the disposable HDPE coverall were 34% lower process energy (PE), 23% lower natural resource energy (NRE), 27% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and 73% lower blue water consumption. The improvements over the disposable SMS PP coverall were 59% lower PE, 56% lower NRE, 57% lower GHG emissions, and 77% lower blue water consumption. In addition, the reusable system shows a 94–96% reduction in solid waste to the landfill from the cleanroom facility. Between the two disposable cleanroom coveralls, the flash spunbonded HDPE coverall shows a measurable environmental improvement over the SMS PP coverall. LAY ABSTRACT: Pharmaceutical drugs are manufactured and handled in controlled environments called cleanrooms to ensure the safety and quality of products. In order to maintain strict levels of cleanliness, cleanroom personnel are required to wear garments such as coveralls, hoods, and gloves that restrict the transfer of particles from the person to the environment. These garments are available in reusable and disposable types. Cleanroom operators consider a number of factors when selecting between reusable and disposable garments, including price, comfort, and environmental sustainability. In this report, the environmental sustainability of reusable and disposable cleanroom coveralls is examined using a technique called life cycle assessment. With this technique, environmental parameters such as energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are quantified and compared for three market representative cleanroom coveralls, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and final disposal. Reusable coveralls were found to substantially outperform disposable coveralls in all environmental parameters examined. This is an important conclusion that supports cleanroom companies that select reusable coveralls to be more sustainable.

Environmental considerations in the selection of isolation gowns: A life cycle assessment of reusable and disposable alternatives

HIGHLIGHTSThe environmental analysis of isolation gowns includes the full product life cycle.Reusable systems outperform disposable systems in all key environmental impacts.Selecting reusable gowns can help healthcare facilities meet sustainability goals.Environmental benefits are expected for other reusable medical textiles. Background: Isolation gowns serve a critical role in infection control by protecting healthcare workers, visitors, and patients from the transfer of microorganisms and body fluids. The decision of whether to use a reusable or disposable garment system is a selection process based on factors including sustainability, barrier effectiveness, cost, and comfort. Environmental sustainability is increasingly being used in the decision‐making process. Life cycle assessment is the most comprehensive and widely used tool used to evaluate environmental performance. Methods: The environmental impacts of market‐representative reusable and disposable isolation gown systems were compared using standard life cycle assessment procedures. The basis of comparison was 1,000 isolation gown uses in a healthcare setting. The scope included the manufacture, use, and end‐of‐life stages of the gown systems. Results: At the healthcare facility, compared to the disposable gown system, the reusable gown system showed a 28% reduction in energy consumption, a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 41% reduction in blue water consumption, and a 93% reduction in solid waste generation. Conclusions: Selecting reusable garment systems may result in significant environmental benefits compared to selecting disposable garment systems. By selecting reusable isolation gowns, healthcare facilities can add these quantitative benefits directly to their sustainability scorecards.