<p>År 2000 startades ett samarbete mellan Wuhan i Kina och Borlänge Energi i Sverige. De två parterna bestämde år 2005 tillsammans med IVL, Svenska Miljöinstitutet, att samarbeta inom följande områden; hållbar energiproduktion, hållbar avfallsproduktion samt grundandet av ett miljöteknikcentrum i Wuhan. Miljöteknikcentrumet är till för att vara en plattform för svensk miljöteknik och expertis. Som ett första steg inför grundandet av ett miljöteknikcentrum gjordes en undersökning för att se inom vilka sektorer svensk miljöteknik kan etableras.</p><p>Undersökningen var inriktat på industriell avloppsvattenrening i Wuhan; bedömning av vilka typer av industrier/företag som har problem med avloppsvattenreningen och i vilken utsträckning det finns svenska tekniklösningar på problemen. Undersökningen genomfördes genom intervjuer med myndigheter och en del utvalda företag. Det var svårt att få fram information om vilka företag som inte följer de kinesiska gränsvärdena, varför en del besök gjordes till företag som lever upp till gränsvärdena. På grund av detta togs även andra problem med miljön som företagen hade upp. Några kommunala reningsverk besöktes och intervjuades också för att få en bättre bild av den kommunala vattenreningssituationen. En generell beskrivning av Wuhans miljösituation utfördes också samt en beskrivning av de viktigaste miljömyndigheterna och institutionerna.</p><p>Wuhans största utmaning är att konstruera reningsverk till alla de 3.5 miljoner som fortfarande släpper sitt avloppsvatten rätt ut till sjöar och floder, snarare än att ytterligare rena det industriella avloppsvattnet. Behandlingsgraden av det industriella avloppsvattnet har nått 97 % medan behandlingsgraden av det kommunala avloppsvattnet endast nått 70 %.</p><p>Besök vid de utvalda företagen och kommunala reningsverk ledde till slutsatsen att svensk teknik och expertis kan införas i följande områden: hantering av slam från reningsverk, byggandet av förbränningsanläggningar för sopor och hur man löser problemet med att rena luften från gaser som SO2 och dioxiner. De flesta företagen kunde följa de kinesiska gränsvärdena för utsläpp av avloppsvatten men mycket kan göras för att förbättra företagens tekniker ytterligare. Detta utförs dock nästan aldrig eftersom det är en ekonomisk fråga. Det är möjligt för Wuhan att sätta lokala, hårdare gränsvärlden för att tvinga företagen att förbättra sina reningstekniker ytterligare.</p> / <p>In 2000 a co-operation between Wuhan in China and Borlänge Energi in Sweden started. The two parts decided in 2005 together with IVL, the Swedish Research Institute, to co-operate in the fields of sustainable energy production, sustainable waste management and the establishment of an Environmental Technology Centre, supplying Swedish environmental expertise to companies in Wuhan. As a first step for the establishment of an Environmental Technology Centre in Wuhan, an investigation was made to find out in which sectors Swedish environmental technology could be established.</p><p>The investigation took aim at observing the industrial wastewater treatment in Wuhan and to see which types of companies that have problems with the wastewater treatment and if there existed Swedish technology that could solve the problems. The investigation was performed through interviews with the authorities and some selected companies. It was difficult to get information about companies that did not comply with the National Chinese wastewater standards. This meant that some of the visits were made to companies that comply with the standards, also taking into consideration other problems with the environment that the companies might have. Visits were also paid to municipal wastewater treatment plants to get an overview over the municipal wastewater treatment situation. An overall survey of the environmental situation in Wuhan was also made and a presentation of the most important environmental departments and institutions is given.</p><p>The greatest challenge for Wuhan is to construct wastewater treatment plants for the around 3.5 million people that still discharge their wastewater directly to rivers and lakes, rather than to improve the industrial wastewater treatment further. The treatment rate of the industrial wastewater has reached 97%, but the municipal wastewater treatment rate has only reached 70%.</p><p>After the visits to the selected companies and municipal wastewater treatment plants the conclusion was made that Swedish technologies and expertise can be applied to the following areas; handling sludge from the wastewater treatment plants, construction of waste incineration plants and handling flue gas and dioxins. Most of the visited companies could follow the wastewater standards. Although much can be done to improve their technologies further, this is not done since it is too expensive. It is possible for Wuhan to apply stricter local wastewater treatment standards. This could be used as a tool to make companies invest more money in improvements of their technologies.</p>

Cleaning validation of pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment is required by legislation. Generally, wet chemical techniques are employed using swabbing and/or rinse sampling methods. These are generally either selective and time consuming, or less selective and give results in a shorter period. The infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) technique explored here attempts to deliver accurate, selective surface contamination information in real time to complement current methods and reduce down-time. The IRRAS instrument used in this research is a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer coupled by an IR fibre-optic cable to a grazing-angle sampling head with a fixed incidence angle of 80°. The introduced flexibility permits collection of in situ spectra from contaminated surfaces. Calibration models are developed using the multivariate, linear partial least squares (PLS) statistical method. The research focuses on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a model cleaning agent, on metal (aluminium and stainless steel) and dielectric (glass, EPDM and silicone) surfaces. The effects of surface finish are investigated for SDS on stainless steel. Calibrations for SDS and paracetamol in the presence of each other on glass surfaces are examined, as well as a common industrial cleaner (P3 cosa® PUR80) on polished stainless steel. For the calibration sets in this thesis, RMSECV values were < 0.41 µg cm⁻², corresponding to conservative surface residues detection limits of better than ~0.86 µg cm⁻². However, RMSECV values depend on the calibration loading range, and the detection limits were typically ~0.2 µg cm⁻² for loading ranges 0-2.5 µg cm⁻². These are below visual detection limits, generally taken to be 1-4 µg cm⁻², depending on the analyte and substrate. This shows that IRRAS is a viable method for the real-time detection and quantification of surface contamination by surfactants and active pharmaceutical ingredients on metals and dielectrics.

This dissertation describes the finding that dissolved carbon dioxide is a potent inhibitor of sonoluminescence and describes the implications of the finding in the development of improved megasonic cleaning formulations. Megasonic cleaning, or the removal of contaminants particles from wafer surfaces using sound-irradiated cleaning fluids, has been traditionally used in the semiconductor industry for cleaning of wafers. Recently however, advancing technology and miniaturization has made wafer features increasingly susceptible to damage by megasonic energy. International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) 2011 predicts the critical particle diameter, critical particle count and killer defect numbers to be 22 nm, 113 #/wafer and 4.3 #/mm², respectively, on a 300 mm wafer for 45 nm technology node. A critical challenge in the field, therefore, is to achieve removal of small particles (22 nm to 200 nm) without causing damage to fine wafer features. The work described here addresses this challenge by identifying sonoluminescence and solution pH as two key factors affecting damage and cleaning efficiency, respectively and establishing novel means to control them using CO₂(aq) release compounds in the presence of acids and bases. Sonoluminescence (SL) behavior of the major dissolved gases such as Ar, Air, N₂, O₂ and CO₂ was determined using a newly designed Cavitation Threshold Cell (CT Cell). SL, which is the phenomenon of release of light in sound-irradiated liquids, is a sensitive indicator of cavitation, primarily transient cavitation. It was found that all the tested dissolved gases such as Ar, Air, N₂ and O₂, generated SL signal efficiently. However, dissolved CO₂ was found to be completely incapable of generating SL signal. Based on this interesting result, gradual suppression of SL signal was demonstrated using CO₂(aq). It was further demonstrated that CO₂(aq) is not only incapable but is also a potent inhibitor of SL. The inhibitory role of CO₂(aq) was established using a novel method of controlled in-situ release of CO₂ from NH₄HCO₃. ~130 ppm CO₂(aq) was shown to be necessary and sufficient for complete suppression of SL generation in air saturated DI water. The method however required acidification of solution for significant release of CO₂, making it unsuitable for the design of cleaning solutions at high pH. Analysis of the underlying ionic equilibria revealed that the loss of released CO₂(aq) upon increase in pH can be compensated by moderate increase in added NH₄HCO₃. Using this method, simultaneous control of SL and solution pH was demonstrated in two systems, NH₄HCO₃/HCl and NH₄OH/CO₂, at two nominal pH values; 5.7 and 7.0. Damage studies were performed on wafer samples with line/space patterns donated by IMEC and FSI International bearing Si/metal/a-Si gate stacks of thickness ~36 nm and Si/Poly-Si gate stacks of thickness ~67 nm, respectively. A single wafer spin cleaning tool MegPie® was used for the generation of megasonic energy for inducing damage to the structures. It was demonstrated that CO₂ dissolution in DI water suppresses damage to the gate stacks in a dose-dependent manner. Together, these studies establish a systematic and strong correlation between CO₂(aq) concentration, SL suppression and damage suppression. Significant damage reduction (~50 % to ~90 %) was observed at [CO₂(aq)] > ~300 ppm. It was also demonstrated that CO₂(aq) suppresses damage under alkaline pH condition too. This demonstration was made possible by the successful design of two new cleaning systems NH₄HCO₃/NH₄OH and CO₂/NH4OH that could generate CO₂(aq) under alkaline conditions. Damage suppressing ability of the newly designed cleaning systems were compared to the standard cleaning system NH₄OH at pH 8.2 and it was found that NH₄HCO₃/NH₄OH and CO₂/NH₄OH systems were 80 % more efficient in suppressing damage compared to the standard NH₄OH cleaning system. Finally, megasonic cleaning studies were conducted in the same single wafer spin cleaning tool MegPie®, using SiO₂ particles (size 185 nm) deposited on 200 mm oxide Si wafers, as the contaminant. It was found that the standard cleaning chemical, NH₄OH, pH 8.2, was effective in achieving > 95 % particle removal for 2 min irradiation of megasonic energy at power densities > 0.7 W/cm². Based on these results, a new system, NH₄HCO₃/NH₄OH, was designed with an aim to release ~300 ppm CO₂ at pH 8.2. It was demonstrated that newly designed system NH₄HCO₃/NH₄OH, allowed significant suppression of damage in comparison to NH₄OH while maintaining > 90 % cleaning efficiency that was comparable to NH₄OH solution, at the same acoustic power densities. Taken together, these studies establish a potent and flexible means for the inhibition of SL generation over a wide pH range and acoustic power densities and demonstrate its use in suppression of wafer damage without compromising megasonic cleaning efficiency.

This study focused on the investigation of the impact of household cleaning and personal care products on the quality of grey water and the assessment and optimisation of grey water treatment by a novel constructed wetland design. The prototype wetland design which comprised three-stage cascading beds (0.27 m 2 by 0.20 m deep) with sand media, (d10: 1.0 mm and d90: 4.0 mm) was tested for treatment performance to meet non-potable reuse standards in three versions, unplanted open beds, unplanted covered beds, and planted beds (comprising mixtures of Iris pseudacorus, Iris chrysographes, Carex elata Aurea and Mentha aquatica). The prototypes were benchmarked against a standard single-pass wetland (6 m 2 by 0.7 m) planted with Phragmites australis. Performance was measured in terms of removal of conventional water quality determinant parameters, as well as Total coliforms and E coli, and surfactants. Microbial dynamics were also monitored during the study by looking at variations in microbial compositions with time for the different wetlands. All the wetland versions effectively removed more than 98 % turbidity and organics meeting the most stringent reuse wastewater reuse standards of < 2.0 NTU and < 10 mg BOD5/L respectively. The influent grey water had low BOD:COD ratio ranging from 0.27 – 0.45, which is indicative of low biodegradability. The comparison of the cascade wetland performances showed the following: open beds > planted = covered, with the open beds version meeting reuse standards virtually throughout the monitoring period, despite recurrence of schmutsdecke in the top bed. All wetland technologies supported viable populations of microorganisms. Only phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) of lower carbon chain length (< C20) had concentrations greater than 1 mol %, in all the wetlands beds, confirming that the majority of the PLFAs in the media were from contribution of microbial organisms and not plant organic matter. Characterisation of microbial organisms was carried out to understand the constructed wetlands functioning and thus the treatment processes. The household products showed nutrient deficiency signifying low treatability. Product branding did not show correlation with any water quality parameters. In terms of toxicity, laundry and cleaning products were more inhibiting to soil microorganisms than were personal care products.

This research comprehensively reviews the properties of regular micro and nano structures fabricated by laser interference lithography and reports on their applications in the antireflection and self‐cleaning surface. The research systematically investigates the laser interference lithography technology taking into account its advantages and abilities to realize various potential applications. Multiple‐beam interference lithography systems are constructed. Laser interference interaction with silicon wafer is analysed and the optical and hydrophobic properties are obtained via measurements. In order to fabricate the extremely low reflection and very large contact angle for solar cells, fabrication methods of antireflection and self‐cleaning are surveyed and their advantages and disadvantages compared. The research investigates the effect of heat transfer and the radiation of laser interference plasma on silicon wafer surfaces and proposes equations of heat flow and radiation effects of laser plasma of interfering patterns in a four‐beam laser interference distribution. Following the irradiation, the silicon wafer surface is covered with a periodic array of micrometer and nanometer‐sized structures, which have the shape of grating, cone and hole. The research also investigates the effect of different laser parameters on the optical and hydrophobic properties of the structured silicon wafer surface. The results of periodic hexagonally‐distributed hole structures fabricated by three‐beam laser interference reveals excellent design guidelines for obtaining an extremely low solar‐weighted reflection, (SWR, 1.86%) and relatively large contact angle (140°) which can provide a strong self‐cleaning capability on the solar cell surface. In addition, the research creates a novel dual structure with antireflection and superhydrophobic properties fabricated by three‐beam laser interference lithography. The fabrication method is three‐beam laser interference combined with focused laser processing interacting on the silicon wafer surface. This kind of structure has a very low SWR (3.6 %) and extremely large contact angle which is more than 150° in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 780 nm. The research shows that the laser interference lithography technology can be employed and further developed to fabricate micro and nano structures of strong antireflection and self‐cleaning functions for applications in solar cells.

Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich damit, in welcher Weise Reinigungsarbeit - als ein typischer Bereich sogenannter "Einfacharbeit" - in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten von Auslagerungen betroffen war und wie sie davon geprägt wurde. Er stellt aktuelle Branchencharakteristika und Beschäftigungsbedingungen zur Reinigungsbranche in Österreich im internationalen Kontext dar und argumentiert, dass die mit der Auslagerung verbundenen Veränderungen der Reinigungsarbeit problematische Arbeits- und Beschäftigungsbedingungen verstärken. So tragen insbesondere die verbreiteten Arbeitszeiten an den Tagesrändern zu einer Unsichtbarmachung der Arbeit bei, die einer mangelnden Anerkennung weiter Vorschub leistet. Die Tendenz zur gesellschaftlichen Unsichtbarmachung spiegelt sich daneben auch in der wissenschaftlichen und gesellschaftlichen (Nicht-)Zuwendung zu "Einfachdienstleistungen" und der Reinigung im Speziellen wider. Der Beitrag geht weiters auf die Rolle des Wohlfahrtsstaates in der Gestaltung der Arbeits- und Lebensbedingungen von in "Einfachdienstleistungen" Beschäftigten ein. Abschließend weist er auf Ansatzpunkte für Verbesserungen auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen hin.

Ättestupa has been a contentious practice ever since the translation of Gautreks saga. This senicide practice has largely been viewed as a parody of the culture of Västergötland and has received little attention. But with new interest in the modern practice of Death Cleaning, we might finally understand Ättestupa as a real tradition. By understanding the placement of burden, and views of suicide, as well as the investigation into the material world around aging and death Ättestupa can be viewed as the ancestor to Death Cleaning, and thus as a window into this past practice. By comparing these two practices we also build a framework for how modern death practices can be used to understanding the archaeology of aging and beyond through the use of various archaeological approaches that take into account different sources of knowledge and the different ways that these sources can be approached.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar, por meio da microscopia eletrônica de varredura (M.E.V.), a remoção de detritos e deformação superficial sofrida pelos sistemas endodônticos rotatórios de NiTi BioRace (BR); Protaper (PT) e Twisted File (TF) após cada uso, totalizando cinco usos, simulando as condições clínicas. Um total de 75 molares superiores humanos extraídos cuja raiz disto-vestibular apresentava curvatura de 0 a 5° e mésio-vestibular entre 20 e 30° de acordo com o método de Weine, foram selecionados e divididos em três grupos com 25 espécimes. Para o grupo I: realizou-se instrumentação com o sistema BR; para o grupo II com o sistema PT e para o grupo III, com o TF. Foram utilizadas cinco caixas de cada sistema rotatório para instrumentar os canais mesio e distovestibulares. Inicialmente os instrumentos foram fotografados em M.E.V. com aumento de 35 vezes, utilizados uma vez e em seguida passaram por um protocolo de limpeza baseado no proposto por Parashos, Linsuwanont e Messer (2004) previamente a esterilização e, em seguida eram analisados em M.E.V., antes do uso seguinte. Esses procedimentos foram realizados até o último uso. Os dados de limpeza foram submetidos ao teste estatístico de Kruskal Wallis para comparação global e ao teste de Dunn para comparação individual dos grupos, enquanto para análise da deformação foram submetidos ao teste estatístico do Qui-quadrado para comparação global e ao teste exato de Fisher para as comparações individuais, todos com significância de 5%. Os resultados apontaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes quanto à limpeza para o sistema BR com maior quantidade de detritos remanescentes do processo de fabricação em relação ao PT e TF; após os 5 usos, os sistemas BR e PT apresentavam-se mais limpos em relação ao início do experimento, enquanto o TF permaneceu com quantidade semelhante de detritos superficiais. Ocorreu deformação em 40% do sistema BR, sendo 5% fratura e, 100% do TF, sendo 40% fratura. O sistema PT não sofreu danos consideráveis de acordo com os critérios avaliados. Por meio dos resultados obtidos neste estudo, concluiu-se que o protocolo de limpeza utilizado não proporcionou superfícies completamente limpas tanto no decorrer quanto ao final do experimento e quanto a deformação superficial, o sistema TF apresentou o pior resultado, seguido do BR, enquanto o PT que não apresentou qualquer deformação quanto aos critérios avaliados. / The aim of this study was to evaluate by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the debris removal and deformation surface by rotary NiTi endodontic systems BioRace (BR), Protaper (PT) and Twisted File (TF) before each use, total five uses, simulating clinical conditions. A total of 75 extracted human molars whose disto-vestibular roots had curvature between 0 and 5 degrees and mesio-vestibular roots had curvature between 20 and 30 degrees according to the Weine method were selected and divided into three groups of 25 specimens. In the Group I: was used the BR system, group II was used the PT system and group III was used the TF system to shaping the mesio and distovestibular molars canals. Were used a total of five boxes to each rotary system. Initially, the instruments were examined by SEM at a magnification of 35x, then used into root canals and submitted through the cleaning protocol based on proposed by Parashos, Linsuwanont and Messer (2004) prior to sterilization for further examination by SEM, before the next use. These procedures were carried out until the last use. The cleaning data were analysed using statistical Kruskal Wallis test for global comparison and the Dunn test for individual groups comparison. The deformation data were analysed using Chi-square test for overall comparison and Fisher exact test for individual comparisons, both with 5% significance. The results showed the following statistically significant differences regarding cleaning to BR system with highest amount of debris remaining from the manufacturing process in relation to the PT and TF; after the five uses, the BR and PT systems were cleaner in relation to the initial experiment, but the TF system had the same debris amount. The deformation occurred in 40% of the BR system, with 5% fractured and 100% of the TF, with 40% fractured. The PT system has not suffered considerable damage in accordance with the criteria evaluated. The results of this study showed that the protocol did not provide cleaning surfaces completely free of debris, especially in the TF system, while for the BR and PT, resulting in cleaner surfaces at the end of the experiment compared with the dirt initial (immediately removed from their packaging). The surface deformation of TF system presented the worst results, followed by the BR and PT did not show any deformation on the criteria evaluated.

Introdução: Processar seguramente os dispositivos cirúrgicos reutilizáveis é um cuidado indireto de Enfermagem do Centro de Material e Esterilização. Muitos desses dispositivos apresentam conformação complexa que dificulta a limpeza, deixando dúvidas quanto ao alcance da esterilidade, ausência de biofilmes e endotoxinas. Entre os produtos utilizados em cirurgia para extração de catarata por facoemulsificação, as vias de irrigação e aspiração são materiais com alto risco de ocasionar endoftalmite ou síndrome tóxica do segmento anterior ocular no próximo usuário. Feitas de silicone, possuem lúmen de diâmetro com 1 a 2,5 mm e comprimento de 1,85 a 2,00 m, configurando-se em material de difícil processamento. Seus fabricantes não apresentam protocolos validados para seu processamento, o que constitui um grave problema de segurança ao paciente. Objetivo: Validar um Procedimento Operacional Padrão (POP) para processamento das vias de irrigação e aspiração do kit de facoemulsificação. Método: Esta pesquisa caracterizou-se, como um estudo laboratorial, utilizando contaminação-desafio. O POP foi elaborado com base no referencial teórico científico atual e na legislação pertinente. Como corpos de prova foram usados tubos de silicone, reproduzindo as dimensões do lúmen e do comprimento das vias de irrigação e aspiração. A análise foi feita por meio da espectroscopia de infravermelho que validou a equivalência da matéria-prima dos corpos de prova ao dispositivo original. Como contaminação-desafio, foi utilizada uma suspensão de Pseudomonas aeruginosa - ATCC 27853 106 UFC/mL acrescida de 20% de albumina humana em meio de cultura enriquecido de Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) com solução salina balanceada. Para a contaminação dos corpos de prova, foram injetados 3 mL do contaminante desafio no lúmen dos corpos de prova de 1 mm e 7mL nos de 2 mm de diâmetro, e deixados de 1 a 17 horas. Em seguida, estes foram submetidos ao POP proposto. Como desfecho intermediário, foi avaliada a eficácia da limpeza (n=30) com teste de bioluminescência (Clean-Trace ATP water test, 3M®). A eficácia da esterilização (n=30) foi avaliada por meio da inoculação direta dos corpos de prova em TSB, e a detecção das endotoxinas (n=30), utilizando kit cinético-turbidimétrico. Os experimentos foram acompanhados por grupos controles positivo (n=3) e negativo (n=3). Resultados: a média de ATP obtida após a aplicação do POP de limpeza, expressa em RLUs, foi de 5,25 RLUs para os corpos de prova de 1 mm de diâmetro e 4,40 RLUs para os de 2 mm. A redução da quantidade média de ATP em RLUs foi de 98,5% a 99,98% respectivamente, para os tempos de contato com o contaminante desafio de 1 e 17h. Quanto à quantidade da endotoxina, esta variou de <0,01 UE/mL a 0,0192 UE/mL. Não houve recuperação do micro-organismo teste em nenhuma das amostras do grupo pesquisado. Os resultados dos controles positivo e negativo foram satisfatórios. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstraram que o POP proposto assegura o processamento das vias de irrigação e aspiração do kit de facoemulsificação. Esta conclusão não deve ser extrapolada para os reusos consecutivos autorizados pelos fabricantes, sem a realização de novos testes até o número máximo de reusos permitidos, justificado pelo fato da superfície dos lumens poderem ser alteradas a cada processamento. / Introduction: Reprocessing safely reusable surgical devices is an indirect nursing care in the Material and Sterilization Center. Many of these devices have complex geometry forms which difficult the cleaning process, leaving doubts about the scope of sterility and absence of biofilms and endotoxin. Among the products used in surgery for cataract extraction by phacoemulsification, the tubings of phacoemulsification machine are the materials with a high risk of causing endophthalmitis or toxic anterior segment syndrome in the next patient. Made of silicon, have a lumen diameter of 1 to 2.5 mm and a length of 1.85 to 2.00 m, and configuring itself in difficult materials to reprocessing. The manufacturers of these materials dont present validated protocols for reprocessing, which is a serious problem to the safety of the patient. Objective: To validate a standard operating procedure for reprocessing of the tubings of phacoemulsification machine. Method: This research was characterize as a laboratory study using test soil. The standard protocol was based on current scientific theoretical reference and relevant legislation. Silicone tubes reproducing lumen dimensions and the length of the original tubings of phacoemulsification machine were used as specimens. The analysis by infrared spectroscopy validated the equivalence of the primal material of the specimens to the original device. It was a test soil with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) 106 UFC/mL plus 20% human albumin in culture medium supplemented Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) with balanced salt solution. To contamination of the samples were injected 3 to 7 mL of the test soil in the lumen and left for 1 and 17 hours. Then, these were submitted to the proposed standard protocol. As an intermediate outcome, the cleaning efficiency (n=30) was evaluated with bioluminescence test (Clean-Trace ATP water test, 3M®). The sterilization efficacy (n=30) was evaluated by direct inoculation specimens of silicone tubes in TSB, and the detection of endotoxin (n=30) using kinetic turbidimetric assay. The experiments were accompanied by positive control group (n=3) and negative (n=3). Results: The average ATP obtained after application of standard protocol cleaning, expressed in RLUs, was 5.25 RLUs for the specimens of silicone tubes of 1 mm in diameter and 4.40 RLUs to them 2 mm in diameter. The decrease in the average measure of ATP in RLUs was 98.5% to 99.98%, respectively for the periods of contact with the contaminant of 1h and 17h. As amount of endotoxin that ranged of <0.01 EU/mL to 0.0192 EU/mL. There wasnt recovery of the test microorganism in the samples of the group studied. The results of positive and negative controls were satisfactory. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that proposed standard protocol ensures the reprocessing of tubings of phacoemulsification machine. This conclusion should not be extrapolated to consecutive reuses authorized by the manufacturers without retest until the maximum number of allowed reuses justified by the fact that surface of the lumens can be changed at each reprocessing.

Introdução: O enfermeiro é responsável em atuar no controle da contaminação do ambiente, visando a prevenção de transmissão de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Surtos de gastroenterite causados por norovirus (NoV) em locais fechados são caracterizados pela persistência do vírus no ambiente, aerolização das partículas virais e baixa dose infectante, mesmo em indivíduos saudáveis. Portanto, há necessidade de definição de um protocolo seguro para limpeza e desinfecção do piso contaminado com vômito e fezes, considerando a possibilidade de dispersão de aerossóis a partir do piso. Objetivo: Avaliar a presença residual de partículas de NoV-GII no ar e no piso quando implementados diferentes protocolos de descontaminação do piso, após contaminação intencional. Método: Trata-se de um estudo experimental laboratorial. Dois tipos de piso, vinil e granito (matérias primas frequentemente utilizadas nos pisos dos serviços de saúde), foram contaminados intencionalmente com fezes humanas positivas 10% para NoV-GII, dissolvidas em 500ml de solução tampão salino-fosfato. Os pisos foram submetidos a três tipos de tratamento: limpeza padronizada com fricção manual, água e detergente neutro; limpeza seguida de desinfecção com hipoclorito de sódio 1% por 10 minutos; limpeza seguida de desinfecção com dispositivo portátil de luz ultravioleta por cinco minutos (SURFACE-UV®). Amostras foram obtidas do piso, por meio do swab, e do ar, por meio de um coletador de ar (Coriolis® - Bertin Technologies, França), nos seguintes momentos: antes e após a contaminação intencional; após a limpeza e após os métodos de desinfecção. Para detecção de NoV-GII nas amostras, utilizou-se a técnica 4.6.2. Reação em Cadeia pela Polimerase quantitativa precedida de Transcrição Reversa (RT-qPCR), pelo método TaqMan®. Resultados: Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os tipos de piso após os protocolos de descontaminação, tanto para o residual de NoV-GII no piso, quanto no ar. Os valores médios de Cycle Threshold (Ct) após limpeza seguida de desinfecção foram maiores (38,75 40,00) comparados aos de após limpeza (35,67 38,66), comprovando a maior eficácia desse protocolo (p<0,001). Em algumas amostras, a limpeza isolada foi capaz de reduzir a contaminação por NoV do piso até níveis indetectáveis. Quando houve residual de NoV-GII após a limpeza do piso, o protocolo cuja desinfecção foi realizada com hipoclorito de sódio foi mais eficaz do que a luz ultravioleta (p<0,001), sendo que os valores de Ct de todas as amostras foram acima de 40. Em 27 das 36 (75%) amostras de ar coletas após a limpeza do piso, foram detectadas partículas de NoV, com diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre as segundas e terceiras amostras, coletadas a 150cm do piso. Foram identificadas que, em média, 17 cópias de RNA viral/L estavam presentes no ar após a limpeza, com redução gradual após a desinfecção. Conclusões: Quando vômito e fezes com NoV-GII contaminam o piso, há aerolização desse vírus já no ato da limpeza. Essas partículas podem ser inaladas ou depositarem em superfícies frequentemente tocadas pelas mãos, estabelecendo o ciclo de transmissão oro-fecal. As partículas virais residuais no piso após a limpeza, indiscutivelmente devem ser eliminadas, evitando assim a reaerolização do NoV a partir dessa fonte. Nesse sentido, a limpeza seguida de desinfecção com hipoclorito de sódio a 1% por 10 minutos mostra superioridade como protocolo de descontaminação do piso, quando comparado ao protocolo com limpeza seguida de desinfecção com luz ultravioleta por 5 minutos de exposição. / Introduction: Nurses are responsible for controlling contamination of the environment, working to prevent the transmission of health-care-associated infections. Gastroenteritis outbreaks caused by Norovirus (NoV) in closed settings are characterized as the result of persistence of the virus in the environment, aerosolization of viral particles, and small infectious dose, even in healthy individuals. Therefore, a safe protocol to decontaminate the floor after vomit or feces have spilled must be defined, considering that subsequent aerosol dispersal may occur. Objective: To assess the presence of residual NoV-GII particles in the air and on the floor after different decontamination protocols are conducted on a deliberately contaminated floor. Method: This is an experimental laboratory study. Two types of floor, vinyl and granite (materials which are often used in the flooring of healthcare facilities), were intentionally contaminated with 10% NoV-GII-positive human feces dissolved in 500ml of a saline-phosphate buffer solution. The floors received three types of treatment: standard cleaning, with manual friction, water, and neutral detergent; cleaning followed by a ten- minute disinfection procedure using 1% sodium hypochlorite; and cleaning followed by a five- minute disinfection procedure using a portable ultraviolet light device (SURFACE-UV®). Swab samples were taken from the floor, and air samples were obtained using an air sampler (Coriolis® - Bertin Technologies, France) at the following moments: before and after the intentional contamination, after cleaning, and after disinfection. The TaqMan® method for real-time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to detect NoV-GII in the samples. Results: No statistically significant difference between the two types of floor was found for residual NoV-GII, either in the air or on the floor, after the decontamination protocols. The average Cycle Threshold (Ct) values found after cleaning followed by disinfection were higher (38.75 - 40.00) than those recorded after cleaning (35.67 - 38.66), thus attesting to the greater effectiveness of the latter protocol (p<0.001). In some samples, cleaning alone was enough to reduce floor contamination by NoV to undetectable levels. When residual NoV-GII was found after cleaning the floor, the disinfection protocol that involved using sodium hypochlorite proved more effective than UV-light exposure (p<0.001), and Ct values were higher than 40 for all samples. NoV particles were detected in 27 of the 36 (75%) air samples obtained after cleaning the floor, and significant statistical differences were found between the second and third samples, collected 150cm from the floor. An average of 17 copies of viral RNA/L were identified in the air after cleaning, gradually decreasing after disinfection. Conclusions: When NoV-GII-infected vomit or feces contaminate the floor, the virus is aerosolized even during cleaning. These particles may then be inhaled or settle on frequently touched surfaces, establishing the fecal-oral transmission cycle. Residual viral particles on the floor must undoubtedly be eliminated, thereby preventing NoV aerosolization from this source. Along these lines, cleaning followed by disinfection by 1% sodium hypochlorite for ten minutes proved to be a superior floor decontamination protocol when compared with cleaning followed by disinfection by UV-light exposure for five minutes.