In the lab that I came from in Seattle we were using the system from the
onset of the company. I was the one in charge of recycling all waste
solutions. It is a gravity filtration system that also uses absorbents
and exchange resins and is not a distillation recycler.  I can tell you
that is does a very good job filtering and cleaning the formalin. We
were also running side by side with a CBG formalin recycling unit. After
every run an assay was performed to see the percentage of formalin
recovered.  The formalin went back onto the machines and was used
throughout the lab without any problems or adjusting of
concentration/rebuffering. We just used the dirty formalin off the
processors. I heard it may have some problem with formalin that has
larger portions of fatty tissues. It is currently going on 4 years that
they are using the system without any setbacks. With the CBG machine we
were needing to adjust formalin percentages and rebuffer. As to how
clean the formalin was compared to the "electric, heated, distillation"
method I don't know. I do know that it was easier, economic, and has
stood the test of time.

Lance Erickson HTL (ASCP)
Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 588-3110

>>> Laurie Colbert  02/17/03
11:31AM >>>
Does anyone use the formalin recycling system from Creative Waste
Solutions?  The company claims it will recycle formalin without the use
of electricity or heating.  You "simply dump dirty formalin into funnel
and it recycles dirty formalin via gravity."  The system gives you back
the same volume and concentration of formalin - no need to "rebuffer."

They also have an alcohol recycling system and xylene recycling pads
that remove alcohol and water form your xylene.

Any comments?

Laurie Colbert
Huntington Memorial Hospital