Project No: Project Number

A multi-layer flow-dripper hydroponic system for

sustainable and therapeutic planting

Submitted by: Yap Jing Xuan

Matriculation Number: 20031353

Supervisor: Linus Mak

Co-supervisor: Nil

School of Applied Science

August 2022
 Project No: Project Number

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.................................................................................................................ii

Abstract...............................................................................................................................iii

Acknowledgements (optional)............................................................................................iv

List of Figures......................................................................................................................v

List of Tables......................................................................................................................vi

Chapter 1..............................................................................................................................7

Introduction..........................................................................................................................7

1.1 Background Information..................................................................................................1

1.2 Objective and Scope.........................................................................................................2

Chapter 2 Literature review………………………………………………………………. 3

2.1 Difference between upcycling and recycling …………………………………………..

3

2.2 Term on sustainability ………………………………………………………………….

4

2.3 Types of medical waste …………………………………………………………………

5

2.4 Hazards in handling medical waste and safety precautions …………………………....

7

2.5 How medical waste is treated currently ……………………………………………… 11

2.6 Regulations of medical waste disposal in Singapore (if possible to find)

2.7 Medical waste generation trend locally and globally

2.8 Existing types of Hydroponic systems

2.9 Plants suitable for hydroponic systems

Chapter 3 Materials and Methods......................................................................................12

Chapter 4 Results and Discussion......................................................................................13

Directions for Future Studies.............................................................................................14

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Chapter 5 Conclusion.........................................................................................................15

References..........................................................................................................................16

Appendix............................................................................................................................14
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Abstract

The abstract is to present the essence of the report. It should be in one paragraph of
approximately 200-word length. Technical terms may be used where necessary for
clarity, but abbreviations should be avoided. No diagrams shall be included and no
references cited.

A list of five to ten keywords, separated by semicolons, shall be stated below the
abstract. These keywords help others when searching for information.
 Project No: Project Number

Acknowledgements (optional)

Wherever the support and assistance received from individuals and institutions were vital
to carrying out the project, such individuals and institutions need to be acknowledged, in
a ‘matter of fact’ manner.
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List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Proposed solution..............................................................................................5
 Project No: Project Number

List of Tables
Table 1-1: Test table..........................................................................................................10
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Chapter 1

Introduction

The introduction part can have subtitles according to the needs of the project. Some suggested
areas to include are as below:

1.1 Background Information

This section is to provide a background of the specific subject addressed in the report, for the
benefit of someone who is interested in the project but does not have the required background
knowledge to make sense of it well. It is customary to start this section with a description of the
broad area of knowledge and applications of the project, and then lead the reader to the specific
scope of the project and the main aims of the work, highlighting the value of the investigation
reported. It is important to briefly comment on any relevant work that had been reported
elsewhere, and their implications to the present work.

This section is not a summary of the project, and therefore anything noted while carrying out the
work should not be mentioned here

1.2 Objective and Scope

A brief description of project objectives and scope. And experimental plan.

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 Project No: Project Number

Chapter 2

Literature review

2.1 Difference between upcycling and recycling

[Image adapted from: Tubatect: What upcycling really means?

https://www.tubatect.eu/build-something-like-a-christmas-tree/ ]

Upcycling is the practice of creating a usable product from waste or unwanted items
or adapting an existing product in some way to add value. [1] The purpose is to
reduce waste generated to landfill and improve the lifespan of the resources we are
using.

Recycling is where items that contain such as glass, plastic, metal and paper materials
are processed by machines for recycling. [2] However, the materials during recycling
are often transformed into a completely different item than what is recycled originally.
If the material is recycled too frequently, the quality of the recycled material will
become poorer and reach the point it can no longer be recycled anymore.

2.2 Term on sustainability

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 Project No: Project Number

[Image adapted from: SNC Lavalin: What do the three pillars of sustainability mean for the built
environment?
https://careers.snclavalin.com/blogs/2022-3/three-pillars-of-sustainability-and-the-built-
environment]

Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising

the ability of future generations to meet their needs according to the United Nations.
[3]

There are 3 components in sustainability namely: Economic, Environmental and

Social. Economic sustainability refers to practices that support long-term economic
growth without negatively impacting social, environmental and cultural aspects. [4]
Environmental sustainability is the responsibility to conserve natural resources and
protect global ecosystems to support health and well-being for the present and future.
[5] Social sustainability identifies and manages business impacts in both positive and
negative on people. [6] Without those 3 components being achieved altogether,
sustainability will not be achieved.

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2.3 Types of Medical Waste

[Image adapted from Medindia: Waste Management In Healthcare

https://www.medindia.net/patientinfo/waste-management-in-healthcare.htm#what-is-waste-
management]

Medical waste is a type of waste that is generated as a by-product of healthcare work.

Some places of healthcare work include hospitals, clinics and laboratories. [7] It can
be further categorized into 5 main types: Hazardous, Infectious, Radioactive, Sharps
and Pharmaceutical. [8]

According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hazardous waste

is defined as a waste with properties that makes it dangerous or capable of having a
harmful effect on human health or the environment. [9] Also, it has the characteristics
of making it more dangerous when mixing with other types of waste. [10] It is best
advised not to mix hazardous waste when handling or disposing. Some examples of
hazardous waste in healthcare work will be disposing of reactive chemicals and
inoculating bacteria culture.

Infectious waste is defined as waste that is capable of producing or spreading

infection. [10] It is best advised that this type of waste should be handled with caution
by specially trained hazardous waste handlers. Some examples of infectious waste in
healthcare work will be IV tubes and used surgical gloves.

Radioactive waste includes any material that is either intrinsically radioactive, or has
been contaminated by radioactivity, and that is deemed to have no further use. [11] It
is known that is one of the dangerous types of medical waste and has to be handled
properly. Some examples of radioactive waste will be used gowns for X-ray
screening.

Sharps waste is defined as any instrument having acute rigid corners, edges or
protuberances that is capable of cutting, piercing. [12] It is not limited to syringes,
blades and needles but also include glass items that are contaminated with blood or
bacteria and broken glassware. One example of a glass item will be glass slides that

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are commonly used in microscopes. [12]

Pharmaceutical waste is any leftover, unused or expired medication that is being

discarded. [13] According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency,
between 5 to 10% of all the pharmaceutical waste is considered to be hazardous waste
which can bring harm to humans and the environment. [13]

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 Project No: Project Number

2.4 Hazards in handling medical waste and safety

precautions

As mentioned earlier in 2.3, the types of medical waste are Hazardous, Infectious,
Radioactive, Sharps and Pharmaceutical. This section examines the hazard of
handling each type of medical waste mainly on the health of humans and the
environment. Safety precautions will also be covered in this section for our team to
take references and minimize any form of risks involved when doing the experiment.

When handling hazardous waste, the possible health hazards that can arise to humans
will be having difficulty in breathing, headache, cancer and irritation of skin. [14] If
the hazardous waste is not managed properly in terms of storage and disposal, it can
have bad adverse effects on the environment. Such effects on the environment
includes killing organisms or animals in the contaminated area and affecting
groundwater supplies which is a source of freshwater. [15]

For handling infectious waste, the possible health hazards that can arise to humans
will be disease transmission by exposure of blood, body fluids or tissues from the
waste itself. [16]

For handling radioactive waste, the possible health hazards that can arise to humans
will be eye cataracts, cancer, skin burns and leukemia. [17]

For handling sharps waste, the possible hazard that may happen to humans will be
having cuts or puncture wounds. [18] It is possible to have signs of infection or
illnesses if the sharps have any leftover blood, body fluids or chemicals present. [18]

In pharmaceutical waste, it can cause disruption to environmental ecosystems such as

increased mortality in aquatic species and changes in physiology or behavior aspect.
[19] There is a possibility of public health risk to humans if there is any intentional or
accidental misuse and poisoning of unused medicine taken from the waste bins. [19]
The unused medicines that are discarded are mostly expired and represent a waste of
healthcare resources and economic losses.

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 Project No: Project Number

To handle any types of medical waste safely in general, there are good safety practices
which are strongly encouraged to follow. This includes wearing the proper attire,
putting on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), being aware of the hazard involved
in the work and good hygiene practices.

Proper attire includes the user wearing a shirt that covers the torso and upper arms,
long pants or a skirt which can cover at least the ankle area. [20] This is to prevent
any skin exposure when handling medical waste. As for the person who has long hair,
it is important to tie their hair on the back of their heads so not to get distracted from
work and prevent any mishaps from happening. [20] For proper footwear, the shoes
must be fully covered and low heeled. Low heeled shoes are able to provide comfort
and stability to the user. [20] It is advisable not to wear any form of jewelry such as
necklace or rings as it can cause chemical contamination to human skin where the
chemicals are trapped in the jewelry. [20]

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn to minimize exposure to hazards that

can cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. [21] Some PPE that are commonly
worn or used when handling medical waste will be Tyvek suit, nitrile gloves, face
shield and safety goggles.

A worker is transferring the fully contained medical trash bag to a new bigger trash bag for
medical waste disposal.

[Image adapted from UN environment programme: Healthcare waste: what to do with it?

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 Project No: Project Number

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/healthcare-waste-what-do-it]

Wearing a Tyvek suit is important in handling medical waste as it is able to protect the
user from aerosols, hazardous dry particles, microorganisms, and non-dangerous and
dangerous liquid splash. [22] Most Tyvek suits have 3 layers of protection: The first
layer blocks aerosols particles, second layer reduces the amount of particulate matter
and microorganisms from sticking the suit for long periods of time, third layer being
coated with water repellent to prevent any form of liquids such as blood or chemicals
from entering the suit. [22]

Wearing gloves is essential when handling medical waste as it gives an extra barrier
of protection from touching the skin. For choosing gloves, sturdy and flexible gloves
are recommended for the physical work needed in collection and transportation of
medical waste bags. The chemical resistance of gloves can be considered as not all
gloves are suitable for strong chemicals handling. [23] The recommended gloves that
are suitable in handling medical waste will be neoprene and nitrile type of gloves.
[23]

Face shield is worn to protect the user’s face from any flying particles, debris,
splashes, and droplets when handling medical waste. [24] The face shields are
generally loose-fitting PPE which do not form a tight seal with the face. It is noted
that face shield act as secondary protectors. [25] When wearing the face shield,
recommended to add on a mask as it acts an extra protection and has high filtration
rate towards contaminants.

Safety goggles have a similar function to the face shield. It protects the eyes area from
liquid or chemical splash, irritating mists, vapors, and fumes. [25] Safety goggles are
tight-fitting and form a tight seal around the eyes area.

Being aware of the hazards involved when handling medical waste is important as it
allows better controlling or eliminating hazard. This prevents accidents and injuries
from occurring. [26] The hazards when handling each type of medical waste are
mentioned in the earlier point.

Good hygiene practices are able to protect the user from any illnesses or infection.
[27] Some good hygiene practices include avoiding touching the face when handling
medical waste, washing hands with soap and water after taking out of soiled gloves,
and eat at areas that are out of the medical waste handling activities area.

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 Project No: Project Number

2.5 How is medical waste treated currently

An overview of medical waste treatment in flow chart diagram.

*Red bags are used for biohazardous waste such as body fluids, blood
**Yellow bags are used for infectious waste including contaminated medical waste

[Image adapted from SMS Watergrace Environment PVT. LTD

http://smsraipurbmw.co.in/our-process/]

The available treatments for medical waste currently are Incineration, Autoclaving
and Chemical treatment. [28] Recycling of medical waste is not ideal at the moment
due to the high risk of infection to waste collectors when handling. [29] It is an
expensive process as medical waste needs to undergo sterilization or treatment first
before it can be recycled.

Incineration is the process of burning waste at temperatures high enough to destroy

contaminants in a large-scale incinerator. [30] Contaminants include mercury, dioxins
and furans will be burned and produce carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. [31] It is
considered one of the most effective methods for medical waste treatment. According
to EPA, incineration is strongly encouraged when dealing pharmaceutical waste so to
avoid the possibility of contamination to any water sources such as rivers, ponds, and
lakes.

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 Project No: Project Number

Autoclaving is a process that uses closed chambers to apply heat, pressure, and steam
over a period of time to remove microorganisms and biohazardous material such as
blood. [32] It is commonly used for sterilizing medical equipment and can
decontaminate biohazardous waste as well. Such medical equipment suitable for
autoclaving process will be surgical knife, glassware, pipette tips and centrifuge tubes.
[33] It is noted that the autoclave is unable to remove any chemical contamination
found on medical equipment or treating chemical waste. [34]

Chemical treatment

[ASK - Whether can include advantages and disadvantages of

incineration in this section]

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 Project No: Project Number

Chapter 3

Materials and Methods

All important actions carried out in the project, like setting up an experiment, a special process of

cleaning the containers, stabilising a parameter, number of test specimens prepared, etc. need to be

stated clearly in the report. The objective here is to enable anyone else interested in repeating the

work to carry out such a re-enactments without having to make guesses about procedural details.

As such, any procedure that is unique needs to be explained in detail, whereas all standard

procedures and commercially available schemes need only to be named. Appropriate methods of

information presentation, like diagrams, pictures, and flow charts may be helpful in

communicating the necessary.

You may include sub headers if necessary.

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Project No: Project Number

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Chapter 3

Results and Discussion

This is an important segment of the report as it is where the report writer’s personal reflections get

recorded. Note that all descriptions after the introductory segment but before the discussion

segment need to be impersonal and objective.

Any matter worth pointing out about the project execution, regardless of whether it is favourable

or not, needs to be discussed giving reasons to support the arguments. Of particular interest will be

advantages and disadvantages of anything proposed in the project report.

Any new information drawn out from the observations and data collected is to be presented in this

segment. The processes involved in drawing out the results, like ‘carried out a regression analysis’

or ‘computed the gradients of the graphs’ or ‘compared the rate of growth’, need to be stated

clearly when presenting the outcomes of those actions. To facilitate communication, suitable

modes such as graphs, bar charts and other forms of representations may be adopted.

Directions for Future Studies

At the end of each investigation, it is customary to suggest what kind of work may be carried out

to further explore the subject of the study.

You may include sub headers if necessary.

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 Project No: Project Number

Chapter 4

Conclusion

Each systematic investigation shall end with a set of conclusions drawn from the
information gathered during the course of the project. Any matter raised in the
introductory segment of the report shall be given a closure here. Potential applications
of these findings also should be stated in this segment.

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 Project No: Project Number

References

There should always be a list of all books, articles and technical resources consulted. The use of

all source material should be explicit in the report. This means that normally ever item in the

reference list will be referred to in the report and every item mentioned in the report will have an

entry in the reference list.

Each reference, be it from a journal, textbook or conference proceedings, should be listed

consistently, as in the example below.

Referencing Formats

Format 1: Refer to the works in numerical order with superscripted numbers1 or square bracketed

numbers [1]. In this case, the list of references at the end of the report needs to be presented as a

numbered list in the numerical order.

For example, the reference in the text could appear as “.. the laboratory methods [2]..” and the

Reference Section would have:

[2] “ the lab methods“ , Laboratory Science, John Walters, Dec 02 , pp 23 –45.

Format 2: Refer to the last names of the authors with the year of publication of that work, within

brackets, as with (Chung, 1996; Smith and Ho, 1997). If there are more than two authors, then

only the first author’s name shall be cited, and add ‘and others’ as in (Morden et al 1989). When

the references are cited in this manner with the names of the authors, the list of references at the

end of the report must be sorted in the alphabetical order.

For example, the reference in text must appear as “…argues (Chung, 1996)….” And the Reference

section would have:

Chug (1996) Bacillus Anthracis Virulence in Guinea Pigs Vaccinated…. Journal of Clinical

Microbiology, 41, 1212-1218.

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Appendix (optional)