Biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry is increasingly using disposables such as flexible tubing and disposable bioprocess containers in clinical as well as in commercial production. The polymer components within PendoTECH's single-use sensor ensure a carbon footprint-reducing stainless steel replacement.
According to BioPharm International's ‘The Environmental Impact of Disposable Technologies’ disposability enables the user to be free from the constant sterilization between batches, thereby leading to reduction in water consumption by 87%.
Bioprocessing for pressure monitoring have been facilitated by stainless steel pressure transmitters and pressure gauges, and in turn promotes efficiency in automated or manual process control by allowing process modifications based on process pressure information. On the other hand, using and heating hughe quantities of water to clean and sterilize equipment made of stainless steel is more energy demanding when compared to developing single use sensors. Based on a silicone micromachined piezoresistive element within a Wheatstone bridge circuit, the pressure sensing chip installed in the PendoTECH plastic flow-through devices has been developed. By incorporating the sensor within the wall of the fitting, PendoTECH's Single Use Pressure Sensors can have a seamless flow path.
The plastic sensors can have further life as an energy source even after usage, besides creating minimal risk of contamination. The plastic having increased heat value used within PendoTECH's Single Use Pressure Sensor waste is suitable for cogeneration.
The U.S. Clean Heat and Power Association states that the annual energy consumption is 1.3 T BTUs with cogeneration systems. Burning of single-use systems generate higher amounts of heat energy. The resulting heat can be used for generating electricity to be used in facilities. The evolution of sustainability efforts in the pharmaceutical industry has been demonstrated through the success in Pfizer's Environmental Sustainability Program and Bayer's Green IT Program.