System for the contained transfer of particulates
View Patent ↗An economical and reliable system for the contained transfer of particulates by means of a series of transfer containers facilitates the particulate transfer without either exposure of the operating personnel and the environment to the particulate, or environmental contamination of the particulate itself. The system employs a multiple o-ring canister assembly which can be attached to either the discharging port or charging port of a piece of processing equipment. The canister has a series of circumferential o-ring grooves which allows the attachment of a series of individual transfer containers. In a charging mode, once the particulate is charged to the processing equipment, a first transfer container is collapsed and a second transfer container is placed in the next o-ring groove, thereby containing the remaining contaminated section of the first transfer container. The first transfer container is removed through a bag-out sleeve which is an integral part of the second transfer container. The process is repeated in a stepwise fashion by moving to the next groove in the canister until the process equipment is completely charged in a particulate contained manner.
1. A transfer apparatus comprising a bag, said bag comprising a film having a thickness of 4 to 6 mils, said film comprising:
a metallocene catalyzed olefinic base resin in an amount of 99.4-99.5% by weight of said film;
an amide-based antistatic agent in a range of from 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of said film; and
an amine-based antistatic agent in a range of from 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of said film; and
the balance of said film being a filler comprising diatomaceous earth;
wherein said amide-based antistatic agent comprises N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecaneadmide N,N- bis ( 2 - hydroxyethyl ) dodecaneamide and said amine-based antistatic agent comprises POE(2) C13-C15 alkylamine and said film has a surface resistivity of less than 1×10 11 ohms per square and a charge decay of less than 3.5 seconds.
2. A transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proportions of said olefinic base resin, amide-based antistatic agent, amine-based antistatic agent and filler are selected such that said film passes a discharge incendivity test.
3. An apparatus for transporting pharmaceuticals without exposing workers to the health hazards of the pharmaceuticals, said apparatus comprising
a bag, said bag comprising a film, said film comprising:
a metallocene-catalyzed olefinic base resin in an amount of 99.4-99.5% by weight of said film;
an amide based-antistatic agent in a range of from 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of said film; and
an amine-based antistatic agent in a range of from 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of said film; and
the balance of said film being a filler comprising diatomaceous earth;
wherein the amide-based antistatic agent comprises N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecaneadmide N,N- bis ( 2 - hydroxyethyl ) dodecaneamide ; and the amine-based antistatic agent comprises POE(2) C13-15 alkylamine and said film has a surface resistivity of less than 1×10 11 ohms per square and a charge decay of less than 3.5 seconds; and
a pharmaceutical, disposed within the bag.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said olefinic base resin is a metallocene catalyzed resin; and the filler is diatomaceous earth.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bag is heat sealed with the pharmaceutical inside.
6. A transfer apparatus comprising a bag, said bag comprising a film having a thickness of 4 to 6 mils, said film comprising:
a metallocene catalyzed olefinic base resin in an amount of 95 - 99 . 5 % by weight of said film;
an amide - based antistatic agent in a range of from 0 . 1 to 0 . 5 % by weight of said film; and
an amine - based antistatic agent in a range of from 0 . 01 to 0 . 1 % by weight of said film; and
the balance of said film being a filler comprising diatomaceous earth;
wherein said amide - based antistatic agent comprises N,N - bis ( 2 - hydroxyethyl ) dodecaneamide and said amine - based antistatic agent comprises POE ( 2 ) C 13 - C 15 aklylamine and said film has a surface resistivity of less than 1 × 10 11 ohms per square and a charge decay of less than 3 . 5 seconds.
7. A transfer apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the proportions of said olefinic base resin, amide- based antistatic agent, amine - based antistatic agent and filler are selected such that said film passes a discharge incendivity test.
8. The transfer apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the metallocene catalyzed base resin is present in an amount of from 98 to 99 . 5 % by weight.
9. The transfer apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the metallocene catalyzed base resin is present in an amount of from 99 to 99 . 4 % by weight.
10. The transfer apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the resin comprises polyethylene.
11. An apparatus for transporting pharmaceuticals without exposing workers to the health hazards of the pharmaceuticals, said apparatus comprising
a bag, said bag comprising a film, said film comprising:
a metallocene - catalyzed olefinic base resin in an amount of 95 - 99 . 5 % by weight of said film;
an amide - based antistatic agent in a range of from 0 . 1 to 0 . 5 % by weight of said film; and
an amine - based antistatic agent in a range of from 0 . 01 to 0 . 1 % by weight of said film; and
the balance of said film being a filler comprising diatomaceous earth;
wherein the amide - based antistatic agent comprises N,N - bis ( 2 - hydroxyethyl ) dodecaneamide; and the amine - based antistatic agent comprises POE ( 2 ) C 13 - 15 alkylamine and said film has a surface resistivity of less than 1 × 10 11 ohms per square and a charge decay of less than 3 . 5 seconds; and
a pharmaceutical, disposed within the bag.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said olefinic base resin is a metallocene catalyzed resin; and the filler is diatomaceous earth.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the bag is heat sealed with the pharmaceutical inside.
14. The transfer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the metallocene catalyzed base resin is present in an amount of from 98 to 99 . 5 % by weight.
15. The transfer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the metallocene catalyzed base resin is present in an amount of from 99 to 99 . 4 % by weight.
16. The transfer apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the resin comprises polyethylene.