Technology Generators

Dr. Ramer P. Bautista
University of the Philippines Visayas

The Problem

Healthcare facilities, particularly in Western Visayas, face significant challenges in managing infectious and pathological waste due to the absence of accredited treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities. Traditional methods like autoclaving are costly, energy-intensive, and often inaccessible to smaller hospitals. This gap in waste treatment infrastructure poses serious environmental and public health risks.

The Solution

The Oil-Based Thermal Disinfection (OBTD) technology provides a sustainable, low-cost alternative for treating infectious healthcare waste directly on-site. Unlike conventional incineration or autoclaving methods, OBTD uses coconut or vegetable oil as a heating medium to disinfect waste at temperatures between 170°C and 200°C under atmospheric pressure. This eliminates pathogens without producing toxic emissions, making it environmentally safe. The system is designed for efficiency, with integrated components such as shredders, a screw-type treatment chamber, and emission control units using activated bamboo biochar to reduce carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds. Additionally, an encapsulation method was developed to immobilize treated microorganisms, preventing their recurrence. The technology reduces waste mass and volume by up to 75%, achieves energy savings of approximately 31% compared to autoclaves, and cuts treatment costs to as low as Php 23.27 per kilogram. Its compliance with RA 9003, RA 6969, RA 8749, and DOH guidelines ensures it meets national environmental and health standards while remaining affordable and accessible for healthcare facilities.

Technology Development Status

Developed through a collaboration between UP Los Baños and UP Visayas, and funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the OBTD technology has progressed to Technology Readiness Level 6, with two prototypes currently undergoing installation and demonstration in partner hospitals. A notable milestone includes the successful deployment of a commercial-scale unit at The Medical City Iloilo (TMCI), marking the first healthcare institution to adopt this technology. To facilitate commercialization, a spin-off company, FILARB Waste Management Services, was established in September 2023 under the leadership of Dr. Bautista. FILARB aims to scale the technology’s deployment across the Philippines, focusing on regions lacking adequate waste treatment facilities.

Current Needs

To transition the OBTD technology from pilot implementation to wider market adoption, the project team is actively seeking additional funding and strategic partnerships. Financial support is crucial for setting up manufacturing, which includes developing and testing optimized units, conducting reliability and production consistency evaluations, and securing necessary regulatory certifications such as the CE Mark and FDA approvals. The team also aims to scale up production through an initial manufacturing run and quality assurance testing. Partnerships with hospitals, local government units, and environmental agencies are being pursued to facilitate training, implementation, and integration into healthcare waste management systems. In support of these goals, the spin-off company FILARB Waste Management Services is leading commercialization efforts and is looking to collaborate with stakeholders to deploy the technology in underserved regions nationwide.

Contact Details

University of the Philippines Visayas – Technology Transfer and Business Development Office
2F New Administration Building University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao, Iloilo
Phone: 63 9054439916
Email: ttbdo.upvisayas@up.edu.ph , sotech-dean.upvisayas@up.edu.ph