Apparatus and methods for catalytic, low temperature degradation of medical waste and other organic materials

A system for catalytically degrading medical waste or animal tissues comprising:

• a single reaction chamber;
• a suspended media within the single reaction chamber, the media including individual particles selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, and mixtures thereof that become catalytically reactive and capable of catalyzing the oxidative degradation of medical waste or animal tissues exposed to the catalytically reactive media at a temperature lower than about 480.degree. C.;
• means for suspending the media particles, said suspending means disposed at least in part within the single reaction chamber and communicating with the media;
• means for heating the media particles to a temperature up to about 480.degree. C. in order for the media particles to become catalytically reactive, said heating means maintaining the media particles at a temperature less than about 480.degree. C.;
• means for exposing the individual media particles to moisture in order for the media particles to become catalytically reactive;
• means for introducing the medical waste or animal corpse within the single reaction chamber in order that the catalytically reactive media particles contact or come into close proximity to the medical waste or animal tissues;
• and
• means for venting the combustion gases from the single reaction chamber.