Is flow rate important for an amalgam separator?
According to law, the flow rate entering the amalgam separator should not exceed the tested flow rate (the flow rate the separator was tested at using the ISO 11143 test procedure and achieving 99% efficiency)during all maintenance or operational procedures performed at the dental office. Dental offices generate different flow rates during both procedures. For instance, a liter or more of line disinfectant may be flushed through the system during routine maintenance procedures. Dental facilities may also perform multiple line cleaner flushings throughout the day or multiple operatories may be flushed with line cleaner at the same time. Line cleaning creates “peak flow” conditions that pushes residual materials through the line. The appropriately sized separator is very important to capture dental amalgam and to prevent untreated wastewater from passing through the system when excessive flow is encountered. Some amalgam separators offer flow restrictors to assure the appropriate flow ra
