Abstract:
An apparatus adapted to treat at least one target compound comprising a housing through which fluid may pass; a receiving zone defined within the housing; disposed after the receiving zone within the housing, a destruction zone in which an aqueous solution containing at least one target compound is exposed to a destruction agent, the destruction agent adapted to convert the target compound into destruction byproducts; disposed after the destruction zone, a filtration zone containing a filtration agent adapted to remove the destruction byproducts from the solution; liquid disposal means for receiving solution from the filtration zone; and solid disposal means for receiving solids from the filtration zone, whereby, the target compound is first converted to byproducts, then the byproducts are filtered out of the solution, preventing target compounds from entering wastewater systems and ultimately re-entering the water supply. Physical embodiments of the invention include an in-line version for mounting under a sink; a version mounted near a sink and in communication with plumbing, but not in-line; a version that is transportable within a cart; and a toilet-mounted version for removing target compound from urine. Docking stations may be provided for collection of target compounds, which stations then releasably communicate with the apparatus to transfer collected target compounds from the station to the apparatus. Various agents and processes are disclosed for destroying target compounds and for filtering byproducts.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/631,446 filed on Dec. 4, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/378,060 filed on Feb. 11, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need for a convenient way to dispose of compounds such as drugs, injectables, and other pharmaceutical compounds in a way such that they do not contaminate waterways and/or eventually return unused and unprocessed pharmaceuticals to the public water supply. Wastewater contamination is an important issue, especially in hospital, dental, home care and other settings where pharmaceuticals are commonly discarded. Healthcare workers are known to dispose of pharmaceuticals incorrectly, often unintentionally, which can lead to contaminated waste water. In the hospital, dental, home care and other settings, items that contain toxic chemicals are routinely poured down sinks. Since most waste water treatment facilities do not specifically treat for these chemicals, this can lead to pollution problem and to drugs making their way into public water supplies. In some instances, disposal of chemicals down sinks may lead to fines for violating EPA regulations. 
     The EPA has identified 1,500 publicly owned treatment works (“POTWs”) that are required to have a pretreatment program, and another 13,500 facilities that are not required to have a pretreatment program. Given the breadth of potential contaminants, the EPA focused on the following waste materials: mercury, primarily from dental facilities, but also from some medical equipment devices; and unused pharmaceuticals. Unused pharmaceuticals include animal and human drugs. Recent estimates are that over 200 million pounds of unused pharmaceuticals are dumped into the nation&#39;s wastewater system. They include wasted pills, excess liquid formulations (injectables and swallowed) and spilled biohazards. While the EPA and other regulators have best management practices in place, there is no measured data on the amount of unused pharmaceuticals entering POTWs. Current best management practices include: incineration or disposal in a solid-waste landfill. However, most pharmaceuticals are still disposed by being poured down a sink. 
     In its August 2008  Health Services Industry Study , (“EPA 2008 Study”) EPA stated that, “52,089 hospitals and [other medical facilities] are potentially discharging spent pharmaceuticals” into the US water system, and “most of the facilities that discharge wastewater must discharge it indirectly to municipal sewer systems.” The EPA 2008 Study is incorporated herein by reference. The report goes on to say that “a number of studies conducted over the past 10 years suggest detection of pharmaceutical compounds in treated wastewater effluent, streams, lakes, seawater, and groundwater, as well as in sediments and fish tissue.” The EPA is being pushed to solve this growing problem. 
     The EPA 2008 Study notes at p.4-1 and following that The Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) enforces the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). The goal of the CSA is to provide a closed distribution system for controlled substances. As part of this closed distribution system, DEA prohibits the return of controlled substances from end-users to any DEA registrant (including pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, researcher, or practically any other facility or individual), or transfer to anyone except, in certain cases, a law-enforcement agent. Disposal of controlled substances by DEA registrants is carefully regulated to ensure that the substance is destroyed or rendered unrecoverable. One acceptable method of destruction is flushing controlled substances into the wastewater. DEA registrants have the following options for disposing of controlled substances:
         They can return the controlled substance to the pharmaceutical manufacturer.   They can transfer the controlled substances to a reverse distributor to return them to the manufacturer or dispose of them. Hospitals typically have pre-existing arrangements with hazardous waste disposal firms and therefore do not need to make special arrangements for disposal of unused pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste. These disposal firms pick up the materials from the hospital and handle proper disposal.   They can dispose of the controlled substances under the procedures outlined in 21 CFR 1307.21, which provides that a DEA Special Agent in Charge can authorize for the disposal of the controlled substance in several ways.       

     In the EPA 2008 Study at p.6-1, EPA asserts that health service facilities have three disposal options for pharmaceuticals that are identified as waste and which cannot be returned to manufacturer for credit: (1) disposal to sewer; (2) incineration (RCRA incineration or low temperature incineration); and (3) disposal to landfill. These disposal mechanisms, however, follow the option of returning materials to the manufacture to be recycled/recovered for reuse. 
     Common pharmaceuticals that are considered “hazardous wastes” under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) include epinephrine, nitroglycerin, warfarin, nicotine, and many chemotherapy agents. These waste items are subject to unique and expensive disposal requirements, since the EPA regulates the generation, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of any pharmaceutical waste defined as hazardous waste by RCRA. The EPA is considering an expansion of these regulations by adding hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule and published its intent in the Federal Register on Dec. 2, 2008. Hospitals and other health care providers in several states have faced significant fines associated with violations of RCRA and EPA requirements. Fine amounts can be large and vary by state. Facilities in Nebraska, Minnesota, Florida, and other states have already been subject to inspections and subsequent fines, sometimes in excess of $100,000. For example, in early 2005, USEPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico), noted that of the 480 hospitals in the region, 44 have been inspected to date, resulting in 22 enforcement actions. Nine formal enforcement actions resulted in proposed fines of more than $900,000 and six settlements were reached for a total of more than $400,000 in fines. The problem addressed by the present invention is large, and its priority to regulators is increasing and likely to continue rising in importance. 
     An article on the impact and risks of drugs in the water system was released by the Associated Press on Mar. 10, 2008. The story was picked up by CNN, USA Today, Fox News and many national and international news outlets. The Denver Post ran a follow up article on Sep. 11, 2008 confirming that municipalities are finding most of their systems have detectable levels of narcotics, hormones and other potentially dangerous contaminants. These articles have had the effect of energizing the public and lobbyists around the issue of water contamination. As a result, relevant agencies are now working together to identify possible solutions and agree on best practices for handling drugs prior to or once in the water system. 
     A variety of treatment/processing options are available to treat wastewater containing unused pharmaceuticals. These processing options include chemical or physical adsorption, ion exchange, membrane filtration, electrodeionization, photo ionization, and other similar technologies. Treatment can include destruction of target compounds by exposing them to appropriate chemicals. Destruction can be accomplished by exposing organic materials to acids, bases, oxidizers, or reducing agents. Oxidizers, for example, may include peroxide, chlorine (gaseous or in solution), and various other chemicals and may be derived in-situ from known processes. 
     Activated carbon, coal or resin beads remove oxidizers from a solution by a physical or chemical adsorption mechanism and remove dissolved organics by physical adsorption. Activated carbon can be used as granules or in monolithic block form. 
     Ion exchange works by exchanging hydrogen ions for cationic contaminants and hydroxyl ions for anionic contaminants in an aqueous solution. Ion exchange resin beds are made up of small beads through which the solution passes. After a period of time, cations and anions from the solution will replace most of the available hydrogen and hydroxyl sites in the resins and the resin bed will need to be replaced or regenerated. Ion exchange will only remove ionic compounds from the water. Dissolved organics can foul the ion exchange beads, decreasing their capacity. Where organically and inorganically pure water is needed, the combination of reverse osmosis or carbon filtration followed by ion exchange is particularly effective. 
     There are multiple names for filtration using microporous membranes including, but without limitation, microporous filtration, reverse osmosis (RO), ultra-filtration. All of these filtration technologies have in common the use of a membrane with tiny pores through which water may pass, but which prevents the passage of particles or solutes of a particular charge or size. Reverse osmosis is based on the fact that a chemical potential gradient can be eliminated by forcing a solution through a membrane. Water, driven by an osmotic pressure, a force caused by the concentration difference, passes through the membrane into the concentrated solution. The flow of water continues until the concentrated solution is diluted to approximately the same concentration as the formerly dilute solution (i.e., the chemical potential gradient is eliminated). If a pressure greater than the osmotic pressure is applied to the higher concentration side of the membrane, the normal direction of osmotic flow is reversed, pure water passes through the membrane from the concentrated solution and is thus separated from its contaminants. Membrane materials include, but are not limited to polyamide thin film and cellulosic membranes. Thin-film composite membranes are commonly used, but the materials of which they are comprised vary greatly. Ultra-filtration uses a membrane very similar in design to reverse osmosis, except that the ultra-filter pores are slightly larger, from 0.001 to 0.02 micron. The details of how to apply filtration using membranes will vary depending on the purity of effluent desired and the materials to be removed. 
     Electrodeionization (“EDI”) features a combination of ion exchange resin and ion-selective membranes. EDI is a refinement of electrodialysis (“ED”). The principle of ED is that water is purified in a cell containing two types of ion selective membranes (cation-permeable and anion-permeable) between a pair of electrodes. When an electric potential is applied across the cell, the cations in the water migrate towards the negatively charged cathode and the anions migrate towards the positively charged anode. The cations can pass through the cation-permeable membrane, but not through the anionic one and vice-versa. The net result is the movement of ions between chambers and the water in one section can become deionized while that in another section becomes concentrated. There is a practical limit to the purity than can be obtained by ED because of the prohibitively high electrical voltages required to drive ions through water of increasingly high purity. This problem is overcome in EDI technology by filling the spaces between the membranes with ion exchange resins. The resins provide a conductive flow path for the migration of ions, enabling deionization to be virtually complete and resulting in the production of high-purity water. 
     Photo-oxidation uses high intensity electromagnetic radiation (usually ultraviolet) to cleave and ionize organic compounds for subsequent removal by, for example, ion exchange cartridges. Radiation with a wavelength of 185 nm is most effective for the oxidation of organics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to disposal and/or destruction of target compounds such as drugs, injectables, and other pharmaceuticals. More particularly, the invention is an apparatus that destroys unused target compounds, then filters out the byproducts of the destruction process. 
     The invention may embody a target compound treatment apparatus comprising: 
     (a) a destruction zone in which an aqueous solution containing at least one target compound is exposed to a destruction agent adapted to convert the target compound into destruction byproduct; 
     (b) a filtration zone in which a filtration agent removes the destruction byproduct from the solution or suspension. The invention may also include a pretreatment zone adapted to facilitate target compounds entering solution or a flow inducer adapted to cause the aqueous solution to flow through the apparatus. 
     The destruction agent may comprise an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent (such as hydrogen peroxide or Fenton&#39;s reagent), or a reducing agent, and it may be available on the surface of a solid substrate disposed within the destruction zone, the substrate either a granular or porous material. Alternatively, the destruction agent may be a liquid or gaseous reagent that is admixed with the aqueous solution or suspension upon activation of the apparatus by a sensor or by a user-operated switch. In addition to chemical destruction, the destruction may be accomplished by exposing the aqueous solution to a source of ionizing electromagnetic radiation. A related method of destruction is electrochemical processing, which employs an anode and cathode passing current through a liquid media containing the target compound. The destruction may be accomplished using any one or a combination of the foregoing reagents and processes. 
     The filtration agent may be an adsorption media such as activated carbon. In another embodiment, the filtration agent comprises a membrane adapted to allow water to pass but to prevent passage of destruction byproduct, such as an ion exchange bed or electrodeionization. Literature and testing confirm that activated charcoal filtration alone would trap around 99% of organic waste similar to pharmaceutical compounds. Normal liquid concentration rates on active ingredients in pharmaceuticals are 100-200 ppm in their raw form. So, even without a destruction step on the front end, active waste levels in the effluent in the 1-2 ppm range could be achieved just by allowing gravity to pull the waste through. The system may loop through a charcoal filter twice, which may achieve 100 ppb of target compounds in the effluent with charcoal filtration alone. 
     Due to a potentially high pressure drop through the apparatus, a flow inducer may be needed to maintain adequate flow rates through the apparatus. The flow inducer, if present, may comprise a pump at either the inlet to the apparatus adapted to push the aqueous solution therethrough or at an outlet thereof. 
     The destruction zone and/or the filtration zone may be contained in at least one replaceable module. In one embodiment, both zones are contained in a single replaceable module. In this single-module embodiment, the destruction zone and filtration zones preferably have use rates calibrated such that they have the same treatment capacity, whereby they are spent and need replacement at the same time. In another embodiment, the destruction zone and filtration zones are housed in separately replaceable modules. 
     The apparatus may include a pre-treatment chamber or filter for preventing the entry of solid materials larger than a pre-determined size into the destruction zone. Another way of dealing with solids entering the apparatus is to provide a grinding zone adapted to pulverize any solid materials prior to their entry into the destruction zone. Pretreatment may include a chamber defining a section for dissolving solid target compounds before they enter the destruction zone. 
     The physical configuration of the present invention may comprise an in-line, under-sink device receiving waste materials through a drain and passing the destruction byproduct or through drain plumbing. It may also be a portable embodiment or a wall- or under-counter-mountable version that it not in-line with plumbing. Alternatively, the present invention may be located in a toilet for treating target compounds in urine before it passes on, for example, to a POTW. The in-toilet configuration preferably includes a means for rejecting solid waste so that it does not enter the pretreatment or destruction zones. Another embodiment allows for at least one portable collection vessel for gathering target compounds and potentially pretreating them. The collection vessel is adapted to be emptied into or “dock” with a main treatment component containing the destruction and filtration zones. The collection vessel may have a pretreatment zone for beginning the process of dissolving solids and/or destruction of target compounds. 
     In this specification, there are outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a system incorporating the apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a module. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional side view of a module having both a destruction and filtration zone. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial schematic representation of an apparatus incorporating a grinder for pulverizing larger solids placed into the apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention with a pre-treatment reservoir installed underneath a sink or basin. 
         FIG. 7  is a front sectional view of an in-toilet embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of a pre-treatment chamber having a section for dissolving solids. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment adapted to either allow direct introduction of a target compound or to interface with a removable collection vessel. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a modular embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A target compound treatment apparatus  100  is shown schematically in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  100  has an inlet  102 , which is shown with an optional pre-filter/coarse screen. The apparatus  100  also has a body  106  terminating in an outlet  104 .  FIG. 1  shows the apparatus  100  having a square cross section. However, the exact cross section of the apparatus is not important: it could be round, oval, or any other cross section that is desired. Similarly, it is expected that the apparatus  100  may have a similar size to an under-sink garbage disposal. The size of the apparatus is not crucial to its novel function, but rather will be dictated by the space available and the desired life of the destruction and filtration zones. The smaller the size, the more frequently the various modules will have to be changed. 
     Within the body  106  are a destruction zone  108 , shown as being contained within a first module  110 , and a filtration zone  112 , shown contained within a second module  114 . Embodiments of the modules are further illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  shows a single-zone module  300 . The module  300  comprises a drawer with three watertight sides  302 . The drawer shape is completed by a faceplate  304  having thereon a faceplate seal  306  for sealingly engaging the body  106 . Along an upper edge of the sides is a flange  308  with a flange seal  310  on an underside thereof. The flange  308  engages the body  106  to ensure that solution flowing down through the apparatus  100  passes through the destruction  108  and filtration zones  112  rather than bypassing them. Partial cross section shows the zone content material  314  for that module, which can either be the destruction zone materials or filtration zone materials, as discussed below. After passing though the materials  314 , the solution passes out through a porous bottom  312 . To assist with removal of the module  300 , a handle  316  is shown affixed to the faceplate  304 . Module handles  136  can also be seen in  FIG. 1 , which shows two separate modules, but which could also be equipped with a single module as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The module  300  may also have a means for securing the destruction zone  108  and/or the filtration zone  112  in place. The means for securing may include a lock with a key release or the like. The means for securing prevents any tampering with the modules by individuals who might desire to have access to unused pharmaceuticals or other chemicals contained therein. 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment where both the destruction agent  414  and the filtration agent  418  are contained within a combined module  400 . It again has a drawer  402  with three watertight sides cooperating with a faceplate  404  to form a drawer. Affixed to the faceplate  404  is a faceplate seal  406  for sealingly engaging the faceplate  404  to the body  106 . A flange  408  is affixed to an upper edge of the drawer, the flange having a flange seal  410  on a lower surface for sealingly engaging a cooperating ridge within the body  106 . The bottom of the drawer  402  has a porous bottom  412  to support the filtration agent  418 . Disposed on top of the filtration agent  418  is the destruction agent  414 . There may be a porous divider  422  (such as a screen or grate) disposed between the destruction agent  414  and the filtration agent  418 , or they may simply rest upon one another. Depending on the target compound to be treated and the chemicals used to treat them, the destruction zone depth  416  or the filtration zone depth  420  will be varied with the object being depletion of both the destruction agent and the filtration agent at the same time. That is, the object will be to vary the depth of the materials to ensure that the times when both zones are used up is as close to the same as possible. Again, a handle  424  is shown affixed to the faceplate  404  to facilitate removal of the combined module  400 . 
     The apparatus  100  may be mounted below a sink or basin  116  or near a sink or basin or a portable configuration. To ensure an adequate flow rate of solution through the apparatus  100 , there may be a flow inducer or pump  118 . The pump  118  can be activated automatically by way of a sensor  122  or manually with a switch  124  in communication with the pump  118  by way of a control circuit  126 . If a manual switch  124  is used, it can be either a wall switch such as is typically used for lights and the like, or it may be a foot pedal located adjacent to the apparatus  100 . An “always on” option may be available for high-generation environments. The pump  118  may be battery-powered, but will preferably be powered by an external power source  128 . In some embodiments it may be desirable to have both a switch and a sensor, as shown. Following the outlet  104 , the apparatus is attached to a wastewater line  120  to accept solution flowing out of the apparatus  100 . 
     Where, for example, the destruction agent is a liquid or gas, a chemical tank  130  may be needed to provide a storage reservoir. A pump or compressor  132  may be needed to move the chemical into the destruction zone  108  through a chemical supply line  134 . Preferably, as shown, the chemical pump will also preferably be powered by and controlled by the same control circuit  126  and power source  128  as the pump  118 . 
     No tank  130  is needed if the destructive agent is a solid substrate as shown in  FIG. 3  or  4 . The solid substrate may be a bed of granular solids either comprised entirely of the destructive agent or with the agent deposited at least on the surface of the granules. Alternatively, the solid substrate may be a porous matrix containing the destructive agent. If it is a porous matrix, the substrate may either be spongy, with the destructive agent therein, or a porous solid matrix either comprised of the destructive agent or having it at least on a surface thereof. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the apparatus. The inlet  102  is shown with a pre-filter to prevent coarse solids from entering. A module handle  136   a  can be seen. Also, a sensor  122  is shown at the inlet  102  for detection of solution entering the apparatus  100 . A signal generated by the sensor  122  may activate the pump  118 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the apparatus  500  incorporating a grinder  506 . The grinder  506  is disposed between the inlet  502  and the body  504 . The grinder  506  may be integrated onto the body  504 . Preferably the grinder  506  is activated by the same sensor  508  or switch  510  that activates the pump  118 . Alternatively, the grinder may have a separate switch for its activation. The grinder may also be provided as a macerator pump or the like. 
       FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of an apparatus  600  mounted underneath a sink  602 . The sink drain  604  leads to a split in the piping  606  at which point materials are either directed into a pass-through drain  608 , which bypasses the apparatus and passes directly to the outlet  610 , typically then on to a publicly owned treatment works, but alternatively to an on-site water treatment system or even a holding tank, or into the filter drain  612 , then on into treatment/filtration portions apparatus  600 . Selection of whether entering materials are directed into the pass-through drain  608 , i.e., bypassing the treatment function, or the filter drain  612  is made by means of a switch mechanism which, as shown, is an activation foot pedal  614  in communication with the switch mechanism. Materials entering the sink drain  604  are directed into the pass-through drain  608  unless an operator activates the switch mechanism, thereby directing the entering materials into the filter drain  612 . 
     A pre-treatment reservoir  616  is located between the filter drain  612  and the destruction zone  618 . The pre-treatment reservoir can serve several purposes. First, the pre-treatment reservoir  616  may serve as a holding area where solids entering the apparatus  600  can be retained for some time while dissolving by exposure to solutions passing therethrough or by addition of a dissolving reagent. In this embodiment, the reservoir preferably has a screen or other filtration-type apparatus at its outlet that prevents undissolved solid materials from continuing on into the destruction zone  618 . In the alternative embodiment, the pre-treatment reservoir  616  can serve as a storage or holding tank until a desired volume of material to be treated has been aggregated therein. At that time, the contents of the reservoir are released into the destruction zone  618  in a batch fashion. 
     After passing through the pre-treatment reservoir  616 , materials pass into the destruction zone  618 , then on into a filtration zone  620 . After treatment and filtration, remaining materials pass into the outlet drain  610 . 
     As shown, a keypad  622  is provided for entry of data into a control system. A display screen  624  may also be included in communication with a control system for providing feedback to a user regarding either data entry or system operation. For example, if the pre-treatment reservoir  616  operates in batch fashion, the screen  624  may be used to indicate the number of cycles, and to indicate how many are left before it is necessary to perform maintenance on the destruction and/or filtration zones. 
     A pump  626  may be desirable to ensure adequate flow through the apparatus  600 . The pump may be automatically activated with the switch mechanism such as the foot pedal  614  shown in  FIG. 6 . In the embodiment where the pre-treatment reservoir  616  dumps in a batch fashion, the pump  626  may be automatically activated in association with a dump cycle. Alternatively, the pump may be manually activated by a user when they observe an inadequate flow through the apparatus  600 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an in-toilet embodiment  700  in a front cross-sectional view. The in-toilet embodiment  700  preferably has a collapsible funnel  702  disposed within a bowl  704  of a toilet. The funnel  702  includes a trap door  706  to allow solid waste to pass into toilet water  708  without being processed in a compact destruction zone  710  into which the funnel  702  channels urine entering it. The urine encounters a destruction agent preferably fed into the destruction zone  710  from a reservoir  712 . As shown, the reservoir  712  is defined within a toilet seat riser  714 . However, the reservoir  712  could be in any nearby location where gravity feed (preferred) or a pump could allow it to flow into the destruction zone  710 . A tube  716  caries the destruction agent from the reservoir  712  to the destruction zone  710 . Destruction agent from the reservoir  712  may be activated to enter the destruction zone  710  by the flushing of the toilet in which the apparatus is mounted. The activation may be a mechanical link with the toilet handle or an electronic or hydraulic mechanism activated by the flow of water or the physical action of the toilet handle. A filtration zone  718  follows the destruction zone  710 . After passing through the destruction zone  710  and the filtration zone  718 , the processed urine flows into toilet water  708  for disposal. If a riser  714  is used, it is disposed over a toilet lid  720 . A lever  722  activates the collapsible action of the funnel  702 . 
     The invention necessarily includes a disposal means for the an aqueous solution and for the destruction byproducts trapped in the filter. The disposal means may comprise the aqueous solution or suspension passing through a drain to a POTW or other water processing facility. Alternatively, the disposal means may comprise collection of the wastewater for transportation to an off site disposal facility. Solids may be filtered out and collected for offsite disposal. For example, the materials trapped in the filter may be transported off site for destruction by combustion, electrochemical process. Disposal may include recovery and reuse of the destruction byproducts. It is intended that the disposal means could comprise any of the various processing options discussed in this specification. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a pretreatment chamber  800  defining therein a space for collection of target compounds  802 . An elevated intake orifice  804  maintains a pool of solution  806  in the chamber, facilitating solid target compounds  802  entering a solution before entering a destruction zone. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment  900  adapted to either allow direct introduction of a target compound or to interface with a removable collection vessel  914 . The apparatus  900  has an initial aperture  902  through which target compounds can be introduced. From there, target compounds introduced into the aperture may pass through a torture path to limit the ability to retrieve target compounds placed therein. Part of the objective of the invention is also to prevent misuse of controlled substances. A torture path advances this objective by preventing later retrieval of controlled substances introduced to the apparatus  900 . After the aperture  902  and the optional torture path, target compounds may pass into a receiving zone  904  that serves both to hold target compounds and to facilitate dissolving any solids. A first docking station  912  may be in communication with the receiving zone  904  and adapted to releasably communicate with a collection unit  914 . Multiple collection units may be distributed throughout a facility in which this embodiment  900  is located, and target compounds collected into each of the collection units  914  for later being passed into a docking station adapted to convey target compounds from the collection unit  914  into the embodiment  900  at some point in the unit, either a first docking station discussed above, or a second docking station  916  discussed below. A macerator  906  may be located between the receiving zone  904  and the destruction zone  908 . The macerator  906  may serve to pulverize any remaining solids and to pump solution through the device. In another embodiment, any solids entering the apparatus would be dissolved in a chemical solution. The destruction zone  908  contains a destruction agent or such an agent is introduced therein to act on target compounds. A second docking station  916  is in communication with the destruction zone  908  for allowing introduction of target compounds by way of releasable communication with a collection unit  914 . Such a configuration is desirable particularly where the collection unit  914  includes an elevated orifice of the type shown in  FIG. 8  or a similar chamber for facilitating the dissolving of solid target compounds collected therein. After the destruction zone, the solution passes into a filtration zone  910 . Once filtered, the solution passes out an outlet  918 , and flow, if not viable by way of gravity, may be facilitated by a pump  920 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a modular embodiment  1002  of the invention on a wheeled cart  1004 . The embodiment preferably has an outer case  1006  within which the mechanism similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  is contained. There is an inlet port or basin  1008  for receiving the material to be processed. There is an inlet port  1010  for water and preferably an outlet port  1012 . Contained within the case  1006  may be a holding tank for situations in which it is not practical to dump the effluent from the device. Similarly, there may be a supply tank for providing water when connection to a water source is not practical. The front face  1014  of the apparatus may have a destruction zone module  1016  and a filtration zone module  1018  accessible therethrough for checking and/or replacing those modules as needed. Specialized status lights may be provided for the filtration zone  1022  and for the destruction zone  1020 , to indicate the status of the zones. For example, the lights may be green when the zones are operating properly and red when they need to be maintained. A power cord  1024  allows for ease of connection to a source of electricity instead of requiring a hard-wired connection. A power switch  1026  may be disposed on the case  1006 . A display screen  1028  is preferably provided to display information related to the operation of the apparatus, and information preferably can be input via a key pad  1030 . The cart  1004  may define storage therein, either shelves or a cabinet with doors  1032  as shown. The modular embodiment may be permanently mounted to a wall or otherwise in a desired location. Alternately, it may be disposed on a counter-top. 
     While the invention has been shown, illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of specific embodiments or modifications, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the precise embodiment or modification therein shown, illustrated, described or disclosed. Such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope of the claims herein appended.