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PENETRATION BY GASES TO STERILIZE INTERIOR SURFACES OF CONFINED SPACES.

J B OPFELL, Y L WANG, A L LOUDERBACK

Applied Microbiology

|January 1, 1964

Summary

Predicting sterilant penetration into confined spaces is crucial for effective sterilization. This study uses computation and experiments to determine ethylene oxide exposure times for sterile conditions.

Keywords:

BACILLUS SUBTILIS ETHYLENE OXIDE EXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDY FORMALDEHYDE GASES LACTONES PHYSICS STERILIZATION

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Area of Science:

Sterilization and disinfection science
Chemical engineering
Microbiology

Background:

Gaseous sterilizing agents are vital for medical device sterilization.
Understanding penetration into confined spaces is critical for efficacy.
Ethylene oxide is a common gaseous sterilant requiring precise exposure control.

Purpose of the Study:

To predict the penetration rate of gaseous sterilizing agents into confined spaces.
To determine necessary exposure times for achieving sterilizing concentrations of ethylene oxide.
To validate computational predictions with experimental data.

Main Methods:

Utilized physical and chemical principles to model sterilant penetration.
Employed computational methods to predict exposure times in various confined space configurations.
Conducted experimental validation to confirm computed results.

Main Results:

Developed predictive models for gaseous sterilant penetration rates.
Quantified ethylene oxide exposure times required for sterilization in complex geometries.
Presented computational findings graphically for practical application.

Conclusions:

Physical and chemical factors accurately predict sterilant penetration into confined spaces.
Computational and experimental methods effectively determine sterilization exposure times.
Graphical data aids in optimizing sterilization cycles for confined spaces.