[Continuous sterilization of peritoneal dialysate using ultraviolet rays].

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Microbiology and Sterilization Technologies

Context:

• Conventional sterilization methods often face limitations in efficiency and efficacy.
• The need for high-throughput, reliable sterilization in medical and pharmaceutical applications is critical.

Purpose:

• To develop and evaluate a novel unit for continuous ultra-violet (UV) sterilization.
• To enhance sterilization efficacy by utilizing the full spectrum of direct UV rays from a mercury-UV low-pressure lamp.
• To assess the unit's performance in sterilizing large volumes of solutions.

Summary:

• A new continuous sterilization unit employing a mercury-UV low-pressure lamp was designed and tested.
• The unit uniquely separates solution flow into layers for maximum UV exposure, achieving an output of 400 ml/min.
• Irradiation doses significantly exceeded optimal levels for spores (163x), with a linear correlation observed between optical density and UV dose.

Impact:

• Successfully sterilized approximately 100 tons of peritoneal and replacement solutions for medical use.
• Demonstrates a highly effective and scalable method for continuous UV sterilization.
• Provides a mathematical model for unit operation and establishes a clear relationship between UV dose and solution properties.