Correlation between Pressure and Cumulative Concentration during Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2026

In Situ High Pressure Hydrogen Tribological Testing of Common Polymer Materials Used in the Hydrogen Delivery Infrastructure
Published on: March 31, 2018
Li Bian1, Hong Cheng1, Yilong Hu1
1Department of Nursing, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and International School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China, 322000.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the correlation between chamber pressure and cumulative vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2) concentration during sterilization, and analyze the influences of material characteristics, vertical placement, and sterilization cycle on this relationship.
Methods:
Three materials (silicone pads, new and used stainless steel instruments) were tested using an ASP STERRAD® 100NX sterilizer under Dual Operating Unit (DOU) dual-cycle conditions. Real-time monitoring of pressure and cumulative VH2O2 concentration (mg·s/L, time-integrated) was performed, with ANOVA for group comparisons and Pearson correlation for pressure-concentration relationship analysis.
Results:
Cumulative VH2O2 concentrations significantly differed among materials, positions, and cycles (all p < 0.0001), with silicone pads showing the lowest and new stainless steel instruments the highest. Most conditions exhibited significant positive or negative pressure-concentration correlations (p < 0.05), with the strongest negative correlation in the lower-layer used stainless steel (Cycle 2, r = -0.93, p < 0.0001). New stainless steel showed stable correlations, while silicone and used stainless steel had variable patterns.
Conclusion:
The pressure-concentration correlation during sterilization is jointly regulated by material surface characteristics, vertical placement, and sterilization cycle stage. The findings provide practical guidance for improving sterilization consistency.
Related Concept Videos
Methods of Sterilization II: Chemical Methods
Using chemical sterilization rather than heat to clean out equipment is recommended. It eradicates and removes all bacteria,...
Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
Vapor Pressure Lowering
Vapor Pressure
Clausius-Clapeyron Equation
Vapor Pressure of Fluid
When a liquid is placed in a closed container with a small air space, and the space is evacuated, vapor molecules will...
