Autoclave principle, working and its types
Autoclave principle, working and its types Steam Sterilizer / Autoclave : The autoclave is a sealed device (similar to a pressure cooker) that kills microorganisms using saturated steam under pressure . Principle : The use of moist heat facilitates the killing of all microorganisms, including heat-resistant endospores which is achieved by heating the materials inside the device at temperatures above the boiling point of water. Method : Moist heat in the form of steam under pressure causes the denaturation & coagulation of proteins by following steps . 1.Conditioning : The usual procedure is to heat at 1.1 kilograms/square centimeter (kg/cm2) [15 pounds/square inch (lb/in.)] steam pressure, which yields a temperature of 121°C. At 121°C, the time of autoclaving to achieve sterilization is generally considered to be 15-20 min, depending on the volume of the load. 2. Exposure : Direct s...