Looking for the right autoclave definition?
Searching for the information on autoclave cycle and its applications?
Here, in this blog, you will find answers to all such questions.
Ever think of a situation where you perform an experiment in a biotechnology lab where you pour the plates for one or the other purpose of biotech related experiments and every time you come by no success. This would have been a situation if Autoclave could not have been in the scene. Going back to history, the autoclave sterilizer was invented in 1879 and the success of the invention is attributed to Charles Chamberland.
Table of Content
- Autoclave Definition
- Basic Overview of an Autoclave cycle
- Uses of Autoclave in Multiple Industry Sectors
- Conclusion
Autoclave – Definition
Although a precursor known as the steam digester was created by Denis Papin in 1679. The motivation behind this great invention was around those times researchers started to realize the importance of a sterile surgery. Initially doctors used the open flame method in order to perform the sterilization of surgical equipment. The time came when they needed a more reliable sterilization method.
The autoclave’s benefits were soon evident, and it became an essential part of every clinic and hospital. Nowadays, small autoclaves which are also called tabletop autoclaves can be found in dental offices too. The main purpose of an autoclave chamber is to sterilize medical or laboratory instruments by heating them above boiling point.
In most of the clinics one can find tabletop autoclaves which are similar in size to microwave ovens whereas in hospitals large autoclaves called horizontal autoclaves are used. These autoclaves are usually located in the Central Sterile Services Department.
Such big sizes of the autoclave make it suitable to process numerous surgical instruments in a single sterilization cycle hence meeting the ongoing high level demands for sterile equipment in operating rooms and emergency wards.
After Autoclave Definition, Let’s look at the basic overview of an Autoclave Cycle
- First the water is heated upto the boiling temperature so that the steam is generated which then enters the autoclave chamber. The moment steam enters into the chamber, the air starts moving out of the chamber and as the steam expands the chamber air keeps moving out.
There are actually two processes to remove the chamber air out. One is through the method following the use of vacuum which uses a pump or ejector which is seen in large autoclaves and the other one is by a displacement process seen in case of smaller benchtop autoclaves.
- Now when the air is removed the autoclave operator increases the temperature and pressure by closing the chamber exhaust valve while continuing to add steam to the chamber. The temperature and pressure of the autoclave rises to the level which is required for the process of sterilization. Generally, the required temperature is set to 121℃ or 134℃ and the pressure set is 115 per square inch.
- The phase where the optimum conditions for temperature and pressure is achieved is called sterilization time, or holding time. This is the actual time when the actual sterilization takes place. This time varies from 3-20 minutes which depends on the size and contents of the wares put into the autoclave chamber.
The composition which is optimal for the steam inside an autoclave is actually 3% liquid and 97% gas. If due to any reason there is any change in the percentage of moisture it has a direct effect on the sterilization time and accordingly the time increases or decreases.
In practical purposes, sterilization time is calculated according to optimum conditions of the steam and the ability of steam to transfer energy to the non-sterile load prior to sterilization. After all, this is one of the most important benefits of steam autoclave sterilization that it requires comparatively less time and heat than a dry heat sterilizer. This is due to the ability of steam to transfer energy to the surrounding.
- As soon as the sterilization process is complete, the pressure has to be reduced in the chamber. This is usually done by opening the exhaust valve and releasing steam. The process is quite similar to how pressure cookers have a safety valve for the same reason.
- As the final step the load or the stuff inside the chamber is made to cool down and hence making it safe to handle when the autoclave door is opened.
Autoclaves are used in multiple Industry sectors
These days an autoclave has found its usage in a number of other sectors predominantly in the Biotechnology sector. It is used to sterilize surgical equipment, laboratory instruments, pharmaceutical items, and other materials. One can sterilize different states like solids, liquids, hollows and also instruments of various shapes and sizes.
Autoclaves come in various sizes, shapes and also functionality. The basic principle of an autoclave is similar to that of a pressure cooker. They both utilize the power of steam to kill bacteria, spores and germs which are extremely resistant to boiling water and powerful detergents. This is because of the fact that steam has the highest penetrating power which penetrates deeper inside the cell wall of the micro spores.
One of the model organisms which is kept in mind while designing the autoclave or while setting the operating conditions of the autoclave is Streptococci. Apart from its usage in core research and pharmaceutical sector and hospitals it is used in a vast number of other sectors as well.
Recently a remarkable and increasingly popular application of autoclaves has come out. It is the use of autoclaves in pre-disposal treatment and sterilization of waste material, including pathogenic hospital waste. The different types of Machines which are used in this category largely operate under the same principles and conditions as conventional autoclaves do.
In that they are able to neutralize potentially infectious organisms by using super heated water and pressurized steam. Autoclaves are also widely used in the rubber processing industries in order to carry out the vulcanization of rubber and to cure composites.
Due to the generation of high amounts of heat and pressure inside the autoclave helps to ensure that the best possible physical properties are repeatable. Other types of autoclaves are used to grow crystals under high temperatures and pressures.
Autoclaves have found its usage in the electronics industry as well while growing synthetic quartz crystals. Packing of parachutes for specialist applications may also be performed under vacuum in an autoclave due to which the chutes are allowed to be warmed and inserted into their packs at the smallest volume.
Conclusion
I hope that you got a clear idea about the Autoclave and you got the right autoclave definition. In case you have any feedback or suggestion for me, please leave a comment below.