FR2607469A1 - METHOD FOR STERILIZING PACKAGING EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

PROCESS FOR STERILIZING PACKAGING MATERIAL, IN PARTICULAR CONTAINERS, BY MEANS OF A DISINFECTANT, PREFERABLY A HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION. THE STERILIZATION IS PERFORMED IN A WET AND HOT ATMOSPHERE AND THE EQUIPMENT TREATED WITH OVERHEATED STEAM OR HOT HUMID AIR.

Description

PROCESS FOR STERILIZING PACKAGING MATERIALS

  The invention relates to a method for sterilizing packaging materials, in particular containers, by subjecting them to the action of a disinfectant, preferably a solution of peroxide

  of hydrogen, then to a subsequent drying.

  For aseptic packaging of food, pharmaceutical or the like, it is necessary to sterilize the packaging material before introducing the sterile product to be packaged; it

  is carried out by means of physical or chemical processes.

  With regard to chemical sterilization, the spraying of a bactericidal solution of 35% hydrogen peroxide on the surfaces to be decontaminated has given excellent results. Hydrogen peroxide, asparagus or condensed from an atmosphere

  containing, kill in less than a few seconds the micro-

  organisms lying on the surface of the material

  packaging and then removed with hot air.

  The sterilizing action of hydrogen peroxide is based on non-specific oxidation of organic matter. The sterilization of a package may, for example, be carried out as follows (FIG. 1): spraying of the package with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or condensation of H 2 O 2 vapor; - action time: 1 s; - drying time for the complete elimination of

hydrogen peroxide: 7 s.

  An improvement of the sterilization effect is

  necessary under certain conditions.

  Tests have shown that a significant improvement in the sterilization effect can not be obtained by increasing the amount of peroxide

  of hydrogen or prolonging the action time.

  It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method which multiplies the effect of

  sterilization of conventional methods.

  The invention proceeds from the idea that one of the most important parameters for the chemical sterilization of

  Packaging materials is the reaction temperature.

  Since hydrogen peroxide condenses in the form of small droplets or a thin film, its temperature is determined by the state of the ambient atmosphere. A balance is thus established very rapidly between the heat input provided by the heat exchange with the gas phase and the heat loss caused by the exchange of materials with the phase

  gaseous (evaporation). The equilibrium temperature,

  that is to say the so-called limit cooling temperature, is 18 ° C in the case of ambient air of 25 ° C and humidity

absolute of 0.1 kg H2O / kg dry air.

  Since, in the example described above, the package is in contact with the sterile ambient air during the period between the hydrogen peroxide treatment and the drying, the temperature of the

  reaction is 18 C during the action time.

  The solution of the object of the invention is to place the packaging material in a humid and hot atmosphere after its treatment with

hydrogen peroxide.

  Depending on the temperature and humidity, we can

  increase the reaction temperature to over 95 ° C.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the material is treated with superheated steam or with hot moist air. According to another particularity of the invention, the sterilization can be carried out in a

flowing atmosphere.

  The flow rate and the temperature of the hot steam or hot air are regulated so that no appreciable condensation which dilutes the hydrogen peroxide solution is produced on the one hand and no appreciable evaporation of hydrogen peroxide, as premature drying would shorten the reaction time. In this process, the flow rate and temperature of the hot or humid steam or air can be set to different values.

according to the zones.

  In addition to droplets of hydrogen peroxide, the packaging material also heats up, resulting in acceleration of subsequent drying. For the same dimension of the machines and the same hourly flow, it is thus possible to shorten the drying time and

extend the action time.

  If the method according to the invention is applied to the sterilization process described above, this can be carried out as follows (FIG. 2): spray of the package with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or condensation of H20 vapor; - steam treatment: 3 s; drying for complete elimination of peroxide

hydrogen: 5 s.

  Tests have shown that the effect of sterilization is thus considerably increased by

compared to the conventional method.

Claims (8)

  Process for the sterilization of packaging materials, in particular containers, by subjecting them to the action of a disinfectant, preferably a solution of hydrogen peroxide, characterized in that the sterilization is carried out in a humid and hot atmosphere.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material is treated with steam   overheated or with hot, humid air.   3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the   sterilization in a flowing atmosphere.   4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it adjusts or adjusts the flow rate of the steam or hot humid air.   5. Process according to any one of   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   regulates the temperature of the steam or hot air and wet.   6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that one regulates the flow rate and the temperature of the steam or the hot and humid air of   so that no condensation occurs.   7. Process according to any one of   Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that   regulates the flow rate and temperature of steam or hot humid air so that no appreciable evaporation of the disinfectant occurs during sterilization. 8. Process according to any one of   Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that   regulates the flow rate and temperature of steam or hot, humid air at different values depending on the zone.