RU1807877C - Method of objects sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

Usage: medicine and other industries, in particular the sterilization of materials, objects and premises. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: the method consists in treating objects with gaseous ethylene oxide, followed by sending the spent sterilizing agent to an absorber filled with sodium thiosulfate solution. 1 ill.

Description

The invention relates to the sterilization of objects, in particular to methods for sterilizing disposable medical devices, e.g., polymer syringes.

The aim of the invention is to increase the reliability of the neutralization of toxic constituents of the gas mixture by preventing their release into the atmosphere.

The drawing schematically shows the proposed installation.

The sterilization method is implemented in an installation comprising a gas sterilizer 1, a neutralizer 2, a mass transfer apparatus 3,

Catalytic, fire, chemical and other type neutralizer.

Masoobmennaya apparatus bubbler, plate and other type. The sterilizer 1 is connected to the converter 2 by a pipe 4 and through a stop-regulating valve 5 by a pipe 7 with a built-in

check valve 10 and pipe b through the safety valve 8 and check valve 9.

Installation works as follows.

In the event that the sterilization process normally proceeds in the sterilization chamber of the sterilizer 1, the exhaust gas mixture at a specified time and at the command enters the neutralizer of the toxic component of the sterilizing gas agent, ethylene oxide CrH40. In this case, the converter is put into operation immediately before the exhaust gas mixture is fed into it.

In the event of an emergency, the proposed scheme begins to work.

When the pressure in the sterilization chamber of the sterilizer 1 is exceeded, the safety valve 8 is activated and the gas mixture is discharged from the chamber into pipeline b and through it to the mass transfer column 3. Gas passage in the direction of valve 5

ate

WITH

00

about

h | 00 vj |

W

warned by the presence in the pipeline check valve 10.

In the mass transfer apparatus 3, a sodium thiosulfate solution is located in the passage of the gas mixture through it. Ethylene oxide, which is a toxic constituent of the gas mixture, in an aqueous solution reacts with sodium thiosulfate according to the following equation:

CjH + NajSjOj + HjO NaOHtHO-CHjO-s

ohm

Tests have shown that at room temperature 23 ° C the reaction proceeds almost instantly. For 5 s, the pH of the medium increased by 3.6 units. which gives the value of the rate constant equal to 1 ,.

There is no evidence of the toxic effects of sodium thiosulfate. The reaction product of ethylene oxide and sodium thiosulfate

HO-CH2 CH20-SCS .OYa

is the sodium salt of 1- {2-hydroxyethyl) sulfurous acid. Essentially, this compound differs from thiosulfate by the presence of a 1-2 hydroxyethyl group, which is the residue from ethyl alcohol. No data are available in the literature on the toxicity of the compound. Thus, the use of sodium thiosulfate as being non-toxic and allowing almost instantly to be provided; neutralization of the toxic constituent gas mixture - ethylene oxide, is not in doubt.

Thus, the presence in the mass transfer apparatus of a solution of sodium thiosulfate, which reacts rapidly with ethylene oxide and neutralizes it, prevents the passage of the neutralized ethylene oxide through the mass transfer apparatus and

In the event of a failure of the converter 2, valve 5 is activated and

the gas mixture is passed through a conduit 7 to a mass transfer apparatus 3, where ethylene oxide is neutralized in the same way as described above. In this case, the intake of the exhaust gas mixture in

the piping 6 and through it back to the sterilizer 1 is prevented by a check valve 9. As the installation check showed, to absorb 15 kg of ethylene oxide from the sterilizer 1, approximately 340 kg of sodium thiosulfate is required, which in the form of an aqueous solution fills the ethylene oxide absorption mass transfer column 3.

Thus, the presence in the system of an additional circuit, including

b a mass transfer column filled with sodium thiosulfate and connected by a closed piping system with a sterilizer will prevent the release of ethylene oxide into the atmosphere, which will be a significant contribution to improving the environmental situation in the country ..

Claims (1)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A method for sterilizing objects, comprising treating the objects with gaseous ethylene oxide, followed by sending the spent sterilizing agent to an absorber, characterized in that the absorber is filled with sodium thiosulfate solution.