Sterilisation of surfaces esp. hospital equipment - by application of a low temp. gas plasma contg. an aldehyde under sub-atmospheric pressure

摘要

Surfaces are sterilised by contact with a low. temp. gas plasma contg. =10 mg/l of an aldehyde (I) under sub-atmospheric pressure, esp. 0.1-10 mm Hg. The gas plasma is produced eg. by electromagnetic excitation using a discharge in the high frequency range of 1-100 MHz or the microwave range 100-300,000 MHz. The gas used is eg. O2, argon, He, N2, CO2, N2O or a mixt. of these. (I) is eg. formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal, malonaldehyde, propionaldehyde, succinaldehyde, butyraldehyde, glutaraldehyde, 2-hydoroxyadipaldehyde, acrolein, crotonaldehyde, benzaldehyde or furfural. The process is esp. useful for sterilisation of hospital equipment. The process gives rapid sporicidal action, leaves no toxic residues on the surface and is not environmentally harmful.