Moist heat
Moist heat
Moist heat sterilization requires attainment of temperature above the boiling point of water .(134) It denatures and coagulates enzymes and proteins, as steam condenses it liberates latent heat at the surface and produces angative pressure brining more steam to the surface is very soon raised to that of the surrounding steam (136) steam sterilization involve bringing steam into intimate contact with the organism to be destroyed . The textile products are placed in an autoclave which is evacuated before steam pressure is raised to 220 KNM2 (32 PSI) at temperature of 134 c, these conditions are maintained for at least 3.5 minutes, to allow the steam to penetrable the load fully , of allowed by a second vacuum , cycle to remove the steam and to dry the load, finally filtered air is admitted to the autoclave . (137)