摘要 |
The present invention discloses the use of peracid vapor as a sterilant. A process is disclosed for sterilizing a load by exposure to peracid vapor, the load being disposed in a sterilization chamber adapted to contain the peracid vapor, comprising the steps of exposing the load to the peracid vapor in the sterilization chamber at reduced pressure, i.e., below atmospheric pressure and introducing a quantity of another gas, the gas being of a type which does not interfere with the sterilization procedure, to increase the pressure in the chamber to a value above that at which the chamber was when the peracid vapor alone was present but below atmospheric pressure, whereby the penetration of any vapor penetrable portions of the load to be sterilized by the peracid vapor is enhanced. |