Sterilisation of e.g. hospital refuse in closed container using moisture and microwaves - by varying steam pressure and/or temp between set limits during microwave treatment, providing effective sterilisation in a reduced time.

摘要

Sterilising waste material by moistening and treating with microwaves in a pressure-tight container (6) has the novel feature that during the microwave treatment, the steam temp and/or pressure in the container are varied at least between one lower and one upper value. Also claimed are a device (1) for carrying out the procedure in which a control system varies the pressure and/or temperature in the required manner; and a bag contg hospital refuse which is to be sterilised and consisting of at least part of its material destroying and releasing its contents at a set temperature. The lower temperature value is above 100 deg C and the upper is at least 125 deg C and is preferably above 134 deg C. The pressure and/or temperature may be varied by switching the microwaves on and off. The pressure may also be varied by mechanical means, for example, a pressure or vacuum pump. The difference between the lower and upper pressure and temperature values is at least 5% and is not more than 80% and preferably lies in the range 20-30%. The pressure and/or temperature is held at the upper and/or lower limit for a set time period. USE/ADVANTAGE - Used esp for sterilising hospital material which is contaminated with germs and bacteria. Effective sterilisation is achieved and the treatment time is reduced. The device is compact and can be used conveniently at decentralised locations.