Sterilization with Ethylene Oxide (EO)

 ► Ethylene oxide is a  gas that colorless, odorless, slightly heavier than air, toxic, flammable and explosive . Ethylene oxide works as a sterilant that reacts with the cell wall of microorganisms, causing irreversible alkalization.
 ► It is compatible with many medical materials and is a preferred method for temperature sensitive materials. • Ethylene oxide sterilization (EtO) is the process of sterilization with low temperature, humidity and ethylene oxide gas.
 ► For EtO sterilization, the time, humidity (40-60%) and temperature (37-550 C) must be at certain levels.
 ► EtO gas can easily penetrate. Therefore, ventilation is required at the end of the sterilization process in order to remove gas residues on sterile materials.
 ► The exposure limit is 1 ppm in the 8 hours working period in the workplaces. According to the OSHA standard, the short-term (less than 15 minutes) exposure limit is 5 ppm.
► The perceptible rate is about 500-750ppm.

Advantages

 ✓ Preferred for temperature sensitive materials
 ✓ There is no lumen limitation.

Disadvantages

 ✓ Sterilization and aeration time is long
 ✓ Toxic
 ✓Carcinogen
 ✓ Flammable
 ✓ Explosive
 ✓ Environmentally harmful
 ✓ Liquids cannot be sterilized.