Sterilisation and its Types
know in detail about different types of sterilisation such as physical, Filtration, Radiation, Chemical type of sterilisation
Introduction to Sterilisation
The control of microorganisms is an important way to prevent pathogens from reaching the body.
Laboratory equipment, hospital supplies, industrial apparatus are all contaminated with the microbes. The choice of the antimicrobial agent depends on materials to be treated, kinds of microbes to be controlled, environmental conditions, presence of any organic matter.
The two most important antimicrobial methods used in microbiology are Sterilisation and Disinfection.
Sterilisation is an absolute process that kills all forms of life, including vegetative cell and spores of all microbes.
Disinfection is a process of killing only vegetative cells and not spores. It is bacteriostatic and not bactericidal like sterilisation.
Classification of Sterilisation
Heat
Moist Heat
- Below 100°C — Pasteurisation
- At 100°C — Tyndallisation
- Above 100°C — Steam Sterilisation (Autoclaving)
Dry Heat
- Red Heat
- Flaming
- Hot air oven
Filtration
Liquid Filters
- Ceramic Filters
- Fibrous Filters
- Sintered Glass Filters
- Membranous Filters
Gaseous Filters
- HEPA Filters
Radiation
UV Radiation
Ionising Radiation
- X Rays
- Gamma Rays
- Microwave Rays
- Laser Rays
Chemical Sterilisation
Chemicals that are in the gaseous form
- Ethylene Oxide
- Beta propiolacetone
- Glutaraldehyde
- Formaldehyde
