Improvements in methods of sterilization
AssigneeNational Research Development Corporation
InventorsJohn L. Peel, William M. Waites
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of sterilization which comprises treating a microorganism with an ultraviolet irradiated solution of hydrogen peroxide, the wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation being wholly or predominantly below 325 nm and the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide being no greater than 10% by weight and such that the microorganism is rendered non-viable by synergism between the radiation and the hydrogen peroxide. The invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of spores contaminating food packaging.
Claims18
A method of sterilizing food packaging which comprises treating a microorganism at the surface of the packaging with an ultraviolet irradiated solution of hydrogen peroxide, the wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation being wholly or predominantly below 325 nm and the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide being at least 0.01% and no greater than 10% by weight, whereby the microorganism is rendered non-viable by synergism between the radiation and the hydrogen peroxide.
A method of sterilisation which comprises treating spores of a microoganism with an ultraviolet irradiated solution of hydrogen peroxide, the wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation having a peak intensity within the range 200-325 nm and the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide being at least 0.5% and no greater than 3% by weight, whereby the microorganism is rendered non-viable by synergism between the radiation and hydrogen peroxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.