Method for treating rinse water in decontamination devices

A method for decontaminated devices in a processor, said processor including a chamber for holding devices to be decontaminated, a circulation system for circulating a liquid sterilant or microbial decontamination fluid through said chamber, said chamber forming a part of said circulation system, a water filtration system for filtering water used in said processor, said water filtration system having a water line connectable to a source of pressurized water and a water decontamination system fluidly communicating with said source of water and said processor, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) circulating a carrier gas along a first closed loop gas circulation path wherein said carrier gas is introduced into a predetermined volume of water, said first closed loop gas circulation path including a primary conduit and a first bypass conduit that bypasses an ozone destruction device;
• b) introducing ozone into said carrier gas as said carrier gas flows along said first closed loop gas circulation path such that said ozone is introduced and dissolved into said predetermined volume of water;
• c) collecting an conveying any ozone that does not dissolve in said water along said first closed loop gas circulation path to reintroduce said ozone back into said water;
• d) establishing a concentration of ozone in said predetermined volume of water between about 0.1 mg/L to about 2 mg/L;
• e) mixing said water and said ozone to achieve a uniform concentration of ozone in said water;
• f) circulating said predetermined volume of water along a closed loop water circulation path;
• g) heating said predetermined volume of water to at least about 40° C.;
• h) mechanically agitating said predetermined volume of water;
• i) circulating said carrier gas along a second closed loop gas circulation path wherein said second closed loop gas circulation path includes said primary conduit, said ozone destruction device, and a second bypass conduit that bypasses an ozone producing device and wherein said ozone separated from said water is conveyed by said carrier gas along said second closed loop gas circulation path;
• j) destroying said ozone conveyed by said carrier gas with said ozone destruction device along said second closed loop gas circulation path, said ozone destruction device being downstream from said predetermined volume of water;
• k) continuing steps f), g), h), i), and j) until the concentration of said ozone in said predetermined volume of water is below about 0.03 mg/L and until said ozone in said carrier gas is destroyed;
• and
• l) conveying said water to said chamber following a decontamination cycle to rinse said devices disposed in said chamber.