Patent · US Expired

Method for recovering a sterilizing gas

US5283035A · kind A · utility

28Cited by

9References

13Claims

0Family size

Assignees

Herco Kuhltechnik Hermanns und Co. GmbH · DE
Compact Air Products, Inc. · DE

Inventors

Michael Karthaus · Neuss, DE
Peter Hermanns · Aachen, DE
Klaus Hermanns · Aßlar, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 20, 1992
Grant date	Feb 1, 1994
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 20, 2012

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB01D53/002
WIPO fieldChemical engineering
WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In a method and an apparatus for recovering a sterilizing gas, in particular ethylene oxide (ETO), materials to be sterilized are sterilized in a sterilizing chamber with a sterilizing gas and a gas flow is withdrawn from the sterilizing chamber. At least part of the sterilizing gas contained in said gas flow is liquefied and separated. The gas flow freed from liquefied sterilizing gas is returned to the sterilizing chamber whilst at the same time at least a part of the separated sterilizing gas is replaced by addition of inert-rendering gas, reducing the concentration of the sterilizing gas in the sterilizing chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.