Ozone-friendly sterilant mixture

US5346669A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Great Lakes Chemical Corp. · US

Inventors

• Mark A. Sweval · Lafayette, US
• W. Douglas Register · Lafayette, US
• Mark L. Robin · Middletown, US
• Yuichi Iikubo · West Lafayette, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 6, 1993
• Grant date: Sep 13, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 6, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L2/206
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Non-ozone depleting sterilant compositions made of ethylene oxide and 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane. These compositions provide good sterilization characteristics, and are compatible with contemporary environmental concerns. One preferred aspect of the invention is a sterilant mixture comprising from about 20 mole percent to about 35 mole percent ethylene oxide and from about 65 mole percent to about 80 mole percent HFC-227 ea. Compositions comprising from about 25 mole percent to about 30 mole percent ethylene oxide and from about 70 mole percent to about 75 mole percent HFC-227 ea are preferred, with a composition comprising about 27 mole percent ethylene oxide and about 73 mole percent HFC-227 ea being most preferred.