Method and apparatus for recovering a sterilizing gas

US5472667A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Air Products GmbH Werk Hattigen · DE
• Herco Kuhltechnik Hermanns und Co. GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Michael Karthaus · Neuss, DE
• Olaf Babel · Stuttgart, DE
• Peter Hermanns · Aachen, DE
• Klaus Hermanns · Aßlar, DE
• Gerhard Kusenberg · Wesel, DE
• Norbert Hagenbruck · Oberhausen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 6, 1994
• Grant date: Dec 5, 1995
• Expiry date: Sep 6, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D301/32
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method and an apparatus for recovering a sterilizing gas, in particular ethylene oxide, materials to be sterilized are sterilized with the sterilizing gas in a sterilizing chamber; the sterilizing gas/air mixture withdrawn from the sterilizing chamber is predried in a precooler; the predried sterilizing gas/air mixture is freed from residual moisture in a drier, the sterilizing gas liquefied in a low-temperature condenser and stored in a storage container until reuse in the sterilizing chamber. The sterilizing and the entire recovery of the sterilizing gas takes place at pressures beneath the atmospheric pressure surrounding the apparatus.