Applications of Laboratory Autoclaves

Author: Ankur Sethiya

Did you ever think how a surgeon is capable of using the same tools for surgery a couple of times devoid of transmitting germs from a particular individual to another they perform a surgery on? Or how nail salons avoid passing fungal infections amid clients. In fact, there is actually something to do when it comes to cleaning the tools that they use. But you all must be aware that merely cleaning such tools will not be sufficient to prevent the passing of infections or germs. Something should be performed for sterilizing or killing the living organisms present on these tools. It is here where an autoclave can help. This is a machine that performs the precise function to sterilize materials. It uses steam and pressure for reaching and maintaining a temperature which is high for the organisms or even its spores to live. In fact, it is the microorganisms which most people refer as germs and these are the parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria which cause infections in the body. A type of microorganism called spores are environmentally resistant and even though it is capable of withstanding harsher conditions, it can be killed, especially if severe conditions are maintained especially for an extended time period. The good news is today there are many laboratory autoclaves manufacturers in India that are coming up with a wide range of autoclaves to help the different industries remain germfree.

Autoclaves and its different applications

  • Medical applications for performing sterilization

  • In a chemical industry for cure coatings

  • Hydrothermal synthesis

  • Vulcanizing rubber

  • In industrial applications, especially in case of composites

  • Prosthetic fabrication

  • Dentistry

  • Funeral homes

  • Mycology

  • Veterinary medicine

  • Body piercing

  • Tattooing

  • Medicine

  • Microbiology

  • Others

How it functions?

An autoclave is a pressure cooker akin to those seen in the stores. For those who use a pressure cooker are aware of the fact how foods cook quickly in a cooker compared to the same cooked in the oven or a pot. It is owing to the fact that the intense pressure and heat which is applied. This same mechanism indeed functions against living microorganisms. The moment an autoclave gets started, the steam is pushed towards the chamber which contains the equipment which are being sterilized. While the steam penetrates, the temperature and pressure within the chamber increases. The majority of the autoclaves indeed are set for increasing the steam pressure till it reaches a temperature of 121 degrees Celsius. This pressure and temperature will stay at this level, at least for 15 minutes, which is sufficient to kill all forms of microorganisms as well as their spores. It is the highest temperature that makes the microorganisms ‘ internal parts to essentially cook and the moment these internal parts fail to function they will automatically die. The pressure and steam will be released as well as brought down to the normal pressure and temperature after 15 minutes or more of running. And the things which were autoclaved will stay sterile till the same is contaminated via new microorganisms.

To conclude, it may be stated that an autoclave is a useful machine as it offers a lot of benefits. To make the most of this machine get in touch with the best laboratory autoclaves manufacturers for different types of autoclaves likes vertical autoclave, portable autoclave, fully automatic autoclave, etc