496. Industrial Pharmacy: A Comprehensive Approach atmospheric pressure. The added advantage of this method is that during processing air- handling equipment is not required. The air, steam and hydrogen peroxide are Introduced through the same HEPA filters used for laminar-flow hoods. Initially to the processing area hot air of about 75 °C ~ 80 °C is introduced through HEPA filters. Then filtered steam is put to raise the temperature to about 100 °C, there after mixture of steam and hydrogen peroxide for sterilization. When the sterilization is ‘aver, dry hot air is introduced in place of steam and hydrogen peroxide. This helps to remove residual condensate of hydrogen peroxide and its break down. Once this step is, completed, cool air is introduced to bring down the temperature for next operation. Of course, the method needs to be validated using biological indicator and the residual peroxide level must be evaluated. The level must not exceed the permissible limit. When evaluated the method using Bacillus stearothermophilus, a commonly used bioindicator for steam sterilization, steam and hydrogen peroxide is found to have synergistic effect. The sterilization of equipment can require only 15 min exposure. Chlorine Dioxide This is a greenish-yellow color gas with chlorine-like odor, commonly known as euchlorine. This is an oxidizing agent. Its disinfecting property has been identified since 20" century, but its use as sterilizing agent is not long. Chlorine dichloride has bactericidal, virucidal and sporicidal properties like chlorine and it does not react with ammonia to form chloramines or it does not form trihalomethanes. For these reasons it is widely used for purification of drinking water, Chlorine dichloride is low toxic to humans; it is nonmutagenic, noncarcinogenic and does not deplete ozone also. It is effective at low concentration. Chlorine dichloride is thus less hazardous and can replace ethylene oxide “* ”, Chlorine dichloride gas need not to be stored, can be generated as and when required by reacting dilute chlorine gas with solid sodium chlorite 2NaCIO, + Cl, > 2CIO2 + 2Nacl Sterilization with chlorine dioxide gas is cost-effective and does not require any ‘expensive special construction. Initially air from the sterilization chamber loaded with materials is to be removed through vacuum. The relative humidity to be maintained at about 75% for 30-40 min, then chlorine dioxide gas is to be injected at a rate of 10-30 mg/L. Air or nitrogen is to be introduced to maintain a subatmospheric pressure ‘of about 80 kP,, Holding period is about 1 hour. The chamber is then aerated by filtered air to remove residual sterilant. Medical devices can be satisfactorily sterilized by chlorine dioxide. any polymeric materials made of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate (PMIMA), Teflon, etc can be easily sterilized by Ul O <