Ethylene Oxide ( Eto ) is a sterilient which is largely used and highly effective in eliminating microbes in medical devices and eliminates pathogens and bring down the microbial levels in spices to acceptable levels, without the product losing aroma, fragrance……etc, i.e. not making any changes in the physical properties of the product. It is a simple and effective process. In case of medical decides 100% sterility is attained and in case of spices, cosmetics, herbals, talc……etc the microbial counts can be controlled and brought to acceptable limits.
Eto sterilization will also increase shelf life of a product provided the packing are intact.
Ethylene oxide (EO) has been widely used as a low-temperature sterilant since the 1950s. It has been the most commonly used process for sterilising temperature- and moisture- sensitive medical devices and Instruments in healthcare institutions. This has become a very popular method of reducing the microbial load in the treated product & achieving acceptable standards, with minimum loss of colour, volatile oils & quality, during the treatment process.
The main advantage is that it can decontaminate the spices which are sensitive to heat, without moisture build up & others deleterious effects on the material treated.
Most modern EO sterilisers combine sterilisation and aeration in the same chamber as a continuous process. These EO models minimise potential EO exposure during door opening and load transfer to the aerator.
The use of EO evolved when few alternatives existed for sterilising heat- and moisture-sensitive Spices & condiments. The gas mixtures, used in cylinders, provide flexibility of EO dosage depending upon the initial microbial load.
The activity of EO is considered to be the result of alkylation of protein, DNA, and RNA.Alkylation, or the replacement of a hydrogen atom with an alkyl group, within cells prevents normal cellular metabolism and replication.
