WHY CHOOSE
CHLORINE DIOXIDE?
- You MUST get complete distribution of your agent into the target space.
- Your agent MUST penetrate into all areas including microscopic cracks and crevices.
- Your sterilizing agent MUST remain in these areas for the amount of time needed to obtain the desired level of microbial control.
Principles of Effective Decontamination
Complete Distribution
- For a true gas such as chlorine dioxide, its small molecular size (approximately 0.124 nm) and natural ability to fill any space it is injected into offers an unmatched distribution ability.
Total Penetration
- Chlorine dioxide gas is a selective and highly effective oxidizer allowing it to easily penetrate surfaces, cracks and crevices and can even penetrate through organic matter
Concentration & Contact Time
- Chlorine dioxide is a colored gas and its concentration can be accurately measured and monitored in real-time allowing for tight control of important decontamination process parameters.
Chlorine dioxide’s many unique features are what makes it a highly effective and efficient sterilizing agent. The process is easy to validate and is the best choice when considering a decontamination method. Chlorine dioxide has a small molecular size (approximately 0.124 nm) and a being a true gas has a natural ability to completely and evenly fill any space it is injected into giving it unmatched distribution abilities. It is also a selective and highly effective oxidizer allowing it to easily penetrate surfaces, including microscopic cracks and crevices and even has the ability to penetrate through organic matter. Chlorine dioxide is a colored gas and can be accurately measured and monitored in real time allowing for tight control of critical decontamination process parameters. Chlorine dioxide is also able to be quickly aerated as it will not condense on surfaces or absorb into many materials.
Unlike vaporous or liquid based decontamination agents, chlorine dioxide is unaffected by small temperature changes and will remain in the gaseous state over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Gases are also unaffected by room configuration and equipment loading and positioning. Liquid agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, have a boiling point of 109°C (228°F) and will only exist in their vapor phase at or above this temperature. As most decontaminations take place at room temperature, approximately 21-22°C (70-71.6°F), these agents are sometimes referred to as lazy gases, meaning they will constantly be condensing back to their liquid form negatively affecting their distribution and penetration abilities.
Factors Affecting Decontamination
Hard to Reach Areas
- With chlorine dioxide gas, there are no issues with tight, hidden or difficult to reach areas, including microscopic cracks and crevices. Gasses by nature fill the space they are contained within evenly and completely. The chlorine dioxide molecule is 0.124 nm in size, far smaller than viruses, fungi, bacteria and their spores. This means that chlorine dioxide gas is able to contact organisms wherever they are in a space. Vapors are subject to hydrogen bonding, which clumps their molecules together and limits its movement in air.
Temperature of CD
- With chlorine dioxide gas, there are no issues with temperature or temperature gradients. As a gas, it does not condense out as VPHP does. With as little as one-degree temperature gradient, VPHP concentration can be affected. With VPHP, this small temperature difference can cause different concentrations throughout the chamber.
Cycle Development & Validation
- There is no cycle development necessary for chlorine dioxide gas cycles as the process is forgiving enough to overcome the amount and position of equipment and materials within the space, and the temperature/humidity within the space With chlorine dioxide gas, easy validation of sterilization cycles is possible due to the accurate concentration monitoring capabilities of the gas.
