Page "Sterilization (microbiology)" Paragraph 10

A widely-used method for heat sterilization is the autoclave, sometimes called a converter.

Autoclaves commonly use steam heated to.

To achieve sterility, a holding time of at least 15 minutes at or 3 minutes at is required.

Additional sterilizing time is usually required for liquids and instruments packed in layers of cloth, as they may take longer to reach the required temperature ( unnecessary in machines that grind the contents prior to sterilization ).

Following sterilization, liquids in a pressurized autoclave must be cooled slowly to avoid boiling over when the pressure is released.

Modern converters operate around this problem by gradually depressing the sterilization chamber and allowing liquids to evaporate under a negative pressure, while cooling the contents.