Sterile Peracetic Acid Packaging via Gamma Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aqueous solutions of peracetic acid are unstable under ultraviolet radiation and gamma radiation, requiring storage away from light and posing challenges in maintaining disinfecting efficacy due to decomposition.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the preparation of sterile packaging for aqueous peracetic acid solutions by exposing the closed packaging to gamma radiation within a specific dose range, while maintaining the chemical balance and incorporating stabilizing agents, to prevent decomposition and ensure stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the packaging is subjected to gamma radiation to achieve sterile packaging, then the sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the peracetic acid solution decomposes and loses disinfecting efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidperacetic acid solution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging is sealed with the peracetic acid solution inside before gamma radiation sterilization. This preliminary sealing action protects the solution from direct radiation exposure while still allowing the packaging material to be sterilized, thus maintaining solution stability while achieving sterilization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging material acts as an intermediary barrier between the gamma radiation and the peracetic acid solution. By sealing the solution in the packaging before radiation exposure, the packaging material mediates the interaction, allowing sterilization of the packaging while protecting the sensitive solution from decomposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the peracetic acid solution is exposed to ultraviolet radiation for disinfection, then the disinfecting power is improved, but the solution becomes unstable and decomposes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfecting powerVSAvoidsolution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The disinfection function is extracted from direct UV exposure of the solution and transferred to the packaging surface. The packaging is sterilized by gamma radiation and then used as the disinfecting medium, eliminating the need for UV exposure of the solution itself while maintaining disinfecting efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of radiation-induced decomposition is converted into benefit by using gamma radiation to sterilize the packaging material itself, which then serves as a stable container for the solution. The radiation that would harm the solution is instead used to benefit the packaging, transforming a harmful interaction into a useful one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively stabilizes the aqueous peracetic acid solution, preventing decomposition even after prolonged storage away from light, maintaining its disinfecting efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

one of the means of obtaining sterile packaging consists in subjecting them to irradiation with gamma rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGamma radiation: Radiation

Implementation Method 2

irradiation with gamma rays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 3

to ultraviolet irradiation as disclosed in the American patent application US 2004/0234569 A1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet irradiation: Light

Implementation Method 4

the irradiation of hydrogen peroxide leads to the formation of free radicals HO 2 ̇ or HO ̇ and therefore to the decomposition of the peroxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFree radical formation: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentEP2583695B1Method for preparing a sterile package of a peracetic acid solution, by gamma irradiation of the surface of said package
Publication Date: 2014.05.21 BIOXAL

AI summary

The method involves preparing an aqueous solution of peracetic acid, where weight percent of the solution includes 0.01 to 5 weight percent of peracetic acid, and 1 to 10 weight percent of hydrogen peroxide. A quantity of acetic acid that is necessary to maintain chemical balance of the aqueous solution is introduced into a package so as to obtain a sterile package containing the aqueous solution of peracetic acid. The sterile package is closed by a vent device. The closed package is exposed to an amount of gamma radiations ranging from 5000-30000 gray, preferably 28000 gray.