Title: Characterisation of aseptic sterilisation processes using an electronic nose

Authors: Steffen Reisert; Hanno Geissler; Rudolf Flörke; Christian Weiler; Patrick Wagner; Michael J. Schöning

Addresses: Institute of Nano- and Biotechnologies, University of Applied Sciences - FH Aachen, Heinrich-Mußmann-Str. 1, 52428 Jülich, Germany ' SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH, Rurstraße 58, 52441 Linnich, Germany ' SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH, Rurstraße 58, 52441 Linnich, Germany ' SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH, Rurstraße 58, 52441 Linnich, Germany ' Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 1, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium ' Institute of Nano- and Biotechnologies, University of Applied Sciences - FH Aachen, Heinrich-Mußmann-Str. 1, 52428 Jülich, Germany

Abstract: The present work describes the development of a multi-sensor system for the evaluation of aseptic sterilisation processes employing hydrogen peroxide vapour by means of an electronic nose. Microbiological count reduction tests with Bacillus atrophaeus spores have been carried out in order to characterise influencing factors of the sterilisation by hydrogen peroxide vapour, namely the hydrogen peroxide concentration, humidity, gas temperature and gas flow. In parallel, three different types of gas sensors have been investigated on sensitivity towards the same parameters. A correlation between the results of the microbiological tests and the response of the gas sensors is drawn.

Keywords: hydrogen peroxide; Bacillus atrophaeus spores; electronic nose; aseptic sterilisation; multi-sensor systems; multiple sensors; nanotechnology; humidity; gas temperature; gas flow.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2013.053517

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2013 Vol.10 No.5/6/7, pp.470 - 484

Published online: 27 Apr 2013 *

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