Share thisDecontamination of research laboratories such as BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities, animal research laboratories such as ABSL-3 and ABSL-4 facilities, biosafety cabinets (BSC), and other laboratory equipment is routinely performed at commissioning, decommissioning, project changeover, and annual recertification. These events are typically known in advance and can be well planned and precisely executed. However, when there is an outbreak, spill, exposure, or other event creating an emergency, an immediate response is necessary to contain and minimize the potential harm and restore operations. Fogging rooms, cabinets, and equipment with gaseous or vaporous sterilants like chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide or formaldehyde are effective methods for decontamination. However, use of formaldehyde has been reduced significantly due to safety concerns and residual cleaning requirements. Today, chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide are the favored sterilants because of their proven effectiveness, safety, and material compatibility.
Benefits of Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide for Decontamination
Since both chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide decontamination processes used today achieve adequate microbiological kill, customer service considerations such as responsiveness, availability of equipment and personnel, process times, and cost are essential to selecting the decontamination method used in an emergency situation. Ionized hydrogen peroxide is a relatively new and novel decontamination method that, by design, is conducive to situations where rapid response is critical or otherwise desired—even for routine decontamination. Ionized hydrogen peroxide was, in fact, developed as a rapid response decontamination method for biological and chemical warfare agents. The equipment is small, light, and mobile and can be shipped overnight. The sterilant is EPA-registered and the process can be validated per NSF Standard 49, Annex G, for BSCs. Once crew and equipment are onsite, decontamination is easily performed and virtually automated through computer controlled equipment, minimizing risk of human error.
Since both chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide decontamination processes used today achieve adequate microbiological kill, customer service considerations such as responsiveness, availability of equipment and personnel, process times, and cost are essential to selecting the decontamination method used in an emergency situation. Ionized hydrogen peroxide is a relatively new and novel decontamination method that, by design, is conducive to situations where rapid response is critical or otherwise desired—even for routine decontamination. Ionized hydrogen peroxide was, in fact, developed as a rapid response decontamination method for biological and chemical warfare agents. The equipment is small, light, and mobile and can be shipped overnight. The sterilant is EPA-registered and the process can be validated per NSF Standard 49, Annex G, for BSCs. Once crew and equipment are onsite, decontamination is easily performed and virtually automated through computer controlled equipment, minimizing risk of human error.
The Technology Behind Ionized Hydrogen Peroxide
Understanding how ionized hydrogen peroxide works can provide a good perspective on what makes the process so fast, how it provides a six-log kill, and why it is highly valued as a rapid response decontamination method. Ionized hydrogen peroxide starts with a liquid solution containing 7.5% concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It flows under pressure through a nozzle creating a fine mist that is sprayed into the air. Immediately after the mist droplets exit the nozzle and before they become airborne, the droplets pass through a cold nitrogen plasma arc created between two high energy electrodes at 17,000 volts (see Figure 1). This action is defined as the ionization process and the droplets become charged with the same polarity. Having the same polarity causes the droplets to be mutually repulsive. Just think of it as trying to attach similar poles of a magnet together—they will not attach and, in fact, will actively move away from each other in a repulsive action. By the same token, the droplets become attracted to opposite polarity surfaces floating in the air or settled on surfaces. The droplets act like the opposite poles of magnets and actively seek the opposing polarity surfaces. If the other surface happens to be a microorganism like a cell, spore, or fungi, the droplet attaches to it, whereby the hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the walls exposing the nuclei and kills the cell on contact.
Understanding how ionized hydrogen peroxide works can provide a good perspective on what makes the process so fast, how it provides a six-log kill, and why it is highly valued as a rapid response decontamination method. Ionized hydrogen peroxide starts with a liquid solution containing 7.5% concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It flows under pressure through a nozzle creating a fine mist that is sprayed into the air. Immediately after the mist droplets exit the nozzle and before they become airborne, the droplets pass through a cold nitrogen plasma arc created between two high energy electrodes at 17,000 volts (see Figure 1). This action is defined as the ionization process and the droplets become charged with the same polarity. Having the same polarity causes the droplets to be mutually repulsive. Just think of it as trying to attach similar poles of a magnet together—they will not attach and, in fact, will actively move away from each other in a repulsive action. By the same token, the droplets become attracted to opposite polarity surfaces floating in the air or settled on surfaces. The droplets act like the opposite poles of magnets and actively seek the opposing polarity surfaces. If the other surface happens to be a microorganism like a cell, spore, or fungi, the droplet attaches to it, whereby the hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the walls exposing the nuclei and kills the cell on contact.