Abstract: Microbial contaminated materials, such as medical instruments and waste from medical laboratories or hospitals, are disinfected and sterilized by using a combination of peracetic acid and ozone in a sterilization chamber. The peracetic acid is formed within the sterilization chamber by introducing liquid hydrogen peroxide and liquid acetic acid into the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for the decontamination, disinfection, or sterilization of materials such as medical waste by exposure to ozonized air comprises a generator of ozonized air, an enclosure for the accumulation of ozonized air, a processing enclosure in which the materials to be processed are placed, and a destroyer of residual ozone leaving the processing enclosure. The ozonized air reaches the processing enclosure via the accumulation enclosure. A vacuum pump operating in air is situated downstream from the ozone destroyer for creating a partial vacuum in the processing enclosure. The generator of ozonized air is connected in open circuit with the accumulation enclosure. The apparatus further comprises an injection valve interposed between the accumulation enclosure and the processing enclosure. The injection valve is controlled in such a way as to periodically to trigger the sudden and forceful injection of ozonized air into the processing enclosure as soon as the pressure drops below a certain limit.