Abstract: Dental, medical and laboratory instruments may be disinfected and/or sterilized by exposure to a biocidal solution composed of hydrogen peroxide and a weak acid in the presence of microwave irradiation. The process typically occurs at low temperature, generally less than 65.degree. C. In a preferred embodiment, the contaminated instruments are placed in a microwave transparent vessel containing the biocidal solution. A lid is placed over the vessel and the vessel is then placed into a cavity of a microwave oven and irradiated for a very short period of time. At the end of irradiation, instruments are safely and aseptically removed from the cooled container.

Abstract: Efficacious phenol-free mycobactericidal liquid compositions having low odor and irritation potential are disclosed. These compositions consist of a solvent containing a glycol, a 2 to 6 carbon atom aldehyde, specific anionic surfactants, and buffer salts to stabilize the pH in the 6 to 7.4 range. The ratio of glycol to aldehyde is comprised between 0.1 and 6.0. The lower this ratio, the greater the mycobactericidal activity. The new odorless compositions can kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis (EPA quantitative procedure) in 10 minutes or less at 20.degree. C.

Abstract: Very potent, stable, ordorless, and phenol-free virciudal solutions are active at high dilution when used for surface decontamination of animate and inanimate objects. The virucidal compositions described are efficacious in a matter of minutes against both the lipophilic and the more resistant hydrophilic viruses. The three active ingredients in these virucidal compositions are the glutaraldehyde monomer in equilibrium with its hydrates and polymers, hydrogen-bonded glycol molecules to eliminate aldehydes odor, and an anionic surfactant of the alkyl sulfate, alkyl sulfonate, alcohol sulfate or alkyl aryl sulfonate type. A preferred anionic surfactant would be the Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), which exhibits strong cidal synergism against the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 when mixed at a concentration as low as 0.0005% in diluted glutaraldehyde aqueous solutions (0.0025%). Improved virucidal killing at higher dilutions of the same formula were observed with the more resistant Coxsackie B viruses.

Abstract: A method for pasteurizing, decontaminating or disinfecting the surfaces of medical, dental, surgical, and food processing instruments or other objects in a liquid phase by placing said objects in hot water or a hot aqueous solution whose temperature is between about 48.degree. C. and 68.degree. C. while irradiating at the same time the liquid and objects with an ultrasonic cavitating field whose main frequency is lower than 150 KHz and the average acoustic energy density greater than 5 watts per liter. According to acoustic intensity and temperature, the ultrasonic pasteurizng time may vary from 15 to 30 minutes. The method is compatible with the use of surfactants and detergents of the anionic, non-ionic, cationic and amphoteric type and can be performed in either a continuous or batch process.