Abstract: Means are provided for the monitoring of a sterilization procedure employing alkylene oxide, particularly ethylene oxide, to sterilize medical equipment, especially heat-sensitive equipment, and especially for monitoring the aeration of the so-sterilized goods and articles to desorb the retained alkylene oxide, which means employ interaction of the alkylene oxide with a cation-exchange resin and subsequent aeration of the cation exchange resin coupled with pH indicator means sensitive to changes in the ion exchange resin effected by the alkylene oxide employed in the sterilization and subsequently by the air employed in the desorption step.

Abstract: A discharge evacuation system includes a conduit which accepts a fluid discharge containing a liquid discharge and a gaseous discharge. The conduit includes a main outlet through which the liquid discharge flows from the conduit into the discharge side of a plumbing system and a backup outlet through which at least a portion of the liquid discharge flows from the conduit when a predetermined volume of liquid discharge backs up within the conduit. Apparatus is provided for removing at least a portion of the gaseous discharge from the conduit and directing the flow of the portion of the gaseous discharge to an area remote from the area in which the conduit is located.