Steam-in-place
Steam-in-place - Related Videos
03:54
Steam Distillation - Concepts
0 Views •
2020
Steam Distillation Steam distillation is a separation technique that harnesses the low boiling point property of immiscible mixtures. It is predominately used to separate temperature-sensitive organic molecules from a non-volatile contaminant. The organic molecule must be immiscible in water. In steam distillation, the immiscible mixture is heated to boiling, causing the distillation of both water and the volatile organic compounds. This means that the gaseous mixture travels upwards to a...
10:58
Steam Distillation - Student Protocol
0 Views •
2020
Source: Lara Al Hariri and Ahmed Basabrain at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Steam DistillationExpand In this experiment, you will perform a steam distillation to extract an essential oil from an orange peel. Before you start the lab, put on the appropriate personal protective equipment, including a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves. This experiment must be performed in a hood. First, you will need to assemble the steam distillation apparatus. Check the...
03:59
Steam Distillation - Instructor Prep
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2020
Source: Lara Al Hariri at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA Preparation of the LaboratoryExpand Here, we show the laboratory preparation for 10 students working in pairs, with some excess. Please adjust quantities as needed. To begin, put on the appropriate personal protective equipment, including a lab coat, safety goggles, and gloves. Set out the following glassware and equipment that the students will need to build the distillation apparatus (we suggest that...
06:34
Proper Use of Autoclaves
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2023
Robert M. Rioux & Zhifeng Chen, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA Autoclaving is one of the most commonly used methods in the laboratory for the purpose of decontamination. The most common items decontaminated with an autoclave are those that contact biological samples (typically those containing microorganisms). An autoclave works by utilizing pressurized high temperature steam to kill microorganisms present in the loaded materials. Sufficient steam flow and heat transfer...
07:20
Human Colonoid Monolayers to Study Interactions Between Pathogens, Commensals, and Host Intestinal Epithelium
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Cited by 45 •
2019
Here, we present a protocol to culture human enteroid or colonoid monolayers that have intact barrier function to study host epithelial-microbiota interactions at the cellular and biochemical level.
FAQs
Saturated steam provides the heat needed to inactivate microorganisms on internal equipment surfaces. Its effectiveness depends on delivering controlled temperature and pressure for a sufficient exposure time, rather than relying on steam flow alone. This makes consistent heat penetration important for vessels, pipes, valves, and other enclosed components used in biological processing.
Trapped air can interfere with steam contact and prevent some surfaces from reaching the intended sterilization conditions. Cold spots, which are areas that heat less effectively than the rest of the system, can therefore determine whether the cycle succeeds. Identifying and addressing these locations helps ensure that microbial inactivation occurs throughout the equipment.
Condensate must be managed because accumulated liquid can affect heat distribution within enclosed equipment. Effective removal supports more uniform exposure to the intended temperature and pressure conditions, reducing the possibility that particular areas receive inadequate treatment. This is especially important in interconnected vessels, piping, and valves where flow and drainage influence cycle performance.
A successful cycle depends on how the equipment is arranged, how steam reaches internal surfaces, and how heat is distributed throughout the system. Validation confirms that the selected temperature, pressure, exposure time, air removal, and condensate-management conditions achieve the intended result, including at potential cold spots. These checks support repeatable contamination control between biological manufacturing batches.
A cycle generally requires preparing the enclosed system, introducing saturated steam, controlling temperature and pressure, maintaining exposure for the specified time, and managing condensate during treatment. The process must also account for air removal and heat distribution across vessels, pipes, valves, and other components. Validation then verifies that the complete system received effective sterilizing conditions.
This approach is useful when vessels, piping, valves, and related components form an enclosed bioprocessing system that would be difficult or disruptive to dismantle. Treating the assembled equipment helps preserve sterile conditions while reducing contamination risks between batches. It is particularly relevant to aseptic cell culture, fermentation, and biologics production workflows.
By treating equipment before or between biological processing activities, the method helps reduce contamination risks that could compromise aseptic cell culture or fermentation. Maintaining cleaner internal process surfaces supports reliable handling of cultures and production materials. In biologics manufacturing, the same principle contributes to maintaining sterile conditions across equipment used for successive batches.
Evaluation should focus on whether the system achieved the intended temperature, pressure, and exposure-time conditions throughout its enclosed components. Heat distribution, air removal, condensate handling, and cold-spot behavior are also important because failures in these areas can reduce effectiveness. These findings provide the basis for validating the cycle and maintaining consistent sterile processing conditions.