ReCap products

A commonly used method for heat sterilization is an autoclave, sometimes called a converter or steam sterilizer. Autoclaves use steam heated to 121–134 ° C (250-273 ° F) under pressure. To achieve sterilization, the product is placed in a room and heated with injected steam until the product reaches a temperature and time set point. Almost all the air is removed from the room because air is not desired in the moist heat sterilization process (this is a characteristic that differs from a typical pressure cooker used for cooking). The product is kept at the temperature set point for a varying time depending on what biological load is present on the sterilized product and its resistance to steam sterilization (D-value).