ABSTRACT
Dry-heat sterilization is generally a less complicated process than steam sterilization; it is, however, relatively slow and requires higher temperatures and/or longer exposure times. Dry-heat processes have two main targets: microorganisms and their by-products, pyrogens or endotoxins. Great strides have been made in developing and improving other methods of sterilization, but little has been accomplished where dry-heat sterilization is concerned. The two types of processes used in dryheat sterilization include: dry-heat batch sterilization/oven sterilization and dry-heat tunnel sterilization. Dry-heat tunnel sterilization is a continuous conduction process in contrast to the batch processes in ovens. The most effective means for the sterilization of air is incineration. In laminar flow tunnels, heating occurs by the circulation of hot filtered air, which is forced onto the product. The most important variable in dry-heat sterilization is temperature. Temperature, which is the measure of the heat energy level, is a function of time.
