1982 Volume 52 Issue 3 Pages 140-144
Adsorption and dissipation of ethylene oxide (EO) in surgical latex rubber glove, natural and synthetic rubber sheets were investigated.Dissipation of EO adsorbed in the surgical latex rubber glove with 0.24mm thickness was unexpectedly fast, and in one hour, its residual amount of EO was reduced to 100ppm at room temperature (25℃). However, in case of the glove with the same material as the above, but with 1.3mm thickness, it took more than 24 hours for its EO residual to be decreased to 100ppm.Experiments on EO dissipation of various kinds of rubber sheets, 4 latex rubbers and 14 synthetic rubbers, were conducted. Amongst all the sheets, the fastest dissipation of EO was observed from silicone, latex, isoprene and butadiene rubbers. The next was from ethylene-propylene-butadiene rubber. On the other hand, butyl and acrylo-nitrile-butadiene rubbers showed the slowest dissipation. The result proved that the dissipation of EO was closely related to oxgen permiability of rubber.The most effective factor to remove EO residua from the devices was heating. With regard to those devices with complicated structure such as blood circulating system, ventilation was also effective in combination with heating. Aerator should be used under the temperature between 50° and 60℃, and 3-8 cycle ventilation per minute.By using the aerator, dissipation was shortened by 1/4-1/10,compared with standing condition under room temperature.
