Nonflammable ethylene oxide gas blend compositions, method of making same , and method of sterilization

Abstract

Nonflammable gas compositions of ethylene oxide and a flammability suppressant comprising carbon dioxide and trifluoromethyl iodide, wherein the gas blends or compositions are useful in sterilization, fumigation, and disinfection. The present gas compositions are atmospherically friendly and are more cost-effective to produce than current nonflammable medium-pressure ethylene oxide gas mixtures.

1 . Compositions comprising ethylene oxide and a flammability suppressant comprising a synergistic blend of trifluoromethyl iodide and carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         2 . The compositions of  claim 1 , having a blend pressure of below approximately 45 psig.  
     
     
         3 . The compositions of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of ethylene oxide comprises between approximately 250 mg/L and approximately 800 mg/L.  
     
     
         4 . The compositions of  claim 1 , comprising from about 9% to about 30% by gas volume ethylene oxide and from about 91% to about 70% by gas volume of said flammability suppressant, wherein said flammability suppressant comprises trifluoromethyl iodide and carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         5 . The compositions of  claim 4 , wherein said ethylene oxide comprises between about 10% to about 25% by gas volume.  
     
     
         6 . The compositions of  claim 5 , wherein said carbon dioxide comprises between about 60% to about 90% by gas volume and said trifluoromethyl iodide comprises between about 0.1% to about 20% by gas volume.  
     
     
         7 . The compositions of  claim 5 , wherein said carbon dioxide comprises between about 70% to about 80% by gas volume and said trifluoromethyl iodide comprises between about 0.5% to about 8% by gas volume.  
     
     
         8 . The compositions of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one inert propellant.  
     
     
         9 . The compositions of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one inert propellant is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, air, and hydrofluorocarbons.  
     
     
         10 . The compositions of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one inert propellant is nitrogen.  
     
     
         11 . The compositions of  claim 9 , wherein said hydrofluorocarbons are selected from the group consisting of trifluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, and 2H-heptafluoropropane.  
     
     
         12 . The compositions of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one inert propellant comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, perfluorocarbons, nitrogen, argon, and air.  
     
     
         13 . The compositions of  claim 1 , further comprising moisture, wherein said moisture is sufficient to provide a relative humidity of approximately 30% to 80%.  
     
     
         14 . A method for sterilizing articles comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining a composition comprising ethylene oxide and at least one flammability suppressant, said flammability suppressant containing trifluoromethyl iodide and carbon dioxide; and    b) exposing the articles to said composition.    
     
     
         15 . A method of making a composition of matter comprising the step of: 
 a) forming a synergistic blend of ethylene oxide, carbon dioxide, and trifluoromethyl iodide, wherein the gas volume percentage of ethylene oxide comprises between about 9% and about 26%, the gas volume percentage of carbon dioxide comprises between about 50% and about 90.9%, and the gas volume percentage of trifluoromethyl iodide comprises between about 0.1% and about 24%.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 b) adding at least one additive.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, perfluorocarbons nitrogen, and air.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said hydrofluorocarbons are selected from the group consisting of trifluoromethane, pentafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, and 2H-heptafluoropropane.  
     
     
         19 . Compositions comprising at least one flammability suppressant, wherein said flammability suppressant further comprises at least one physically-acting combustion suppressant and at least one chemically-acting combustion suppressant.  
     
     
         20 . The compositions of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one chemically-acting combustion suppressant comprises trifluoromethyl iodide.  
     
     
         21 . The compositions of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one physically-acting combustion suppressant comprises carbon dioxide.