Thread: Sterilizing Vials

I used the pressure cooker method for sterilizing vials. I put the vials in the pressure cooker for 30 min and removed afterwards and used dip them in isopropyl alcohol then used a hand dryer to dry them. After following this process the vials looks foggy. What the solution for my problem 7 what the best way to sterilize the vials.

I would think that unless your hand dryer has a heppa filter on it all your going to do is blow dust particles into your vials. I think you would be better after the alcohol putting them up side down on a cookie sheet with aluminum foil ontop of the cookie sheet and baking them for 30 min at 350 degrees and leaving them upside down until ready to use

I think you should spend a few more hours researching aseptic procedures and concepts.
Making this big of an error in one of the simplest steps of brewing means you probably shouldn't be brewing at all. Even for yourself.

If you spend even 10 minutes looking at this very topic on this forum you wouldn't even have begun to use the "method" you did.

Originally Posted by Enigma

I think you should spend a few more hours researching aseptic procedures and concepts.
Making this big of an error in one of the simplest steps of brewing means you probably shouldn't be brewing at all. Even for yourself.

If you spend even 10 minutes looking at this very topic on this forum you wouldn't even have begun to use the "method" you did.

Do you mean him or me? Cause I thought taking a cookie sheet with New aluminum foil on top then cleaning glassware with 70% isopropyl alcohol then placing the glassware upside down ontop of aluminum foil and cookie sheet and baking at 350 degrees for 30min minimum ( i usually go 45-60 min and sometimes i do it twice if i have the extra time) then leaving upside down on foil until cooled then using right away was common practice unless you had an autoclave? If I'm wrong please let me know So I can start doing it properly cause I've seen this way done on lotss of threads. I only do this on my glass beakers, and graduated cylinders cause i use pre sealed vials.

Originally Posted by Yellowninja

Do you mean him or me? Cause I thought taking a cookie sheet with New aluminum foil on top then cleaning glassware with 70% isopropyl alcohol then placing the glassware upside down ontop of aluminum foil and cookie sheet and baking at 350 degrees for 30min minimum ( i usually go 45-60 min and sometimes i do it twice if i have the extra time) then leaving upside down on foil until cooled then using right away was common practice unless you had an autoclave? If I'm wrong please let me know So I can start doing it properly cause I've seen this way done on lotss of threads. I only do this on my glass beakers, and graduated cylinders cause i use pre sealed vials.

I meant him man. You seem good to go from your posts. I hate to castigate someone. I actually prefer to just educate/help, but man o man, what a complete shocker the OP is.
I usually try to avoid answering anyone here less than 2 months but that dude is waaaay off and needs to take a step back and learn first.

That's what I thought. I take your advice to heart. I ordered filters for my vent needle and I bought the scale you recommended. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience with me

You should ALWAYS do your own research and not believe things you read on forums, ALWAYS!

Here is a list of the most important things that you'll need:
Autoclave/pressure cooker
Distilled water
Isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) or ethanol (both high concentration)
Surgical gloves
Surgical mask

Less important things:
Autoclave pouches/bags
Autoclave tape
Lab wash bottle



First thing you need is the actual device that you're going to sterilize your lab equipment with.

Autoclave = Expensive and can be rather big. You can get a used one cheap, but you can run in to problems with it. This is the most convenient device (except for buying pre-sterilized things)

Steam sterilizer (autoclave) = That's essentially a pressure cooker with a gauge, usually 18 liter. This is your best option. You can get one from ebay fairly cheap.

Pressure cooker = You can find a regular pressure cooker anywhere. Only problem is not all pressure cookers get up to the right pressure/temperature.

The autoclave/pressure cooker has to reach this temperature/pressure:
121°C (250°F) 15psi 15min
or
132°C (270°F) 30psi 3min

It's the steam/pressure/temperature combination that kills off all the "bad things". So you're not allowed to cover your beakers/Erlenmeyer/vials with aluminum foil.

You can also get autoclave bags. Those bags usually have an indicator that changes color if the right temperature is reached. There is also autoclave tape that does the same thing.



Assuming all the lab equipment/vials (which they are if they are new) are washed and cleaned here is what you do:

1.Alcohol (preferably high percentage isopropyl alcohol but ethanol works as well) to clean your working area and lab equipment with.

2.You'll need distilled water (get a big jug) since you can fill "lab wash bottle" and rinse your lab equipment/glassware after cleaning it with alcohol (so no residue is left, that's why high grade alcohol is preferred)
The distilled water is used for the autoclave/pressure cooker as well. It's used because it won't leave any minerals/residue after it evaporates which regular water does.

3.If you decide to get a regular pressure cooker don't forget to buy a "vegetable steamer basket" since you can't place your vials/equipment on the bottom of the pressure cooker.
You don't need that much water in the pressure cooker. 2.5 - 4cm (1 - 1.5 inches) is usually enough. There should be a little space between the water and the bottom of the "vegetable basket" (You'll know how much water you'll need)

4.Follow the instructions of the pressure cooker or steam sterilizer (autoclave) and just set the time yourself (on your phone or something). Usually those steam sterilizers get up to 121°C (250°F)/15psi so 15min should be enough but I'd go with at least 30min.

5. Let the pressure cooker/steam sterilizer cool down. Now you'll notice that all your equipment is wet/steam/drops etc.
Remove/pour out the water and heat it up a little bit again just so your things get dry.



If you guys think that "baking" your things in the oven will sterilize your lab glassware/vials, you're wrong.
Bacterial spores like Bacillus species and Clostridium are usually very heat resistant. It's harder to kill those types of spores with dry heat, the steam, heat and pressure combo neutralizes them.
Here is how:
Have you ever boiled an egg? Well that's pretty much what pressure and heat does to the protein inside of the bacteria, virus etc.

For those guys that think that alcohol will sterilize stuff, wrong again. Alcohol is a DISINFECTANT, spores are resistant to this method.


With all this said, you shouldn't be paranoid. Some UG-labs don't even bother sterilizing
their vials, some don't even filter their oils. Heard stories about people pinning unfiltered
gear with no issues at all.
But what if your body can't handle that bacteria/virus etc. Then you're fucked. Best case scenario
you just get the flu, worst case, amputation and/or death.
Hope this kills some of the misinformation people are spreading.

At the end of the day the only thing that we can do is minimize the risk of contaminating our gear.
Stay safe bros! //THX

thanks bro for your inputs. Now i will discard 9 vials that I had made and learn the process & will be doing it for sure. Guys like you are good educator.

Thanks man for the valuable info.
So if i am using a pressure cooker:-
I have to use a vegetable steamer basket to hold vials. 121 C for 15 min (I will do 30 min). let it cool, drain the water and start the flame again to let the vials dry.
Now I have to pull the vials one by one use a sterile instrument & put the stopper.
I am right or should I do something else.

Guess what? Even autoclaving won’t kill some of those bacterial spores. Some need to be coaxed out of their protective “shells” by being exposed to moisture, giving them a false sense of security. THEN they can be killed with “sterilizing” temps. Even dry heat.

But, everything in your tutorial is great.
Didn't notice a flow hood in your list of most important things. As I keep saying, all these procedures are moot if done in open atmosphere.

Pinning dirty gear isn’t going to hurt anyone...until it does.