Autoclaves are found in many industrial and scientific labs where the sterilization of materials is required to ensure products are free of microorganisms and bacteria. Autoclaves are used to sterilize liquids, reagents, cell culture media, lab equipment and glassware. They are also used to decontaminate laboratory waste prior to disposal.

Autoclaves employ the rather simple process of using steam to destroy microorganisms. A typical autoclave will heat water at the bottom of the vessel to produce steam. The combination of high pressure with temperatures of up to 140°C achieves thorough sterilization.

There are different procedures for sterilizing liquids, glassware and other materials. For example, when sterilizing liquids, the autoclave must be equipped with a slow exhaust feature so that the liquids do not boil over. For glassware, the procedure requires a fast exhaust system, while other items that are autoclaved might require a dry cycle.

End-users can choose from a benchtop (front-loading) system, which is mainly used for autoclaving small tools and equipment or low-volume liquid containers. They can also select a floor-standing (top-loading) model, which is typically used for larger pieces of equipment or large volumes of reagents.

Most autoclaves utilize a heating element and a large water reservoir, which are simple and easily maintained. However, the drawback of these systems is that they take a long time to heat up and cool down. As end-users look to improve lab efficiency, they may consider top-of-the-line autoclave systems, which utilize a steam generator that makes steam instantly available and provides fast heat-up and cool-down cycles. Because steam is injected into the pressurized chamber, these systems also provide better circulation and penetration of steam, which lead to shorter sterilization cycles.

Tuttnauer manufactures an extensive line of automatic and semiautomatic autoclaves with chamber sizes from 23 L to 160 L. Its fully automated models have a microprocessor-based control panel that provides programmability, password protection, and independent temperature and pressure monitoring. The system can be equipped with a built-in printer, which documents the performed cycle.

Similarly, Systec offers an array of autoclave systems with chamber capacities of 23 L to 200 L. Systec manufactures the V-Series (vertical) and the D-Series (benchtop) autoclave systems. Within each product line, Systec offers three categories: a fully featured system; a basic autoclave with a few optional features; and a bare-bones autoclave.

The worldwide market for lab autoclaves totaled roughly $100 million in 2008. It is expected to post solid growth over the next few years fueled by Asia’s expansion and continued demand from pharmaceutical, chemicals and biotechnology companies.

Lab Autoclaves at a Glance:

Leading Suppliers

• Sanyo

• Systec

• Tuttnauer

Largest Markets

• Biotechnology

• Chemical

• Pharmaceutical

Instrument Cost

• $10,000–$15,000