Close up on Radical equipment

Technology

how it works

Key Benefits

  • Steritroxing is a novel technology for sanitising high care, low care and all hygiene critical areas using free radical technology. It is better, faster, safer and more efficient than traditional methods.
  • The speed of the Steritroxing cycle is something that no other sanitising system can match. Wheras other systems of applying ozone mean that it is unsafe to re-enter the room for several hours after application, Steritroxing allows in a very short period of time, safe re-entry to the room, meaning that production down-time is kept to a minimum.
  • Steritroxing is a new powerful process which rapidly sanitises interior spaces and facilities. Patented technology delivers a bactericidal and virucidal vapour by means of either a mobile machine or a fixed installation.
  • Steritroxing is designed specifically for the food industry and all environments where there is a need to minimise and control the microbiological count and continuously improve hygiene standards.
  • Steritroxing eclipses traditional sanitising regimes by eliminating the need for messy, time-consuming and harsh chemical disinfectants which add cost to waste water treatment and are ecologically undesirable.
  • Steritroxing produces a highly biocidal vapour which is quick and safe to use and offers unrivalled killing power effective on bacteria, fungi, viruses and yeasts including Listeria, Pseudomonas, EColi and other harmful contaminants.

 

 

How Steritroxing works

Steritroxing controls and exploits the killing power of advanced oxidation technology in a way previously unavailable. The key technology that the Steritroxing process utilises to deliver its huge sterilising charge is based on the production of free radicals through the generation of aqueous ozone.

 

Free radicals are powerful bactericidal and virucidal agents which are managed safely, effectively and efficiently by an advanced control system.

 

This vapour diffuses into every corner of the workspace, bathing all exposed surfaces and penetrating deep into hidden areas and fabrics.

The free radical cascade destroys molecular biofilm and exposes resistant environmental contaminants to a natural biocide to which they can develop no defence. Put simply, bacteria are unable to build resistance to this form of attack.

 

Towards the end of the programmed cycle a further catalyst is injected that creates a secondary burst of free radicals massively enhancing the kill rate for a further short period and then quickly absorbs the remaining ozone concentration down to a safe level for personnel to re-enter the room, all typically within one hour. The speed at which Steritroxing reduces ozone concentration to a safe level is something that no other system can match, meaning that production down-time is kept to a minimum.

The Steritroxing Process
Oxidising Reagent

Oxidising potential

(Volts)

Hydroxyl Free Radicals 2.80
Ozone 2.07
Hydrogen peroxide 1.77
Permanganate 1.67
Chlorine dioxide 1.57
Hypochlorus acid 1.49
Chlorine gas 1.36
Hypobromus acid 1.33
Oxygen 1.23
Bromine 1.09
Hypoiodous acid 0.99
Hypochlorite 0.94
Chlorite 0.76
Iodine 0.54

The table left shows the oxidising potential of various reagents. Hydroxyl free radicals are more effective than other oxidising reagents in the fight against harmful micro-organisms.

 

The technology is proven and has been confirmed by Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association and Manchester University.

The Steritroxing killing cycle

The Steritroxing Killing Cycle

Phase 1

The ozone within the Steritroxing vapour initially addresses the latent contaminants present in the area workplace - called ‘ozone debt absorption’

Phase 2

Having overcome this the vapour concentration builds rapidly fuelling the Steritroxing reaction

Phase 3

Sophisticated software in the equipment maintains the optimum biocidal level by being adaptive to changing environmental conditions for the minimum time needed for maximum kill

Phase 4

The final phase of the cycle dramatically accelerates the free radical cascade to consume all of the residual elements of the room clean, safe and fresh for immediate re-occupation

Steritroxing in action

Figure 1 shows actual results over the first five consecutive days of Steritroxing in a high-care food preparation unit. Total Viable Count (TVC) swabs were taken at a number of high risk locations immediately before and after Steritroxing on each day and sent to an independent UKAS registered laboratory for processing.

 

Test results

Tel: 01386 751800

Radical, Steritrox Ltd, The Old Stables, Upper End, Birlingham, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 3AA