| abstract |
A spray comprising finely divided droplets suspended in a gas, the droplets advantageously comprising a solute and a solvent, for example water, which is hydrogen peroxide, wherein the droplets have a solute concentration of at least 60% by weight and less than 1.0 micron, preferably Preferably a spray having an average diameter of less than 0.8 micron. Sterilization with this spraying agent comprises spraying a solution comprising the sterilizing agent in the solvent to form a spraying agent of finely divided particles of the solution in the gas stream, wherein the solution comprises a solvent having a lower boiling point than the sterilizing agent; Treating the spray with a kind of energy for a time sufficient to evaporate the solvent preferentially over the sterilant, thereby increasing the concentration of the sterilant in the spray particle; Removing the evaporated solvent from the gas stream at atmospheric pressure or above and, if necessary, cooling the spray to 70 ° C. or less; And exposing the surface to a spray of concentrated fungicide for a time sufficient to sterilize the surface. |