Practice School Seminar 6

Hot Air Oven Process

20)Mr. Prasad Dethe Miss. Nisha Jagtap

03)Mr. Rushikesh Basugade Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
RESEARCH SCHOLAR RESEARCH GUIDE

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 Introduction
• Hot Air Oven is commonly used for dry heat sterilization.
• Dry heat sterilization is a method of controlling microorganisms
• It employs higher temperatures in the range of 160-180°C and
requires exposures time up to 2 hours, depending upon the
temperature employed.
• The benefit of dry heat includes good penetrability and non-corrosive
nature which makes it applicable for sterilizing and metal surgical
instruments.
• It is also used for sterilizing non-aqueous thermostable liquids and
thermostable powders
• Dry heat destroys bacterial endotoxins (or pyrogens) which are
difficult to eliminate by other means and this property makes it
applicable for sterilizing glass bottles which are to be filled
aseptically).
• Dry heat kills by Oxidation, Protein Denaturation and toxic effects of
elevated levels of electrolytes.
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 Parts of Hot Air Oven
 An insulated chamber surrounded by an outer case
containing electric heaters.
 A fan
 Shelves
 Thermocouples
 Temperature sensor
 Door locking controls

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 Principle
• The hot air oven is based on the principle method of dry heat
sterilization. Since conduction is the basis of dry heat
sterilizations, thus the temperature first reaches the surface
of the material to be sterilized, and then it gradually moves
towards the core of the material. Thus, dry heat sterilization
makes sure to sterilize every part of the material.
• Dry heat sterilizes the material by inducing oxidizing the
particles inside it and damaging their primary component,
which results in the ultimate death of the organism. Usually,
the temperature that is set for efficient sterilization is about
an hour.
• Since hot air is lighter than cold air, thus increasing the
temperature inside the chamber results in the flow of hot air
up to the roof of the chamber while cold air comes down.
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 Loss On Drying
• Loss on drying test is designed to measure the amount of
water and volatile matter in sample when the sample is dried
under specified conditions of temperature.
• Calculation

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 Procedure

• Unless and until not described in monograph take 1 to 2

g of test sample.
• Decrease the particle size to about 2 mm by use of motor
pastel if required.
• Set the drying oven temperature at a set specified
temperature (Normally-105°C) (as per monograph) ± 2°C.
• Take a glass stoppered LOD bottle with lid and keep in
drying oven at specified temperature for 30 minutes.

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 Application
• The dry heat sterilization method is useful in those cases,
where moist heat sterilization is not possible. But, the
samples which undergo chemical changes, melt or catch fire
are also not suitable for dry heat sterilization. The laboratory
hot air oven for sterilization purposes is recommended for the
following objects.
• Glassware such as Petri dishes, flasks, pipettes, and test tubes
• Powders such as starch, culture media, and zinc oxide
• Metal tools such as scalpels, forceps, blades, and scissors
• Materials that contain oils
• Plastic ware such as micropipette

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