sterilization

(ster"il-i-za's hun) i. The act or proce of making any person or thing sterile. 2. Castration. 3. The destruction of all microorganisms in or about an object; cf. pasteurization, disc on tin'uous s., exposure to a temperature of 100° C. (212° F.) for a definite period, usually an hour, on each of several definite period, usually an hour, on each of several succe ive days, frac'tional s., the heating of a fluid to 56° to 70° C. (132.8° to 158° F.) for a given period, usually one hour, on each of several succe ive days; at each heating the developed bacteria are destroyed, but the spores are unaffected; also called tynd all i zati on. inter mitt'ent s., fractional s. or discontinuous s. s. by flowing steam, s. by exposure in an unsealed ve el to the action of steam at a temperatiu'e of 100° C. (212° F.). s. by steam under pre ure, s. effected by exposure to the action of superheated steam in an autoclave.*