The determination of residual ethylene oxide and halogenated hydrocarbon propellants in sterilized plastics

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Abstract
A specific and sensitive method is described for the determination of residual ethylene oxide, dichlorodifluoromethane and trichlorofluoromethane in sterilized plastic surgical equipment. Residues are isolated from the plastics by high vacuum distillation and analysed by gas chromatography using an exponential dilution apparatus, to avoid the use of solvents. Under the conditions specified, a lower limit of 1 ppm of each component could be detected in blood giving sets of which the main plastics material was PVC. The rate of loss of each component has been studied, to indicate the necessary holding time of the material before it can be considered safe to use.