Autoclave Principle:
- A- causes dullness.
- B- Breaks the protein cell membrane at moderately low temp.
- C- breaks the protein cell membrane at very high temp.
The principle of an autoclave is not simply about breaking the protein cell membrane.
It's a more nuanced process involving a combination of temperature, pressure, and time to effectively kill microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and even highly resistant spores.
Here's a breakdown of the options you provided:
A. Causes dullness:
This is not a direct principle of the autoclave process. While some materials may experience slight discoloration or changes in texture due to high temperatures, this is not the primary goal of autoclaving.
B. Breaks the protein cell membrane at moderately low temp:
This is partially true. Moist heat is the main mechanism of action in an autoclave, and it does denature proteins, including those in cell membranes. However, moderately low temperatures wouldn't be sufficient for sterilization.
C. Breaks the protein cell membrane at very high temp:
This is closer to the truth, but still needs some refinement. While high temperatures are indeed crucial, it's the combination of high pressure and high temperature that makes autoclaving so effective.
How to work:
Here's how it works:
- Moist heat:
Saturated steam under pressure penetrates into microorganisms, disrupting their internal structures.
- High pressure:
Increases the boiling point of water, allowing for higher temperatures (typically 121°C or 250°F) to be achieved within the chamber without boiling the water.
- Time:
Sufficient exposure time is necessary for the heat to denature proteins and disrupt other vital cellular processes, ultimately leading to cell death.
Therefore, the accurate principle of an autoclave is:
It utilizes the combined effect of saturated steam under pressure and high temperature for a specific duration to denature proteins, disrupt cellular structures, and effectively kill microorganisms, achieving sterilization.
