Inventors:
Richard T. Smith - Ridgefield CT
Parker C. Reist - Chapel Hill NC
Stephen Glahn - Burlington NC
Assignee:
PepsiCo, Inc. - Purchase NY
International Classification:
A61L 220
US Classification:
422 28, 422 1, 422298, 422302, 422303, 141 89, 141 91, 53425
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of sterilizing and/or sanitizing a container using a sterilant vapor such as hydrogen peroxide. The sterilant vapor is discharged through a nozzle positioned in an opening of the container and the container is then purged of the discharged sterilant using a heated gas such as sterile air. The nozzle is preferably positioned no closer than 15 mm from the bottom surface or any internal surface of the container and within to of the height of the container. The nozzle has a diameter no greater than one-half of the diameter of the opening of the container. When containers made of non-heat set PET are used, the temperatures of the sterilant vapor and the purge gas are preferably no greater than 160° F.