Faster and safer safety cabinet fumigation

Published: 18-Feb-2011
Containment Manufacturing Ingredients Regulatory Cleaning

Hydrogen peroxide system offers alternative to toxic formaldehyde fumigation of safety cabinets

New from isolator producer Skan AG is the Skanair DECOSIS fumigation system, which eliminates biosafety risks prior to the maintenance of microbiological safety cabinets and other biocontainment units.

An easier and faster alternative to formaldehyde fumigation, the Skanair DECOSIS is a mobile unit used directly in the lab, and connected to the safety cabinet via two tubes. It functions autonomously thanks to a control system and catalytic converter.

Because it uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a biocide, decomposition products are unproblematic, and maintenance work can subsequently be safely carried out on the decontaminated cabinet.

The unit can be used to decontaminate microbiological safety cabinets in advance of maintenance work, when changing job or location, in preparation for disposal, or in the event of breakdowns or accidents.

It can also be used to decontaminate incubators, air locks and small isolators.

The cabinet continues to run in reduced mode throughout the procedure. The trained maintenance technician enters the corresponding facility parameters at a control system display, together with the quantity of H2O2 defined on the basis of the Skanair DECOSIS validation.

The process starts at the touch of a button, and runs completely automatically: the internal ventilation unit maintains slight negative pressure and feeds H2O2 vapour through the front cover into the cabinet, continuously circulating it inside the cabinet to reach all contaminated areas. The exhaust air through the cabinet‘s HEPA filter is then fed back into the Skanair DECOSIS via the second tube to be recirculated.

The decontamination phase is followed by the flushing phase: any biocides in the exhaust air from the cabinet are removed inside the Skanair DECOSIS via a catalytic converter and a final HEPA filter. This air can then be released directly into the lab, without having to be extracted via the building exhaust air system.

See more

You may also like

Containment

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services expands fill-finish with new suite

Read more
The biopharma CDMO has announced it will soon open a high-speed multi-purpose fill-finish line in its commercial manufacturing facility located in San Diego, CA

Trending Articles

  1. Continuous innovation: redefining the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing In an industry in which reliability is paramount and change can be slow, GEA has consistently proven that innovation and stability go hand in hand. Almost two decades ago, GEA introduced the first ConsiGma® continuous manufacturing (CM) system to the pharmaceutical market — a pioneering move that helped to reshape how oral solid dosage (OSD) forms are developed and produced
  2. Debunking the myths of HPMC adoption Adopting new products, formulations and ways of working can be a challenge for industries as regulated as pharmaceuticals, writes Dr Subhashis Chakraborty, General Manager, Head of Global Product Management, at ACG Capsules
  3. New 800 sqm microbiology quality laboratory at Aenova Latina site The project adds approximately 500 square meters of new laboratory space, bringing the total to around 800 square meters, and marks a major milestone in the site’s development
  4. You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
    Click here to find out more.
    Quality management during manufacturing changes: part I Change is a universal constant and continues to accelerate in the realms of pharmaceutical, medical device and in-vitro diagnostic manufacturers who face ever-increasing pressure to optimise costs while maintaining high product quality and patient safety standards

Upcoming event

Enhancing probiotic stability through smarter formulation and packaging strategies

18 September 2025 | Virtual See all

You may also like

Containment

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services expands fill-finish with new suite

The biopharma CDMO has announced it will soon open a high-speed multi-purpose fill-finish line in its commercial manufacturing facility located in San Diego, CA
Manufacturing

Sapio Sciences introduces world’s first 3rd-generation ELN

Sapio ELaiN is an AI-powered lab notebook designed to act as a scientific collaborator
Manufacturing

Signal Group launches MCERTS approved VOC emissions monitor

New SOLAR CEMNEX analyser offers advanced compliance and connectivity features
You need to be a subscriber to read this article.
Click here to find out more.
Packaging

Cloud labelling and serialisation: the new frontline of traceability in drug delivery

As drug delivery evolves to accommodate a new wave of data-driven innovation, the need for traceability and compliance throughout the supply chain is paramount. Innovative cloud-based solutions enable pharmaceutical companies to navigate these demands with confidence
Manufacturing

Sharp boosts autoinjector and pen assembly line capability with $20m investment in Pennsylvania facility

The money will boost its autoinjector and pen assembly, labelling and packaging lines across various therapeutic areas at its facility in Macungie, meeting the rising demand for injectables
Manufacturing

L.B. Bohle to showcase machines for OSD, food and nutraceuticals at PACK EXPO 2025

Company to present advanced blending, particle sizing and coating technologies at Las Vegas event
Manufacturing

Limula partners with leading cancer centre to improve blood product processing for stem cell transplantation

The company will collaborate with Institut Paoli-Calmettes to advance haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) processing for transplants
Subscribe now