The machined-based reprocessing comprises cleaning, rinsing, disinfection (if necessary) and drying of the laboratory apparatus.

The following figure shows a typical program cycle for laboratory glassware reprocessing:

Cleaning

 

Cleaning removes dirt from the surfaces. At this stage, process chemicals (e.g. cleaning agents, surfactants, emulsifiers, neutralizers) are used. The cleaning may comprise several program blocks, such as pre-rinse, cleaning, neutralisation.

 

Rinsing

 

During rinsing the dissolved dirt and the process chemicals used are rinsed off. Rinsing can comprise a number of individual program blocks. The choice of water quality (e.g. tab water, deionised water, ultrapure water) depends on the application (e.g. organic/inorganic analysis, microbiology).

 

Disinfection

 

During disinfection, infectious contamination is killed/inactivated to such a degree that the laboratory glassware no longer represents an infection risk. On the one hand, disinfection serves to protect personnel within laboratories who work with infectious contamination. On the other hand, the disinfection prevents transfer of germs from samples and preparations in medical laboratories, hygiene institutes, pharmaceutical laboratories and the foodstuff and cosmetic industries. Thus hygienic, problem-free working is guaranteed.

 

Drying

 

The washer disinfectors have, dependent on model and construction, an active hot-air dryer which permits not only drying of the external surfaces, but also drying of narrow diameter laboratory glassware. Also laboratory glassware of complex shape is reliably dried using hot-air drying. To effectively protect the laboratory glassware against dust particles and microorganisms, the drying air is passed over a HEPA filter.