1. The properties of food-grade silicone tubing
Food grade silicone tubing is made of silicone rubber that is very pure and fulfils many food safety regulations, including the US FDA, EU 10/2011, and China GB 4806.1. The key things about its material are:
High chemical stability: Food-grade silicone doesn't react with acids, bases, salts, or common solvents, therefore it lasts a long time.
Strong flexibility: The pipe can be bent and folded without breaking readily, making it good for complicated pipeline configurations.
It can normally handle temperatures between -60 and 200 degrees Celsius, and high-temperature steam sterilisation won't change its structure.
It is safe for food and does not smell or taste bad. It will not contaminate the flowing medium.
2. Ability to withstand high temperatures and kill germs
In a sterile production environment, pipes must be disinfected and sterilised to very high standards. Food grade silicone tubing can handle high temperatures well and can be sterilised at high temperatures (such 121 °C high-pressure steam sterilisation or dry heat sterilisation) without softening, changing shape, or releasing dangerous compounds.
Food-grade silicone tubing is also resistant to a number of disinfectants, such as chemical disinfectants like ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide. In the daily aseptic production process, regular high-temperature steam or chemical disinfection treatment can keep silicone tubes sterile both inside and outside the tube. This is why it is a popular choice for sterile tubing in biopharmaceuticals, beverage production, and laboratory equipment.
3. Applicability of food grade silicone tubing in sterile environments
Food grade silicone tubing is good at withstanding high temperatures and chemicals, yet it may not be the best choice for sterile production environments for the following reasons:
Smoothness and Microbial Adhesion: Silicone tubing has a comparatively soft surface, which means it may have more small surface pores than hard tubing. If it isn't cleaned well over time, it could become a place where microbes can stick to things.
Designing the pipe diameter and flow rate: In aseptic production, a low flow rate or too many dead corners might make it easier for microbes to proliferate. This is why silicone hoses need to be constructed with the right pipe diameter and pipeline structure.
Regular replacement: It is best to change food-grade silicone tubing often after using it for a long time to keep the production area clean and sterile.
Compatibility with other devices: To keep the system as sterile as possible, silicone tubing should fit well with fittings, valves, pumps, and other equipment to prevent leaks and dead corners.
4. Things to keep in mind while utilising food grade silicone tubing
To make sure that food grade silicone tubing may be used safely in a sterile environment, you should keep the following in mind:
Choose the right tubing: To keep toxic compounds from leaking out of bad items, choose food-grade silicone tubing that satisfies FDA, EU, or Chinese GB regulations.
Regular cleaning and disinfecting: To keep the storage area clean and free of germs, use chemical disinfectants or steam sterilisation at high temperatures.
Don't let fluids sit in pipes for too long. This could make it more likely for microbes to thrive, so make sure the flow is always going.
Check the condition of your pipes on a regular basis. Soft pipes can get old, break, or develop small holes, so you should check them often. If any flaws are detected, they should be fixed quickly.
Don't touch sharp things: The silicone tube is fragile, and sharp things could break through the wall of the tube and spill or contaminate it.
5. Taking care of and maintaining food-grade silicone tubing
For long-term use in sterile manufacturing facilities, food-grade silicone tubing should be cleaned and serviced regularly.
Cleaning: After each use, rinse the container right away using hot water or a cleaning agent to make sure that all of the residue is gone.
Drying: After cleaning, everything should be completely dry so that there is no moisture left that could lead to microbial growth.
High-temperature sterilisation: To keep the pipes clean, you need regularly use high-temperature steam or dry heat to kill germs.
Storage: To keep silicone tubing from getting old, it should be kept in a dry, clean place that is sheltered from the sun.
Regular replacement: To make sure that long-term sterile production isn't harmed, change the silicone tube often based on how often it is used and where it is used.
