Cleaning Procedure:
Rinse the pump thoroughly with purified water, then clean it again using the same. Immerse the ceramic pump in a 1–3% NaOH solution for 5–15 minutes to effectively remove pyrogens. After soaking, rinse well with water for injection to eliminate any residual solution.
Sterilization Procedure:
Sterilization should be performed using high-pressure moist heat steam. Maintain the temperature at 121 °C, with a pressure of 0.1 MPa, for 30 minutes (recommended duration).
Precautions During Cleaning and Sterilization:
1. Chemical and Material Restrictions:
Do not use fluorine-containing chemical solutions or stainless-steel containers, as these may cause corrosion to stainless-steel components. When cleaning, avoid pulling or disassembling the ceramic column or plug of the metering unit in water exceeding 40 °C. The ceramic plug must be removed for cleaning, and the ceramic rod and plug must not be interchanged during the process.
2. Sterilization Handling:
During sterilization, place the rotary valve, ceramic plug, and metering rod separately in a designated cleaning and sterilization box. Suspend the ceramic rod and plug vertically for steam sterilization. After sterilization, allow the pump body to cool naturally to room temperature before handling. Sudden cooling before reaching room temperature may cause cracking or deformation of the pump body.
3. Removal of Stubborn Stains:
If yellow residues are observed inside the ceramic pump or liquid pathway, soak the affected components in a 10% oxalic acid solution for 30–60 minutes, followed by thorough rinsing with water for injection.
4. Prevention of Mechanical Damage:
Since ceramics are harder than stainless steel, direct contact between ceramic and stainless-steel parts may result in surface adhesion or abrasion, affecting pump movement and potentially causing damage. To prevent this, perform cleaning and sterilization using non-metallic containers (e.g., made of PTFE). When disassembling the plunger sleeve, plunger, or slot valve, keep the plunger sleeve upright and suspend the plunger and slot valve vertically by a cord to avoid deformation.
