Final answer:
In a non-tabletop sterilizer, steam is exhausted through a vent. Gravity displacement and pre-vacuum are two main types of autoclave sterilizations that involve removing air to allow steam to efficiently sterilize various items.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a non-tabletop sterilizer, steam is exhausted through the vent. Autoclaves utilize moist-heat sterilization to raise temperatures above the boiling point to effectively kill a wide range of microorganisms, including spores which are not eliminated by boiling. The autoclave was innovated by Charles Chamberland and remains the most effective method of sterilization. There are two primary types of autoclave sterilization: gravity displacement and pre-vacuum sterilization. Gravity displacement autoclaves introduce steam that pushes air, being heavier, out through a vent, while pre-vacuum sterilizers remove air completely with a vacuum and then introduce steam. This more complete air removal in pre-vacuum sterilizers allows better steam penetration, especially for wrapped items. These methods are critical in many medical, laboratory, and industrial settings that require the complete absence of potentially infectious agents.