Final answer:
Ethylene oxide sterilizes by alkylating the amino and sulfhydryl groups on microbial enzymes, disrupting their function and leading to cell death. It is especially useful for sterilizing heat-sensitive items and is widely used in hospital settings, although it has carcinogenic and explosive properties that require careful handling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethylene oxide is utilized for its antimicrobial properties, primarily in the sterilization of medical equipment and food preservation. It functions as a sterilant by reacting with and disrupting the function of essential enzymes within microbial cells. The mechanism by which ethylene oxide achieves this is through its chemical structure as a three-membered cyclic ether, which facilitates alkylation, particularly with amino (-NH₂) and sulfhydryl (-SH) functional groups that are prevalent in the proteins within microorganisms. These reactions result in the modification of the biochemicals in the cells, ultimately leading to cell death.
Consequently, the wide-ranging utility of ethylene oxide spans from fumigation in foods and textiles to the sterilization of medical devices like surgical instruments, which are sensitive to heat. Ethylene oxide's capacity to permeate materials and sterilize items enveloped in plastic bags without heat makes it ideal for the treatment of heat-sensitive items. However, extreme caution is necessary given ethylene oxide's carcinogenic and explosive properties. Appropriate aeration following sterilization is crucial in order to negate its harmful effects.