Final answer:
Tyndallization, or intermittent sterilization, is a method primarily used to process heat-sensitive medical and laboratory equipment in situations where traditional higher-temperature sterilization methods are impractical.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tyndallization, or intermittent sterilization, is a microbiological sterilization method used to process materials that cannot withstand the higher temperatures of standard autoclaving. This method involves subjecting the material to steam at temperatures of 100 °C in multiple cycles with incubation periods in between. The purpose of the incubation periods is to allow any remaining spores to germinate into vegetative cells, which are killed in subsequent steaming cycles.
Sterilization is key in various fields such as laboratory practices, medical equipment preparation, food industry settings, and other areas where it is critical to eliminate all forms of life, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and spores, from surfaces or materials.
Tyndallization targets substances like microbiological media, heat-sensitive medical and laboratory equipment, and items that may decompose at high temperatures used in traditional sterilization methods such as autoclaving. However, it is not commonly used because it is a laborious and time-consuming process, and more efficient methods are available.