Final answer:
Formaldehyde is not used to create vapor for chemical vapor sterilization, unlike Ethylene oxide, Hydrogen peroxide, and Ozone. Ethylene oxide, although effective, is carcinogenic and explosive, whereas Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen gas and is an inexpensive household disinfectant. The correct answer is option D .
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemicals used to create vapor for sterilizing with chemical vapor sterilization typically include Ethylene oxide, Hydrogen peroxide, and Ozone, but not Formaldehyde, which is generally used as a liquid disinfectant or gaseous biocide and not for vapor-phase sterilization. The effectiveness of chemical disinfectants like these has historically been compared to phenol. Hydrogen peroxide is a peroxygen widely used as a household disinfectant that is inexpensive and breaks down into water and oxygen gas. It is also used in higher concentrations for surgical tool sterilization and can be deployed as a vapor for room sterilization. Ethylene oxide is used for gaseous sterilization due to its high permeability and ability to sterilize items within plastic bags. However, it's important to note that ethylene oxide is carcinogenic and explosive. Peroxygens, such as hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid, create destructive free radicals in cells, making them effective antiseptics. Ozone, another peroxygen, acts as a strong oxidizing agent, contributing to its disinfecting capabilities. On the other hand, pressurized carbon dioxide in the form of supercritical fluids is used for sterilization at low temperatures and does not involve the production of a chemical vapor.