An autoclave is a machine that provides a physical method of sterilization by killing bacteria, viruses, and even spores present in the material put inside the vessel using steam under pressure. Autoclave Principle/ Working The autoclave works on the principle of moist heat sterilization, where steam under pressure is used to sterilize the material present inside the chamber. The high pressure increases the boiling point of water and thus helps achieve a higher temperature for sterilization. Water usually boils at 100°C under normal atmospheric pressure (760 mm of Hg); however, the boiling point of water increases if the pressure is increased. Similarly, the high pressure also facilitates the rapid penetration of heat into deeper parts of the material, and the moisture present in the steam causes the coagulation of proteins, causing an irreversible loss of function and activity of microbes. This principle is employed in an autoclave where the water boils at 121°C at the pressure of 15 ...