Sterilization of culture media for microorganisms using a microwave oven instead of autoclave

Abstract EN

Different culture media in different volumes were exposed to microwave (MW) irradiation for 2, 3 and 4 minutes to investigate the ability of MW to destroy microorganisms and compared with media sterilized by conventional autoclaving method.

MW sterilized media were screened for microbial growth.

Exposure of different microorganisms to microwave irradiation resulted in destruction of all microorganisms within 3 minutes.

Using MW for irradiation is a practical, easy, rapid and energy saving way to sterilize different types of culture media with no effects on the quality of culture media and microbial growth after sterilization.

It can be used as alternative apparatus instead of autoclave in microbiology laboratories for preparing different sizes in rapid and routine experiments especially in the conditions of the weak electricity current and interruption.