Which scientist invented the autoclave for sterilization?

The scientist credited with inventing the autoclave for sterilization was Charles Chamberland.

A French microbiologist who worked in Louis Pasteur’s laboratory, Chamberland designed the device in 1879 while investigating how to sterilize culture media. The autoclave uses pressurized saturated steam, allowing temperatures above ordinary boiling water and reliably destroying microorganisms, including many resistant spores.

Its operating principle resembles that of a pressure cooker. A commonly cited sterilization cycle uses steam at 121 °C and about 15 psi for 15–60 minutes, although the required time depends on the load and equipment. Autoclaves became essential in laboratories, hospitals, and later industrial manufacturing.

Chamberland’s work extended beyond the autoclave. In 1884 he developed the Chamberland, or Pasteur–Chamberland, filter from porous porcelain. Its pores were smaller than bacteria, making it possible to remove bacteria from water or laboratory solutions. A frequent historical mix-up is Denis Papin: his 1679 steam digester was an important precursor, but Chamberland is credited with the autoclave used for sterilization.