What method is involved in the sterilization process known as autoclaving?

Autoclaving is a sterilization method that uses moist heat to eliminate microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. The process typically involves the use of steam under pressure, which raises the temperature above the boiling point of water. This moist heat is particularly effective because the presence of water allows heat to penetrate materials more effectively than dry heat, making it possible to achieve sterilization in a shorter time.

The combination of heat and pressure in an autoclave ensures that even the most resistant spores are killed, providing a reliable means of sterilization for medical instruments, laboratory equipment, and other materials that can withstand high temperatures and moisture. As a result, it is widely used in healthcare settings and laboratories.

The other methods listed do not involve the same principles of moist heat or pressure that characterize autoclaving.