An apparatus and a method are provided for the on-site production of a sterilizing gas and sterilization of objects. In a first step of the method, an alcohol is catalytically converted to an alkene oxide. The alkene oxide is subsequently mixed with an inert gas comprising water vapor and nitrogen to produce a sterilizing gas. Finally, the objects are sterilized with the sterilizing gas. The only starting materials used throughout the entire method are at least one alcohol and a gas comprising oxygen and nitrogen. An apparatus is provided in which the method can be performed.
