Chemistry of Cleaning In Food Processing Plants

Plant Sanitation Training

Dallas, TX
October 9th and 10th
2013

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 Agenda
• Four Fundamental Principals

• Water

• Additives & Surfactants

• pH – Acid/Alkali Strengths

• Soils & Detergents

• Alkalinity/Alkaline Detergents

• Acidity/Acid Detergents

• Chlorine Detergents
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 Four Fundamental Principals

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 Components for Effective Cleaning

Water – Universal Solvent

Detergents
• Alkaline
• Acids
• Lo Foam
• Hi Foam

Additives
• Surfactants Soils
• Chelators • Milkstone
• De-Foamers • Fats
• Oils
• Protein

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Removes
 Agenda

•Water

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 Water
• Water is the single most important ingredient in an effective
wash program. Water acts as:

• Solvent and carrier:

• Solvent for soil removal and

carrier of detergents

• Approximately 90% of the soil is

removed during the first rinse step

• Key Cleaning Point

• Concept of “Superior” Rinse

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 Water (cont.)
• Turbulant Flow of Water on
surfaces acts as a cleaning
solutions are driven through
the system (hydraulic action).

• Heat Transfer Agent allows

heat energy to accelerate
chemical reactions throughout
the system.

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 Water Quality Issues

• Dissolved minerals (calcium

and magnesium salts) can
interfere with chemicals used
to remove soils – “water
hardness effect.”

• Other mineral salts that may

leave deposits on surfaces –
barium sulfate, silica.

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 Water Quality Issues (cont.)
• Iron – Leaves rust colored
deposits.

• Buffering capacity – impact on

alkaline detergents, acids, and
sanitizers.

• High levels of silica in water can

result in difficult to remove hard
water films.

• Dissolved organic material that

may interfere with cleaning
compounds.

• So what can be done?

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 Agenda

•Additives &
Surfactants

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 Additives Built in Detergents or Added Separately
Additives:

• Chelating Agents:

• Surfactants

• De-foamers

• Additives work best when added

to the water prior to the detergent

• Cost Effective application

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 Additives in the Detergent
Additives:

• Chelating Agents:

• Tie up hardness (calcium and

magnesium) on a one-to-one
basis. The harder the water, the
more that is needed.

• They soften in water

• Prevent soap film from forming

• Improved rinsibility

• Reduce necessary acid washes

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 Surfactants – Surface Active Agents
Additives:

• Surfactants

• Surface tension prevents

proper contact with the cleaning
solution.

• A surfactant will help the solution

to reach all surfaces of the soil
and lower surface tension.

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 Surfactants
• Surfactant additives to aid in the
cleaning process.

• Lower surface tension.

• Help detach fats from surface.

• Help suspend soils.

• Must be low foam for CIP.

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 De-Foaming Additives
Additives:

• DeFoamers:

• Defoaming surfactants aid in the

cleaning process by reducing
foam and eliminating pump
cavitation

• You can’t pump foam

• Help detach fats and oils from

the surface.

• Suspend and hold the soil in

suspension

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 Agenda

•pH – Acid/Alkali
Strengths

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 pH
• pH is a logarithmic scale – its determined H+ NO3 – Nitric Acid or HNO3
by the number of H+ and OH - ions present
Na + OH - Caustic or NaOH
• Each unit of increase represents an
increase of 10 fold.

• In terms of concentration, a pH change

from 9 to 10 represents an increase of 10
times.

• pH is not a measure of concentration but a

condition of alkalinity or acidity and cannot
be used to control concentration.

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 pH
• The pH scale is used to quantify the
chemical characteristic of a solution
which is either acidic, alkaline, or neutral
but not the concentration of the solution
(ounces/gallon) – test kit.

• Similar to a Hot or Cold condition

• We can determine that a solution is hot or

cold by how it feels but we don’t know
how hot or how cold until we measure it -
thermometer.

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 The pH Scale

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 pH versus Strength of Acids or Alkalis
• What determines strength of an acid or alkali

• Acids and alkali’s dissociate (dissolve) into solution differently. This

is why some acids and alkali’s are stronger than others

• Nitric Acid is stronger than phosphoric acid

• Caustic is stronger than sodium carbonate

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 pH
Acid Dissociation Rate versus pH
• Dissociation or dissolving & Concentration
rates into solution determine
the strengths of Acids and
Alkali’s

• The greater the dissociation

rate the stronger the
chemical

• Nitric acid is stronger than

phosphoric acid

• Nitric acid is a better H+

donor

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 Delaval Cleaning Solutions’ Acid Examples
• Citric Acid – Tame NFNC

• Phosphoric Acid – Maxid NF/Maxid Plus

Weak
to
• Sulfamic Acid - Sulfam Stong

• Nitric – Membrane Acid 100

• Sulfuric Acid – Hi Temp Acid 2000 (Blend of Phos, Nitric, Sulfuric)

• (Note: Both Citric & Nitric can be used for Passivation Purposes)

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 Alkaline Dissociation Rate versus pH & Concentration
• pH is not a measure
of detergent
concentration, or
cleaning ability

• Knowing the pH does

not tell us the
concentration

• Caustic is stronger
than soda ash

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 Agenda

•Soils & Detergents

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 Detergent Selection – What to Consider?
When selecting a detergent the first thing we need to consider is the
soil we are attempting to clean:

Fats, Proteins, Oils, Mineral etc..

Type of surface or equipment requiring cleaning

Membrane System

Stainless Steel

Soft Metal

What is the application

CIP?

Foam

Manual

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 Soil Characteristics need to be considered when
selecting a detergent
• Fats:

• Melt at elevated temperatures

• Solidify at cooler temperatures and will

stick to surfaces

• Mineral:

• Acids are most effective

• Proteins:

• At high temperatures, denature and

adhere tenaciously to surfaces

• May build up in layers making it more

difficult to remove

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 Chemical Detergents
Why do we clean with detergents?

Because water cannot remove oils, fats or

mineral soils by itself

There are primarily five groups of detergents

that will break down fats, oils, proteins &
inorganic (mineral) films

• Alkaline cleaners:

• Acid cleaners:

• Solvent/degreaser cleaners:

• Chlorinated alkaline cleaners:

• Enzyme cleaners:

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 Alkaline Detergents
• Purpose:

• Remove organic soils

• Breakdown fats and proteins

• Fats and oils:

• Water insoluble

• Low melting point

• Hydrolyzed – make soluble with

Alkali – caustic

• Proteins:

• Insoluble hot

• Less soluble in hard water

• Effectively attacked & removed by

chlorine and high pH solutions

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 Saponification – Solubilizing Fat (Making “Soap”)

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 Soils - Fat
• Saponification = Fat Breakdown

• Butterfat is insoluble and will not

dissolve in pure water

ADD CAUSTIC & WA LA!!

• High alkalinity coupled with heat

increases the solubility of the fat
helping to dissolve it

• Surfactants in the detergent would

even improve soil removal

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 Soap in Hard Water = Film (Milkstone/Soap Scum)

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 Soils - Protein

• Denaturing – Losing
Strength

• High Alkalinity will also

denature protein

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 Soils – Protein (cont.)

• Thin protein residues can

be recognized by their
rainbow-like color

• Chlorinated products work

well at removing protein soil

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 Agenda

•Alkalinity/Alkaline
Detergents

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 Alkalinity

• Is the measure of the

quantity or actual amount of
alkali present in the solution

• A solution with a ph > 7 is

considered alkaline

• Is determined by the amount

of hydroxide OH ions present
(NaOH)

• Not to be confused with pH.

Two different alkali’s at equal
concentration can have
vastly different pH values

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 Alkalinity (cont.)

• Alkalinity is measured in
several ways

• The alkalinity of a solution is

typically composed three
components

• Total Alkalinity

• Inactive Alkalinity

• Active Alkalinity

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 Alkalinity (cont.)

• Inactive alkalinity - the

alkaline component found
natural in the water sample

• Typically low alkalinity value

– 1 to 3 drops

• Test the alkalinity to

determine this part and for
establishing a blank

• Contributes nothing towards

cleaning but can affect
results if not considered

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 Alkalinity (cont.)

• Active Alkalinity – the active

chemical portion of the
cleaner

• That portion represented by

the chemical contribution

• Active alkalinity is the

portion that exists above a
pH of 8.4 or that portion
above the inactive alkalinity

• 8.4 is the pH level at which

phenothalien alkalinity
indicator turns pink

• It is the portion that is

largely responsible for
cleaning effectiveness

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 Alkalinity (cont.)

• Total alkalinity – the sum of

active and inactive alkalinity

• Includes the total alkaline

constituents in the
solutions including the
inactive alkalinity in the
water

• This is why we choose to

run a blank on the water
being mixed with the
cleaner, then adjust the
target concentration
accordingly

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 Cleaning With Detergent – Alkaline’s

Alkaline Cleaners:

• Many sources of alkalinity may be

used in a single cleaner:

• Sodium hydroxide – caustic

• Potassium hydroxide – caustic

potash

• Sodium carbonate

• Sodium metasilicate

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 Alkaline Detergents

• Types of common alkaline detergents:

• Caustics – NaOH 50%, KOH 45%

• “Built” caustics may contain:

• Chelates, surfactants, De Foamers, rinse aids

• Silicates/Carbonates – sodium

• Above products may or may not contain chlorine – chlorinated alkaline

CIP Cleaners

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 Alkaline Detergents (cont.)

• Typical High Alkaline Uses:

• Caustics: NaOH, KOH

• Aggressive cleaning situations

• Fryers, Evaporators, Chad Cabinets, HTST

Systems, Separators

• More dangerous to handle

• High temperature cleaning situations

• All stainless steel systems

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 Chlorinated Alkaline CIP Detergents

• Application Uses

• Lower levels of NaOH or KOH<20%

• Chlorine added

• Less aggressive cleaning situations

• Lower temperature cleaning situations

• Requires all stainless steel equipment

systems

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 Chlorinated Alkaline Foaming Detergents

• Application Uses

• Silicates/carbonates compounds

• Less aggressive cleaning situations

• USFD manual for foam cleaning

purposes

• Lower temperature cleaning situations

• Still requires all stainless steel

equipment systems if chlorinated

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 Agenda

•Acidity/Acid
Detergents

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 Cleaning With Detergent - Acids

Acid Cleaners:

• Acid cleaners today are typically a

blend of Nitric and Phosphoric acid

• They are designed to remove

mineral soils & milkstone films

• Surfactants are not compatible in

high Nitric acids

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 Acidity

• When you measure acidity, you

are measuring the amount of acid
present

• A solution with a pH<7 is

considered acidic

• Acidity refers to the amount of

hydrogen H+ ions present in the
solution

• Not to be confused with pH, two

different acids at equal
concentration can have vastly
different pH values

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 Acid Detergents

• Purpose:

• Primarily to remove mineral

soils (milkstone – inorganic)

• Organics (proteins and fats)

• Brighten stainless steel

• Bacteriostatic condition
(pH<3)

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 Soils - Minerals

• High levels of acidity will dissolve mineral salts

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 Milkstone

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 Acid Detergents

• Categories of Acid Cleaners

• Hydrofluric– specialized

• Sulfuric – very strong

• Nitric – Strong

• Phosphoric – moderate strength

• Citric/Sulfamic – Mild

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 Acid Detergents (cont.)

• Characteristics:

• Hydrofluric – (strong)

• Special applications and concerns

• Main purpose for removal of silicate films

• Most desirable temperature of use is cold to

140 degrees F

• Is corrosive and can burn stainless steel

• Dangerous to use and must be used with

proper PPE

• Restriction of use

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 Acid Detergents (cont.)

• Characteristics: (H2SO4)

• Sulfuric acid – (very strong):

• Use for aggressive CIP cleaning situations

only

• Use below 160 degrees F and only on

stainless steel

• Don’t use if barium is present in water supply

• Is highly corrosive and can burn stainless

steel

• Will attack surfactants and most gasket

materials

• Use today primarily for pit control of effluents

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 Acid Detergents (cont.)

• Characteristics: (HNO3)

• Nitric acid – (strong)

• Most commonly used acid today

• Economical in cost

• Use for aggressive CIP cleaning situations only

• Use below 160 degrees F and only on stainless steel

• Non-corrosive to stainless steel as a liquid

• Used to passivate stainless steel

• Does not shine surfaces as well as phosphoric

• Will attack gaskets and green scrub pads

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 Acid Detergents (cont.)

• Characteristics:

• Phosphoric acid – (moderate): (H3PO4)

• Circulation, foam, and manual cleaning systems

• Good choice in blends & reclaim systems

• Most desirable temperature of use is 140 to 155

degrees F

• More expensive to use

• Non-corrosive to stainless steel

• Does not attack surfactants and can be used

with scrub pads

• Provides bright shine on stainless steel surface

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 Acid Detergents (cont.)

• Characteristics:

• Sulfamics – (weak)

• Circulation and manual cleaning systems

• Most desirable temperature of use is 140 to 155

degrees F

• Non-corrosive to stainless steel and non

stainless metals

• Does not attack surfactants and can be used

with scrub pads

• Has little to no effect on most gasket materials

• Special Applications

• Sulfamic/Oxaylic – de-staining, descaling

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 Agenda

•Chlorinated
Detergents

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 Chlorine Detergents

• Most effective on protein soils

• Very inexpensive to use

• Strong oxidizer

• Becoming an increasing environmental concern

• Highly corrosive to stainless steel (increases with

exposure time and concentration)

• Used in circulation and manual cleaning systems

• Not compatible with some surfactants

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 Chlorine Detergents

• Blended with alkali’s to provide dual purpose cleaning:

• Alkaline wash and sanitizer

• Effective cleaning and time saving

• But not a sanitizer or disinfectant

• Common applications:

• Pre-built circulation cleaner

• Pre-built manual and foam cleaning application

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 Chlorine Detergents

• Note – Never combine with Acid Detergents!!!

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 Questions o Preguntas?

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