Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner Bath Life

Question:
Is it possible to prolong the bath life of Alconox?

Answer:
Yes. Start out with a stronger Alconox concentration. If using a 1% solution, use a 2% or possibly even 3% solution. After 1.5 weeks, add another 1.5% Alconox to the bath, especially if there has been make-up water added because of drag-out and evaporation. This regimen should allow successful cleaning for up to 3 weeks. It is not recommended trying to run an Alconox bath beyond 3 weeks, as these baths are prone to starting to grow microbes. Keep the bath covered when not in use and change out the bath every 3 weeks.

To view the technical bulletin and MSDS for Alconox, please visit www.alconox.com.

Critical Cleaning Applications in Medical Device Manufacturing

Question:
What product does Alconox recommend for removing oils and fingerprints from med dev surfaces prior to critical bonding operations?

Answer:
Cleaning of this kind can be accomplished by using a warm (50 deg) 1% solution of Liquinox in an ultrasonic bath followed by a purified water rinse. Detailed information about cleaning in Medical Device Manufacturing can be found in The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook 4th Edition. This 182 page book is a guide to critical cleaning procedures, techniques, and validation.

Copies of The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook 4th Edition can be obtained by visiting the Alconox website at http://www.alconox.com/static/section_customer/book.asp.

To speak to a technical representative about cleaning validation, call 914-948-4040 for Malcolm McLaughlin (x160) or email mmclaughlin@alconox.com.

Ask Alconox

Question:
How do I ask Alconox a question via the internet?

Answer:
Have questions for Alconox? We’ve got answers! Please ask our technical support team! Using the internet, visit http://www.alconox.com/section_top/m_ask.asp and you may fill out the form for specific questions or click the link to cleaning@alconox.com to e-mail general questions.

Manual Amikacin Sulphate residue removal

Question:
Which Alconox cleaners can manually remove Amikacin Sulphate?

Answer:
Amikacin Sulphate is soluble to 1.85X10E5 mg/L, contains amine functional groups and glycoside linkages therefore it is best cleaned by acid. Citranox would be the first choice. It contains glycosides links, it can probably also be cleaned by Liquinox.

Find out more about Citranox and Liquinox at www.alconox.com.

Residue Removal with Alconox brand detergents

Question:
Which Alconox brand cleaners are suitable for the removal of iron sucrose?

Answer:
Iron Sucrose is water soluble therefore it can be cleaned by either Citranox or Liquinox.

Find out more about Citranox and Liquinox at www.alconox.com.

Cleaning Eudragit L 100 -55 with Solujet in a CSP Tank (Solution Preparation Tank)

Question:
What is the correct temperature needed to successfully clean Eudragit L 100-55 with Solujet in a CSP tank (Solution Preparation Tank)?

Answer:
It is recommended to clean with 1% Solujet at 40 deg C for 20 minutes. However, if only normal temperature (20 deg C) water is available, then theoretically it will take 4 times longer because every 10 deg C you go down in temperature doubles the cleaning time needed. If at all possible, it is preferred that cleaning be done with 40 deg C solutions. It is certainly worth trying to clean longer if using hotter solution is not possible. Raising the concentration of Solujet to 2% might help a little bit, but it should not be required.

Detojet Cleaning Duration

Question:
What is the cleaning duration in a horizontal glass washer with 1% Detojet at 50 deg C?

Answer:
In house lab data that shows that one minute of contact time on a small soiled coupon of glass was completely cleaned with ~49 deg C 1% Detojet. There are machines that clean 30 to 96 inches of glass per minute. It is possible that Detojet can successfully clean at speeds on the order of 60 inches per minute. This might equate to something like 30 seconds of contact time before getting to a rinse station depending on the design of the horizontal conveyorized washer.

Chlorine added to Alconox Powdered Precision Cleaner

Question:
Will adding chlorine increase the cleaning power of Alconox Powdered Precision Cleaner?

Answer:
There is no harm in adding chlorine bleach to solutions of Alconox Powdered Precision Cleaner. Adding bleach will add oxidizing capability to the resulting solution. If the residues being removed are affected by oxidizing, then adding bleach will enhance the cleaning effectiveness. If the residues are not affected by oxidizing, then adding bleach has no effect. Adding bleach will offer some disinfecting in addition to cleaning. Note that if the full disinfection power of bleach is needed, the correct way to use it is to clean first with Alconox to remove all residues that would shield the pathogens from the bleach, and then do a second disinfection with bleach for the correct length of time in order to be sure that the pathogens have been exposed to the correct solution for the correct length of time. If you try to do these two steps together at the same time, then it is difficult to determine if the pathogens have been exposed long enough because you never know how long it takes to remove any residues that have pathogens hiding behind them.

For more information on Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner please visit our Technical Bulletin.

Cleaning Aluminum

Question:
How is galvanic corrosion prevented when cleaning aluminum?

Answer:
Aluminum is an active metal that is somewhat high on the "anodic index" of the galvanic series. If aluminum is cleaned with other metals present, you can create a battery and get galvanic corrosion. Aluminum should not be cleaned in the presence of metals that are significantly higher or lower on the anodic series; higher on the anodic scale such as zinc, magnesium or beryllium metals and lower on the anodic scale such as tin, brass, bronze, copper, silver, nickel and rhodium. Galvanic corrosion is facilitated between aluminum and other metals that may be dissolved in the cleaning bath from prior cleaning, or present in the cleaning bath during the time of cleaning. The corrosion can take the form of a dark grey film or deposit, a brown film or deposit, and with more exotic metals, other colors are possible. Certain cast alloys of aluminum can have galvanic corrosion problems with cast iron, carbon steel and low alloy steels. Note that intact and properly passivated stainless steel does not have a problem with galvanic corrosion on aluminum during normal cleaning.

The Alconox brand cleaners recommended for cleaning aluminum are Alconox, Liquinox, Tergazyme, Alcojet, Alcotabs, Detojet, Citranox, Luminox, Citrajet, Solujet and Tergajet. Detergent 8 is not recommended for cleaning aluminum. Aluminum that has been exposed to the environment often forms a characteristic dull grey surface oxide. None of the recommended cleaners will remove this and brighten the aluminum again. The recommended cleaners are intended for use in removing residues, not surface oxides that are bound in to the aluminum matrix. To clean this type of aluminum, there are very hazardous strong acid cleaners that can sometimes be effective. Alternatively, there are mild abrasive cleaners that can be used to polish the dark coating off the aluminum surface. Alconox does not make any of these kinds of cleaners.