Question:
What cleaner would Alconox, Inc recommend for use in glass substrate and module in-process cleaning for large scale glass photovoltaic modules?
Answer:
Alconox, Inc. has introduced Detojet hard surface cleaner for use in glass substrate and module in-process cleaning for large scale glass photovoltaic modules. Detojet can be used in horizontal glass washers that clean the glass panels, followed by rinsing and drying prior to further processing.
Large glass superstrates of transparent conductive oxide coated glass can be cleaned prior to manufacturing and during manufacturing using large horizontal conveyor washers with Detojet cleaner. The combination of dispersants and cleaning agents results in excellent particle control and debris free surface. The dispersants are able to lift particles into solution by overcoming the electrostatic attractions to the hard surfaces and by reducing the hydrophobic tendency of the surface of the particle, thereby rendering it more water dispersible. The cleaning agents remove hydrophobic oily films that can interfere with the particle removing action of the dispersants as well as lead to non-uniform layers during manufacturing.
Detojet is available world wide thru a global network of dealers. See Alconox.com to find a local dealer.
For questions or an aqueous cleaner selection consultation contact the Experts in Critical Cleaning at Alconox, Inc. Email cleaning@alconox.com or call 914 948 4040 for technical support.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Cleaning Thin Film Solar Modules
Question:
How does poor cleaning of thin film solar modules during manufacturing impact cost and yield?
Answer:
Poor cleaning of thin film solar modules can result in increased cost and reduced yield due to module faults from low electrical resistance between cells across laser scribe patterns; short circuits between cells in a module; and reduced steady state efficiency after extended light exposure to a module.
Substrates must be cleaned at the start of manufacturing AND after each significant residue creating process during manufacturing. Need help? Contact the Experts in Critical Cleaning at Alconox, Inc for an aqueous cleaner selection consultation. Email cleaning@alconox.com or call 914 948 4040 for technical support.
How does poor cleaning of thin film solar modules during manufacturing impact cost and yield?
Answer:
Poor cleaning of thin film solar modules can result in increased cost and reduced yield due to module faults from low electrical resistance between cells across laser scribe patterns; short circuits between cells in a module; and reduced steady state efficiency after extended light exposure to a module.
Substrates must be cleaned at the start of manufacturing AND after each significant residue creating process during manufacturing. Need help? Contact the Experts in Critical Cleaning at Alconox, Inc for an aqueous cleaner selection consultation. Email cleaning@alconox.com or call 914 948 4040 for technical support.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rinse Water
Question:
How do you remove Alconox from rinse waters prior to discharge to the sewer? Will reverse osmosis work effectively in the removal of the Alconox from rinse waters?
Answer:
Alconox is a blend of organic surfactants and inorganic sodium salts of carbonates and phosphates. In principle, reverse osmosis will remove Alconox from water as long as you are using a sufficiently small molecular weight cut off to remove sodium carbonate. Although reverse osmosis would probably work, it might not be the most cost effective approach. Depending on why Alconox needs to be removed and if all of the components of Alconox need to be removed, there might be less expensive separation techniques that would work. To discuss further, please contact technical support at cleaning@alconox.com.
How do you remove Alconox from rinse waters prior to discharge to the sewer? Will reverse osmosis work effectively in the removal of the Alconox from rinse waters?
Answer:
Alconox is a blend of organic surfactants and inorganic sodium salts of carbonates and phosphates. In principle, reverse osmosis will remove Alconox from water as long as you are using a sufficiently small molecular weight cut off to remove sodium carbonate. Although reverse osmosis would probably work, it might not be the most cost effective approach. Depending on why Alconox needs to be removed and if all of the components of Alconox need to be removed, there might be less expensive separation techniques that would work. To discuss further, please contact technical support at cleaning@alconox.com.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Aqueous Critical Cleaning Process
Question:
How does aqueous critical cleaning differ from basic cleaning for appearance? How does this apply to the pharmaceutical industry?
Answer:
The aqueous critical cleaning process involves using aqueous cleaners to remove residues from surfaces where the surface cannot function properly without successful cleaning. This is distinguished from simple cleaning for appearance. Aqueous critical cleaning is often used on high value surfaces or surfaces that are used to manufacture high value products. In the case of pharmaceutical manufacturing, the glass, ceramic, plastic, and metal surfaces that make up the tools and equipment used to manufacture pharmaceuticals must be free of any interfering cross contamination. If there is any interfering cross contamination, then the resulting high value pharmaceutical being made can be rendered unusable. There is also the risk that the cross contamination is not detected and contaminated pharmaceuticals can be released for use by humans or animals, thereby putting their health at risk, while exposing the manufacturer to liability. Surely, the aqueous cleaning processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing are some of the most critical of all aqueous critical cleaning processes.
Pharmaceutical process equipment, tools and R&D implements are typically made from fairly robust and cleanable materials such as stainless steel, Teflon, polypropylene, synthetic elastomers, glass and ceramic. Although the materials are relatively easy to clean, the tools and equipment often have difficult-to-clean structures. The kinds of residues found in pharmaceutical manufacturing can include many water-insoluble and otherwise very difficult-to-clean residues. Because of the broad range of formulations available with aqueous cleaners, it is possible to find a cleaner that will work even on the most difficult structures and residues by whatever cleaning method is desired. Not only can you find an effective cleaner, but aqueous cleaners are economical and are relatively safe for the environment and workers.
Learn more about aqueous critical cleaning from the experts who wrote The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook... Request your FREE hardcover copy - a $39.95 value - today by calling (914) 948 - 4040 or email request to cleaning@alconox.com, please include NAME and SHIP TO address.
Visit Alconox.com to learn more about Alconox, Inc aqueous brand cleaners for your high value pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.
How does aqueous critical cleaning differ from basic cleaning for appearance? How does this apply to the pharmaceutical industry?
Answer:
The aqueous critical cleaning process involves using aqueous cleaners to remove residues from surfaces where the surface cannot function properly without successful cleaning. This is distinguished from simple cleaning for appearance. Aqueous critical cleaning is often used on high value surfaces or surfaces that are used to manufacture high value products. In the case of pharmaceutical manufacturing, the glass, ceramic, plastic, and metal surfaces that make up the tools and equipment used to manufacture pharmaceuticals must be free of any interfering cross contamination. If there is any interfering cross contamination, then the resulting high value pharmaceutical being made can be rendered unusable. There is also the risk that the cross contamination is not detected and contaminated pharmaceuticals can be released for use by humans or animals, thereby putting their health at risk, while exposing the manufacturer to liability. Surely, the aqueous cleaning processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing are some of the most critical of all aqueous critical cleaning processes.
Pharmaceutical process equipment, tools and R&D implements are typically made from fairly robust and cleanable materials such as stainless steel, Teflon, polypropylene, synthetic elastomers, glass and ceramic. Although the materials are relatively easy to clean, the tools and equipment often have difficult-to-clean structures. The kinds of residues found in pharmaceutical manufacturing can include many water-insoluble and otherwise very difficult-to-clean residues. Because of the broad range of formulations available with aqueous cleaners, it is possible to find a cleaner that will work even on the most difficult structures and residues by whatever cleaning method is desired. Not only can you find an effective cleaner, but aqueous cleaners are economical and are relatively safe for the environment and workers.
Learn more about aqueous critical cleaning from the experts who wrote The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook... Request your FREE hardcover copy - a $39.95 value - today by calling (914) 948 - 4040 or email request to cleaning@alconox.com, please include NAME and SHIP TO address.
Visit Alconox.com to learn more about Alconox, Inc aqueous brand cleaners for your high value pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Benefits of Aqueous Critical Cleaning
Question:
What are the benefits of Aqueous Critical Cleaning in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing?
Answer:
The benefits of employing aqueous cleaning in pharmaceutical manufacturing are numerous. Virtually any pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment from tablet press to a stainless steel mixing tank can achieve their defined critically clean criteria using aqueous cleaning. Typically aqueous cleaners are formulated to ensure maximal cleaning performance by using key ingredients such as surface active agents (surfactants) that are excellent wetting agents that allow the cleaning solution to penetrate into crevices while getting under soils to allow for removal. Often very dilute solutions of aqueous cleaner effectively removes even worst case substances off a variety of hard surfaces including stainless steel, glass, plastic, or porcelain.
The proper use of aqueous cleaning helps manufacturers minimize surface residue and makes cleaning validation easier. Aqueous cleaners are available in low toxicity formulations that make achieving acceptable residue levels easy during cleaning validations. Often even multi-product facilities can find a single aqueous cleaner that cleans all residues on all surfaces. This means less cost for the manufacturer because only one cleaner has to be validated.
Aqueous cleaners are suitable for a variety of cleaning methods such as manual, soak, machine, and automated clean-in-place (CIP). The range in formulation from acidic to basic, high emulsifying to low foaming, and availability of liquid concentrates to powder blends ensures that a cleaner can be found to clean whatever residues are encountered using whatever the cleaning method is being used. Most pharmaceutical companies use liquids because they tend to be easier to handle when dispensing doses, though powders are more economical, especially for manual cleaning.
Aqueous cleaners are usually biodegradable, causing them to have low environmental impact, and are also readily disposable after use requiring no further treatment. Moreover, aqueous cleaners have excellent worker safety characteristics and replace semi aqueous or solvent-containing cleaners that tend to have more worker safety concerns and are harsher to the environment.
Learn more about aqueous critical cleaning from the experts who wrote The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook... Request your FREE hardcover copy - a $39.95 value - today by calling (914) 948 - 4040 or email request to cleaning@alconox.com, please include NAME and SHIP TO address.
Visit Alconox.com to learn more about Alconox, Inc aqueous brand cleaners for your high value pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.
What are the benefits of Aqueous Critical Cleaning in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing?
Answer:
The benefits of employing aqueous cleaning in pharmaceutical manufacturing are numerous. Virtually any pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment from tablet press to a stainless steel mixing tank can achieve their defined critically clean criteria using aqueous cleaning. Typically aqueous cleaners are formulated to ensure maximal cleaning performance by using key ingredients such as surface active agents (surfactants) that are excellent wetting agents that allow the cleaning solution to penetrate into crevices while getting under soils to allow for removal. Often very dilute solutions of aqueous cleaner effectively removes even worst case substances off a variety of hard surfaces including stainless steel, glass, plastic, or porcelain.
The proper use of aqueous cleaning helps manufacturers minimize surface residue and makes cleaning validation easier. Aqueous cleaners are available in low toxicity formulations that make achieving acceptable residue levels easy during cleaning validations. Often even multi-product facilities can find a single aqueous cleaner that cleans all residues on all surfaces. This means less cost for the manufacturer because only one cleaner has to be validated.
Aqueous cleaners are suitable for a variety of cleaning methods such as manual, soak, machine, and automated clean-in-place (CIP). The range in formulation from acidic to basic, high emulsifying to low foaming, and availability of liquid concentrates to powder blends ensures that a cleaner can be found to clean whatever residues are encountered using whatever the cleaning method is being used. Most pharmaceutical companies use liquids because they tend to be easier to handle when dispensing doses, though powders are more economical, especially for manual cleaning.
Aqueous cleaners are usually biodegradable, causing them to have low environmental impact, and are also readily disposable after use requiring no further treatment. Moreover, aqueous cleaners have excellent worker safety characteristics and replace semi aqueous or solvent-containing cleaners that tend to have more worker safety concerns and are harsher to the environment.
Learn more about aqueous critical cleaning from the experts who wrote The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook... Request your FREE hardcover copy - a $39.95 value - today by calling (914) 948 - 4040 or email request to cleaning@alconox.com, please include NAME and SHIP TO address.
Visit Alconox.com to learn more about Alconox, Inc aqueous brand cleaners for your high value pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
How do I get the link for the new safety based limits and 10 ppm carryover limit calculator for Alconox brand cleaners?
Question:
How do I get the link for the new safety based limits and 10 ppm carryover limit calculator for Alconox brand cleaners?
Answer:
To request the online link for the residue calculator please call technical support at 914-948-4040 ext 151 or email cleaning@alconox.com or stop by Booth 3320 INTERPHEX2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, NY March 17-19, 2009 and DEMO our brand NEW CALCULATOR for residue limits! It's a fast & simple tool especially created for the pharma engineer & validation specialist!
How do I get the link for the new safety based limits and 10 ppm carryover limit calculator for Alconox brand cleaners?
Answer:
To request the online link for the residue calculator please call technical support at 914-948-4040 ext 151 or email cleaning@alconox.com or stop by Booth 3320 INTERPHEX2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, NY March 17-19, 2009 and DEMO our brand NEW CALCULATOR for residue limits! It's a fast & simple tool especially created for the pharma engineer & validation specialist!
Thursday, March 05, 2009
NEW from Alconox – Calculator for Residue Acceptance Criteria Limits - For Alconox Inc. Detergents
Question:
How can the calculator help you? What pieces of information does this calculator require in order to perform calculation?
Answer:
As part of a cleaning validation, acceptable residue limits for the cleaner being used needs to be determined. This determination is made by calculating a safety based limit and comparing it to a 10 ppm carryover limit. The lower of these two limits calculated is the limit to adopt. In order to calculate the safety based acceptable residue limit, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of the cleaner needs to be calculated. This requires several pieces of information including identification of the Alconox, Inc cleaner that is intended to be used as well as the typical weight of patients that will be exposed to the pharmaceuticals manufactured on the respective equipment being validated. An appropriate safety factor needs to be selected; usually the default is 1,000 unless it is a particularly hazardous material (1). The resulting ADI can then be used to calculate a safety based acceptance limit for cleaner residue by knowing the batch sizes to be manufactured, the surface area of the shared equipment being cleaned and largest daily patient dose of drug being manufactured. The result is the safety based limit. Next in order to calculate the 10 ppm carryover limit, you use the same batch size and equipment size used in the safety based limit to calculate the 10 ppm limit. The calculator automatically determines and displays the lower of the two limits calculated, either the safety based limit or the 10 ppm carryover limit. This is the residue acceptance criteria limit. The limit of quantitation for the analytical detection method you choose has to be below this limit so that the method is sensitive enough to detect at the residue acceptance limit.
To request the online link for the residue calculator please call technical support at 914-948-4040 ext 151 or email cleaning@alconox.com.
For product information, visit Alconox.com.
How can the calculator help you? What pieces of information does this calculator require in order to perform calculation?
Answer:
As part of a cleaning validation, acceptable residue limits for the cleaner being used needs to be determined. This determination is made by calculating a safety based limit and comparing it to a 10 ppm carryover limit. The lower of these two limits calculated is the limit to adopt. In order to calculate the safety based acceptable residue limit, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of the cleaner needs to be calculated. This requires several pieces of information including identification of the Alconox, Inc cleaner that is intended to be used as well as the typical weight of patients that will be exposed to the pharmaceuticals manufactured on the respective equipment being validated. An appropriate safety factor needs to be selected; usually the default is 1,000 unless it is a particularly hazardous material (1). The resulting ADI can then be used to calculate a safety based acceptance limit for cleaner residue by knowing the batch sizes to be manufactured, the surface area of the shared equipment being cleaned and largest daily patient dose of drug being manufactured. The result is the safety based limit. Next in order to calculate the 10 ppm carryover limit, you use the same batch size and equipment size used in the safety based limit to calculate the 10 ppm limit. The calculator automatically determines and displays the lower of the two limits calculated, either the safety based limit or the 10 ppm carryover limit. This is the residue acceptance criteria limit. The limit of quantitation for the analytical detection method you choose has to be below this limit so that the method is sensitive enough to detect at the residue acceptance limit.
To request the online link for the residue calculator please call technical support at 914-948-4040 ext 151 or email cleaning@alconox.com.
For product information, visit Alconox.com.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
How to request Biocompatibility Data
Question:
What is the best way to request Liquinox or Citranox biocompatibility data?
Answer:
Teri Dowds
Director, Science & Marketing
Alconox Inc
914 948 4040 ext 151
tdowds@alconox.com
cleaning@alconox.com
At Alconox, we understand when you are cleaning Class III implantable medical devices, there's simply no margin for error!
Whether your product is designed for in vitro or in vivo use, is biomedical or electronic, there's an Alconox cleaner formulated to get products scrupulously clean without leaving interfering residues.
Powerful Alconox cleaners are available to remove particulates, bioburden, and interfering process oils from ceramic, plastic or stainless steel surfaces.
Full validation support including traceability, COAs, biocompatability, stability, reactivity and residue limits. Solutions for manual, ultrasonic, soak, clean-in-place applications, machine and pressure washers.
For more information on cleaning medical devices, visit our medical device cleaning page.
What is the best way to request Liquinox or Citranox biocompatibility data?
Answer:
Teri Dowds
Director, Science & Marketing
Alconox Inc
914 948 4040 ext 151
tdowds@alconox.com
cleaning@alconox.com
At Alconox, we understand when you are cleaning Class III implantable medical devices, there's simply no margin for error!
Whether your product is designed for in vitro or in vivo use, is biomedical or electronic, there's an Alconox cleaner formulated to get products scrupulously clean without leaving interfering residues.
Powerful Alconox cleaners are available to remove particulates, bioburden, and interfering process oils from ceramic, plastic or stainless steel surfaces.
Full validation support including traceability, COAs, biocompatability, stability, reactivity and residue limits. Solutions for manual, ultrasonic, soak, clean-in-place applications, machine and pressure washers.
For more information on cleaning medical devices, visit our medical device cleaning page.