Cleaning a 3 cu ft V blender

Question: 
How would you clean a 3 cu ft V blender?


Answer:
I recommend using a 0.5% Solujet solution of 12 L to clean the 3 cu ft V blender followed by 2 rinses and then a 3rd sampling rinse.  You may wish to do riboflavin UV testing to assure complete coating of the blender with this volume of water (see pp 100 of the book). 


Use the calculator at http://www.alconox.com/calculator.html to review acceptable residue limits. I suggest you use conductivity to detect the Solujet if you have such a meter available to you. As requested, here is a price quote for Solujet effective Jan 1, 2011. 

• 1 gal Solujet $58.80. weighs 12 lbs 
• Case 4X1 gal Solujet for $181.00, weighs 47 lbs 

(Plus shipping by UPS ground and hazmat handling charges ($30) shipping from Jersey City, NJ 07304.)

Alconox Detergent Ingredients

Question: 
How do I find out the ingredients of Alconox cleaners?


Answer:
To find out the ingredients of Alconox cleaners, first review either the Pharmaceutical Cleaning Validation references, the MSDS or technical bulletin for the brand you are interested in.

The Pharmaceutical Cleaning Validation References discuss various analytical methods to detect components of the detergents along with general information about how much of the component of interest is in each detergent.   The MSDS discloses approximate content of various ingredients, including any ingredients with any particular associated hazard or irritation.

The technical bulletin gives a list of the general ingredient types in each product.  If further detail is required, you will need to contact Alconox at cleaning@alconox.com and ask for a non-disclosure agreement for the brand of cleaner you want to know the ingredients for along with the purpose for your need to receive this proprietary information disclosure.  Your request will be evaluated and an agreement sent if appropriate.

How to Clean Parts Prior to Soldering

Question:
Need to clean parts to be soldered prior to applying solder.


Answer:
To clean parts prior to solder you need to consider what residues you are trying to remove from the parts and how you want to clean.  For general purpose oils and residue cleaning by manual, soak or ultrasonic cleaning methods, we recommend using a warm or hot 1% Liquinox solution followed by a thorough rinse.  If you want to remove surface oxides and brighten the parts, we recommend using warm or hot 2% Citranox solution followed by a thorough rinse.

Removing RMA Solder Flux

Question: 
We need to remove RMA solder flux on indium/lead soldered subassemblies. Most aqueous cleaners attack this solder.


Answer:
According to the Materials Handbook by GS Brady et al, indium lead solders are alkali resistant solders.  Rosin based RMA fluxes are best cleaned by alkaline/saponifying cleaners with no conductive cations such as Detergent 8.  


The organic amine in Detergent 8 forms a water soluble soap with the rosin. Because Detergent 8 is cation free, it cannot leave conductive residues.  We recommend using a 3% Detergent 8 solution for ultrasonic immersion cleaning or a 5% Detergent 8 solution for manual cleaning of indium/lead soldered subassemblies.  


Detergent 8 is a hazmat that most package sizes must ship by ground.  You can ship a 5 gallon jerrycan of Detergent 8 by air.

Removing DNA Residue

Question:

We are currently using Alcojet for routine labware cleaning. Since we work on DNA plasmid isolation, I wonder if using Alcojet could remove residual DNA. If not, how much residue could be left? I would really appreciate your answer as unfortunately we have continued using the labwares for a year already. Your comment will be much appreciated.

Answer:

Thank you for your question about DNA plasmid cleaning. Alcojet is capable of removing DNA plasmids as whole strands. However, Alcojet is not the best product to use for cleaning DNA Plasmids. Alcojet is a high pH alkaline cleaner. DNA is not labile to alkaline hydrolysis.

It is more effective to clean with an acid detergent rather than an alkaline detergent. For manual and soak cleaning I would recommend using a warm 2% Citranox solution (20 mL/L). For machine cleaning I would recommend using a 1% Citrajet (10 mL/L) solution. See prior 2009 Tech Note: Removing DNA.

Note that your washer may not be set up to dose liquid detergents. If your washer does not have liquid dosing pumps and hoses, then I would recommend choosing a washing cycle that does not have a presoak cycle in it and dosing the correct amount of liquid detergent in to the bottom of the washer and then turning on the machine so that it goes directly to a hot, long, wash cycle. Do not use a pre-wash cycle which will be short and with ambient temperature water that will use up all the detergent ineffectively and there will be no detergent present when the machine goes to the long, hot wash cycle.

Consult the owner’s manual of the washer to see how much water is used in the wash cycle. A typical under counter washer will use 8 L of water in a wash cycle, so you need to dose 80 mL of Citrajet in to the bottom of your washer at the beginning of the hot wash cycle. If your washer has liquid dosing capability, then simply hook up the Citrajet bottle to the washer by the tubes that are in the washer. If you have been using Alcojet for a year, this does not mean you definitely have had cleaning failures, but it does mean that you are not cleaning the best way and you do have some risk of cleaning failures.

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Alconox and the Environment

Question:

I will be sampling sediments in a lake with a drilling unit. I am wondering if Alconox is harmful to the environment. i.e. if it got into the lake, is there a possibility of harm? I plan on using it to rinse drill bits. Also, what concentration is typical??

Answer:

Alconox is recommended for use at a 1% concentration (10 g/L).

In sufficient quantity, Alconox, like just about anything, will impact the environment. If you discharge 5,000 lbs of Alconox at once, you would be discharging an EPA reportable quantity under CERCLA regulations. I presume you have no intentions of discharging anything like this quantity.

Alconox does contain phosphates which are essential nutrients and can promote algae growth in phosphorous limited ecosystems. The algae can deplete oxygen and then die causing silting up of surface waters - this is eutrophication. You would need large quantities of Alconox to cause significant eutrophication.

Alconox contains surfactants, which in high enough concentration are hazardous to fish - typically you would have to reach 100s of mg/L in concentration to be harmful to fish.

Alconox has been widely used for field cleaning of environmental sampling equipment for decades and we have never had any reported incident of environmental impact. Alconox is biodegradable.

If you spill enough Alconox directly in to a lake, I imagine it could form a stable detergent foam that might take a few hours to dissipate. Although this foam would not be particularly harmful, it would be unsightly. I suspect that a bucket full of Alconox dumped briskly in to a lake might make enough foam to be unsightly.

How to Select the Correct Detergent

Question:

Does Alconox provide any literature on how to select the correct detergent for various applications?

Answer:

Yes! The Alconox Guide to Critical Cleaning contains a detergent selection guide as well as industry specific cleaning information for Medical Device Manufacturing, the Pharmaceutical industry, Laboratory, the Environmental industry, and various other industries. The guide provides critical cleaning procedures which includes directions for Alconox detergents, cleaning method instructions for Ultrasonic, CIP, and various other methods.

Maximum Wash Temperature for Liquinox

Question:

What is the maximum wash temperature for Liquinox? At this maximum temperature is there an accelerated breakdown of detergent?

Answer:

Liquinox is heat stable all the way to boiling at standard temperature and pressure conditions. From a practical standpoint, there are some detergency mechanisms that begin to break down mechanistically as you approach boiling. Emulsions begin to become less stable as you approach within a couple degrees of boiling. If emulsifying is not a critical cleaning mechanism, this may not be relevant to you. Maintaining a hot temperature and keeping water from evaporating is also a practical consideration as far as maximum temperature is concerned. As you approach boiling, the rates of evaporation of water increase and it becomes more important to add make-up water in order to maintain a controlled concentration of Liquinox. It is also of course energy intensive to maintain a near boiling solution. As you approach boiling, corrosion mechanisms are at their peak, so sometimes it does not pay to approach boiling temperatures from a substrate stability standpoint. From a practical standpoint, you would not typically use Liquinox much above 95 deg C (200 deg F). With that said, there are unique applications we are aware of that employ boiling Liquinox for small parts washing, i.e. used in jewelry making where parts are dipped into a pot of boiling Liquinox and the end user has to periodically add make-up water to compensate for water evaporation.

Measuring Concentration through Conductivity

Question:

How can I use conductivity to measure the concentration of a Solujet solution in order to control the concentration in a cleaning bath?

Answer:

In cleaning machines that have sumps or baths that are used repeatedly for cleaning where there will be dragout of solution on the parts being cleaned, evaporation of water, make-up water being added, and possibly dilution with rinse water, the cleaner concentration will constantly be changing as the solution is altered by any of these mechanisms. One way to control this is to monitor the conductivity of the solution which will allow you to determine the concentration of Solujet present which in turn will allow you to determine how much Solujet to add to bring the solution back up to full cleaning strength. For example the conductivity of Solujet at 22 deg C for weight/weight percent Solujet is as follows: 0.125% = 0.64 mS; 0.25% = 1.26 mS; 0.5% = 2.45 mS; 1% = 4.85 mS; 2% = 9.2 mS; and 4% = 17.9 mS. You can contact Alconox at cleaning@alconox.com to get a copy of an excel spreadsheet with this data in it along with a graph for interpreting results.

Alconox Soak Time for Tattoo Instruments

Question:

During a recent inspection, I found the tattoo facility soaking their tattoo gun tubes in a solution of Alconox for up to 3 to 5 days before they accumulate enough of them to put through the steam sterilizer. Is this an appropriate use of the Alconox solution? Should the same solution be used for 3 plus days?

Answer:

The intended and recommended way to use Alconox is to make up a solution and to soak and clean promptly (within 8 hours). We have data showing that a diluted Alconox solution can last for 3 weeks in a closed container.

Longevity of Tergazyme Solution

Question:

How long will the enzyme in a 1% solution of Tergazyme remain active?

Answer:

A 1% Tergazyme solution is designed to give good reliable cleaning performance for 8 hours at 120 deg F. This is designed to correspond to an 8 hour work shift in a hospital. We are confident that after 8 hours there will still be good enzymatic activity as long as you have not exceeded 130 deg F temperatures, so if by chance the Tergazyme solution is not changed or made fresh at the beginning of a shift, it should still provide some cleaning efficiency. We do not recommend routinely using a solution for 16 hours.

Removing Fish Oil Residues

Question:

We would like to have a neutral foaming cleaning agent to clean FISH OIL and GELATIN residues. We will also need a validation method to test residue.

Answer:

I recommend you evaluate Liquinox detergent. Liquinox is a neutral pH range, high foaming concentrated cleaner. You dilute it 1:100 or 10 mL/L to use it. For fish oil and gelatin I would use a hot solution to clean with followed by a hot rinse. I am sure you are aware that fish oil can have a very persistent odor. Using a neutral range cleaner to remove fish oils, you may need to clean more than once, or you may need to clean once very thoroughly. You may need to use a very hot water solution for the best results. Be sure your first rinse is as hot as or hotter than your cleaning solution so as to avoid hitting the surface with a cold rinse that will break the emulsion of residual oil and cause it to redeposit.

Review the cleaning validation references for Liquinox - once you know which residue detection method you want to use, please let us know and we will send you the details of that method. I believe Pramod Patel of Emcure has developed a residue detection method for the anionic surfactant in Alconox powdered detergent- I believe an HPLC method. You can use this same method to detect the anionic surfactant in Liquinox as a residue detection method. Note that if you were willing to use the still very mild pH Alconox powder (pH 9.5), that hot 1% Alconox could be used for this cleaning purpose as well. I am recommending Liquinox because you asked for a neutral cleaner.

Method to Detect Trace Residues

Question:

How do I find an analytical method to detect trace residues of Alconox brand cleaners for a cleaning validation?

Answer:

The best place to find analytical methods for detergent residue detection for either a pharmaceutical or medical device cleaning validation are on the "Pharmaceutical Cleaning Validation" references found on the upper right hand corner of www.alconox.com. This document refers to many possible methods and discusses how to use them.

Once you have reviewed the references, contact Alconox at cleaning@alconox.com for details about your preferred analytical detection method.

Visit Alconox, Inc booth 727 at INTERPHEX2010

Question:
Will Alconox, Inc attend the INTERPHEX2010 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition?

Answer:
Alconox, Inc will be attending the INTERPHEX2010 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, NY April 20-22, 2010. Stop by our booth 727 to enter for a chance to win an IPad tablet computer and get your free copy of The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook! Great opportunity to "Ask Alconox" and get experts advice about your industrial cleaning needs!

Mark your calendars for INTERPHEX2010 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition!

INTERPHEX is the world's most trusted source for leading-edge technology, education, and sourcing of the products and services that drive scientific innovation for Life Sciences manufacturing from drug development to market - accelerating regulated products for patient care globally.

Thousands of Pharmaceutical Industry Professionals gather annually at INTERPHEX to meet one-on-one with technical experts, see the newest products and equipment, view live demonstrations, network, get expert advice to specific challenges, find resources and source new products, learn about emerging or changing trends, and to stay on top of every issue surrounding pharmaceutical manufacturing.

For more information on INTERPHEX2010, visit http://www.interphex.com/

Surface UV Fluorescence Detection

Question: Can UV Fluorescence be used for soil detection?

Answer:

Surface Ultraviolet (UV) Fluorescence—Many organic and some inorganic contaminants will fluoresce under UV light. Shining a UV light on the surface makes residues more visible, particularly in a slightly darkened or dark room. The higher the intensity of the light used, the lower the level of contaminants easily detected. Note, however, that the typical black light found in novelty or specialty gift stores may not be strong enough to cause much residue to fluoresce. More powerful UV lights, available from scientific supply houses or industrial suppliers, will provide far better results. The test is performed by shining the light on the surface and observing an easily seen, fluorescent—typically a yellow, orange or green, sometimes red—color which glows under the light.

Contact Alconox technical support for selecting the right aqueous critical cleaner!

Alconox, Inc manufactures a range of aqueous critical cleaners from powder to liquid, acid to alkaline, highly emulsifying to low foaming. GMP compliant brands are available globally. Downloadable certificates of analysis (COA), MSDS, technical bulletins and trace analysis from the Alconox website at www.alconox.com

Nonvolatile Residue Inspection

Question: What is a nonvolatile residue inspection?

Answer:

Nonvolatile Residue Inspection (NVR)—involves extraction of soil from a dirty surface into a solvent. The solvent is then evaporated onto a coupon of known weight after the solvent is evaporated off the coupon, any residue will be deposited on the coupon. The coupon is then re-weighed and any weight increase detected is attributed to the nonvolatile residue. Many solvents can be used for this purpose. It is important to use a solvent that can dissolve the soil being detected. (Isopropyl alcohol, methylene chloride, acetone and other solvents have been used for this purpose.)

To get more information on how to measure cleanliness, contact Alconox Critical Cleaning Experts at cleaning@alconox.com

Water Break Test

Question:
Is a water break test similar to an atomizer test?

Answer:
Water-break test- uses running water, allowing it to form a sheet, across the surface. Breaks in the water indicate the presence of hydrophobic (water-fearing) residues. (See "The Hydrophobic Surface Film by the Water Break Test," ASTM Method F 22-65-found at astm.org) The water break test is a fairly crude test which is suitable for detecting films of process oils and heavy fingerprints. It does not readily detect non-hydrophobic residues. This test is often used for parts washing and may not be suitable for precision cleaning applications.

Atomizer test- a variation of the water-break test, involves a gently sprayed water mist. Any areas, where water repulsion occurs, indicate the presence of a hydrophobic soil. The atomizer test is slightly more sensitive to hydrophobic soils than the water break test in which the kinetic energy of the flowing water may overcome a hydrophobic residue. In contrast, the atomizer test allows you to see a small droplet of water being repelled by a hydrophobic contaminant.

With over 60 years of experience in detergent manufacturing, talk to the critical cleaning experts at Alconox to solve your most difficult cleaning challenges. Contact the Critical Cleaning Experts at cleaning@alconox.com.

Tape Test

Question:
Need a simple method that will aid visual inspection?

Answer:
The Tape Test is a simple method that aids visual inspection and is well suited for testing the cleanliness of smooth metal and plastic parts. It involves attaching transparent adhesive tape to the surface being measured, firmly pressing it down, carefully removing it and then placing it on a sheet of clean white paper. Visually comparing the sample with an adjacent piece of white paper is a fast, easy way to monitor particulates and sometimes even film residues.

Need to get your hard surfaces cleaner? Alconox, Inc manufactures a range of aqueous critical cleaners from acid to alkaline, powder to liquid, highly emulsifying to low foaming. Brands are available globally with consistent formulations and are GMP compliant. Certificates of analysis, technical bulletins, MSDS, trace analysis, and inhibitory residue testing are downloadable from the Alconox website.

Measuring Cleanliness - Low Tech Detection Methods

Question:
What low tech and easy to perform detection methods can be used to measure cleanliness at 0.01 grams per square centimeter?

Answer:
Visual inspection is best used to detect residues of contrasting color or texture. Good lighting can enhance visual inspection. Magnification and fiber optic lighting, which throws light across a surface, improve detection.

Low-power microscope inspection is a quick and efficient way to verify cleanliness of residual oils and greases, flux residues, particles and surfaces.

Wiping with a white wipe provides a contrasting surface with which to detect dark residues (the white glove test).

For more information on how to measure cleanliness, request a free copy of The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook. Entire chapter dedicated to Measuring Cleanliness! To get your FREE copy, simply email request to cleaning@alconox.com.

Methods for Measuring Cleanliness

Question:
What methods can be used to detect cleanliness at 0.01, 0.01 to 0.001, and below 0.001 grams of soil per square centimeter?

Answer:
Depending upon method selected, cleanliness can be detected to varying degrees or levels.

Cleanliness can be detected to 0.01 grams per square centimeter levels by using visual inspection, low power microscope inspection, wiping and visual inspecting, water break tests, atomizer tests, nonvolatile residue inspection, surface UV Fluorescence detection, tape test.

The level of cleanliness typically suitable for automotive, aerospace, electrical and many surface preparations is between 0.01 to 0.001 grams per square centimeter. This level of detection can be achieved through Millipore filter measurement techniques such as optical microscopy, extraction, oil evaporation, oil soluble Fluorescence, gravimetric analysis, surface energy tests, contact angle measurement, particle counting.

The highest level of cleanliness measurement, below 1 microgram per square centimeter, is suitable for use in semiconductor, disk drive, and medical device applications. Techniques that are used for this level of precise cleanliness measurement include carbon coulometry, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry (GC/MS), Ion chromatography (IC), Optically stimulated electronic emissions (OSEE), Particle counting, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS).

Need to get your surface cleaner? Need help selecting an aqueous critical cleaner to best meet you critical cleaning needs? The Critical Cleaning Experts at Alconox, Inc. can help, click here to “Ask Alconox”.