Machine Washers

Question:
What method of cleaning is best for disassembled equipment and bench-scale production equipment for clean-out-of-place (COP) procedures?

Answer:
Machine cleaning is performed on clean manufacturing tools, disassembled equipment and bench-scale production equipment in clean-out-of-place (COP) procedures. A machine that is designed to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements can provide rapid, reliable, validated cleaning while using minimum amounts of water, resources and space. Historically, "lab style" washers have been modified to conform to GMP requirements. More recently, washers have become available that meet GMP requirements with design features including:

1. A chamber that allows for minimal water retention and provides good drainage from cycle to cycle with a minimum of solution carried over in any inlet or outlet piping. Corners that carry a minimum of a 1" radius and all surfaces are sloped to the drain. Internal chamber structures have rounded edges with no threads or fluid entrapment areas.
2. No mechanical attachment required for the accessory racks with regard to the mating of inventory systems to the hydraulic circuit.
3. Spray headers are positioned on the top and bottom of the racks to provide the most efficient cleaning.
4. A documentation package to complete the validation and qualify the cleaning system.

A well designed machine washer requires GMP compliant procedures for best use. In this regard, a complete inventory of size, weight, and specific cleaning requirements for each part and equipment to be cleaned needs to be taken. Additionally, which parts and equipment need to be cleaned together have to be noted. Cumulatively, with this information, appropriate loading and unloading patterns can be established. The goal of a good loading pattern is to allow good spray and cascading solution contact and good drainage of the parts and equipment. Any opportunity for pockets of solution to fail to drain from parts or equipment in between wash or rinse cycles need to be eliminated. By designing multi-level loading patterns, efficient use of water, detergent and utilities can be achieved. Since loads for GMP cleaning can range from glass to plastic to stainless parts, the design of a loading surface should allow for varying weights. If horizontal drop-down doors are used in the washer, they can serve as both the integrated loading platform when open and can allow for better seals than vertical doors when closed. Vertical doors typically require the use of separate loading carts. For these reasons, horizontal doors are often preferred.

Once good loading patterns have been established with proper racking, the pre-rinsing, washing, rinsing and drying cycles must be established. This involves selecting the correct cleaning agents, temperatures and time for each cycle. By knowing the substrates and residues that need to be cleaned, the correct cleaning agent can typically be determined. Typically a high alkaline cleaner followed by an acid rinse is used. Other important washer design features that should be taken into consideration at this point include that the delivery systems allows for precise application of additives and that a set-up of drying systems are in place that provide complete coverage of every part of a load. Once the appropriate parameters have been established, cleaning programs using the machine’s Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) are set.

The advantages of using machine washers are faster cleaning of parts and equipment using less human labor, less space, less water and less cleaning agent than comparable manual cleaning. A disadvantage of machine washers is that they often require very special racks and correct loading procedures to assure reliable cleaning results on parts or equipment with complex geometry.

To find the right Alconox aqueous critical cleaner for your machine washer visit Alconox.com.

Manual Cleaning

Question:
What is immersion manual cleaning?

Answer:
Manual cleaning can be done in-place on manufacturing equipment or at a sink or washroom where disassembled pieces of equipment, tools and utensils are brought for cleaning. Often brushes, abrasive pads, scrapers, buckets, spray bottles, or other appropriate equipment is used for manual cleaning. A good manual cleaning procedure will specify any pre-rinsing, the cleaner concentration, the order which parts of a particular piece of equipment should be cleaned and the rinsing procedures. The advantage of manual cleaning is that it is relatively simple and the operator can give special attention to difficult-to-clean areas or residue until clean criteria is achieved. The disadvantage is that it can take longer, has the cost of human labor, and is very directly subject to human error.

To find the right Alconox aqueous critical cleaner for your manual cleaning method, please visit this page.

Immersion Clean-in-Place (CIP)

Question:
What is immersion clean-in-place (CIP)?

Answer:
Pilot scale and smaller manufacturing tanks, blenders and mixers can be cleaned by completely filling all the pipes and equipment with cleaning solution, possibly while gently running any agitators available in the equipment. A successful validation of this cleaning process will define the concentration of the cleaner, the contact time, the level of agitation and temperature of the cleaning solution required to successfully clean the tank. This cleaning method is used in older large manufacturing tanks that do not have integrated spray CIP systems. The advantage of immersion CIP cleaning is that is simple and does not require a carefully engineered spray CIP system. The disadvantage is that it typically takes longer because the equipment, such as a mixer, would have to be filled, heated and drained rather than the faster cycles obtained by using much smaller quantities of cleaning solution as in a spray CIP systems. Additionally, only the areas that are in contact with the cleaning solution get cleaned and usually some manual cleaning of tanks and mixers on the areas above the fill line has to be performed.

To find the right Alconox aqueous critical cleaner for your CIP method visit Alconox.com.

Spray Clean-In-Place (CIP)

Question:
What is spray clean-in-place (CIP)?

Answer:
Spray CIP involves spraying or re-circulating the initial flush, wash, and rinse solutions under pressure, with proper adjustments of time, temperature, and cleaner concentration through the pipes and spray balls to clean large internal areas of the equipment without having to fill them completely with solution. Efficient cleaning of pilot and large scale mixers, tanks and blenders can be achieved by distributing flush, wash and rinse solutions on the upper surfaces at pumping rates equal to 2.0-2.5 gallons-per-minute (gpm) per foot of circumference for vertical vessels, or 0.2-0.3 gpm per square foot of internal surface for horizontal and rectangular tanks. Piping systems can be effectively cleaned via recirculation at flow rates producing a velocity of 5 feet per second or more in the CIP circuit's largest diameter piping. The advantage of spray CIP is that it can rapidly clean large pieces of equipment using minimal amounts of cleaning solution as well as minimal amounts of energy to heat the solutions and rinse water. The disadvantage of spray CIP is that it requires very careful engineering design to assure successful cleaning. If there are difficult-to-clean places that the automated system fails to clean, manual cleaning may be required. If a new difficult-to-clean product is made in production equipment that has a spray CIP system and it cannot successfully clean the new product, then possibly a new cleaning agent may be required or a change to immersion cleaning or manual cleaning may be necessary.

To find the right Alconox aqueous critical cleaner for your CIP method visit Alconox.com.

Automated Clean-in-Place (CIP)

Question:
What is automated clean-in-place (CIP)?

Answer:
Spray and immersion are two kinds of automated clean-in-place systems used typically for cleaning pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. In both these systems there is a primary water source that can be heated, if necessary, that is used to make up the cleaning solutions and as rinse water before and after the cleaning cycles. An external tank can be used for mixing up and storing the cleaning solutions, although sometimes the manufacturing tank is used for this purpose. A separate external tank for holding the rinse water can also be employed as well as a second source of water if the final rinse requires purified water such as water-for-injection (WFI) or deionized (DI) water. There will be pumps and piping connecting these external CIP tanks to the manufacturing equipment that needs to be cleaned. A water conservation system can be installed that pumps the final rinse water into the cleaning solution dilution tank in order to use that water for the first cleaning cycle in the next automated CIP run. There will be automated controllers to run the pumps and control the dosing of cleaning agent and water. These controllers can be full or semi-automated programs that require operator intervention at key steps in the process. There are often monitoring systems that assure that the process is being done according to the program and that all parts of the system are functioning correctly. The automated equipment has sensors and data recorders to assist with the documentation of the cleaning and can often create reports that will become part of the batch log to document that the cleaning was done correctly for regulatory compliance. Automated CIP systems can be permanently integrated into a set of manufacturing tanks, or they can be on mobile skids that are moved from tank system to tank system. Typically, the best results with automated cleaning are achieved when the automated CIP system is integrated into the original design of the manufacturing system. Often an existing tank must be retro-fitted with an automated CIP system. This retro fit can involve either spray CIP or immersion CIP systems.

To find the right Alconox aqueous critical cleaner for your CIP method visit Alconox.com.

Cleaning methods for all phases of pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Question:
Considering that there are different phases in pharmaceutical manufacturing, bench scale R&D, pilot studies and full-scale manufacturing, what are the best critical cleaning methods for each?

Answer:
According to FDA rationale, cleaning equipment is meant to be designed to "prevent contamination or adulteration of drug products". Typically pharmaceutical operations require transition from bench scale R&D to pilot studies to full-scale manufacturing. Each transitional stage requires careful consideration of changes to the processing equipment and cleaning techniques. In general, the size of the equipment gets larger as each stage is encountered. In this regard, manual and soak-cleaning procedures tend to be adequate for bench-scale equipment, whereas pilot and large-scale manufacturing process equipment usually requires clean-in-place (CIP) cleaning by automated spray or immersion systems and/or by manual cleaning. All stages of development and production may use manual cleaning or machine washers to clean various parts of equipment or utensils. If feasible, it is desirable to clean the pharmaceutical equipment in place without having to disassemble or move it in order to rapidly get the equipment back into service.

Alconox has an aqueous critical for manual, soak and clean-in-place (CIP) cleaning methods. To find the right Alconox aqueous critical cleaner for your method visit Alconox.com.

Cleaning Quartz Tubing

Question:
I need to clean small quartz tubing (I.D. = .035" O.D. = .069") that is sealed at one end.

Answer:
Alconox, Inc recommends Liquinox, a mild alkaline cleaner that is phosphate free. Since the ID is a little less than 1 mm, rinsing will be a bit tricky. The ideal cleaning scenario would be to use a syringe inserted up into the end of the tube, first flushing with warm 1% Liquinox, followed by adequate amounts of rinsing with DI water. If this is not practical, as long as the tube is not too long (less than 6 mm) then if soaked upright in ultrasonics, would probably work but an adequate rinse must be carried out as well using the ultrasonic tank.

Click here for Liquinox technical bulletin.

Checking for Residues

Question:
What is the FDA consensus standard or industry standard for checking for residues?

Answer:
The FDA does not give any guidance on preferred methods for detecting residues. For investigations they prefer selective methods such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but they certainly accept the use of non-selective methods such as total organic carbon (TOC), see this page from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. In our experience, in medical device residue detection, the most commonly used technique is TOC, at least as far as detergent residues are concerned. The Technical Information Reports (TIR-12 and TIR-30) from the AAMI gives some references to methods used for specific types of residues other than detergents.

The technical experts at Alconox, Inc have taken the guess work out of selecting the appropriate analytical detection methods for all of its brands. To review the Directory of cleaner residue detection methods for each Alconox detergent visit Alconox.com.

AR coated optics cleaning

Question:
What is Alconox's aqueous cleaner recommendation for cleaning surface of delicate AR coated optics and diffraction gratings from dicing particle contamination?

Answer:
Liquinox Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent is widely used for cleaning AR (anti-reflective) coated optics. The recommended working concentration is 0.5 -1.0% at ambient temperature, followed by adequate rinsing. For more technical information, review the Liquinox technical bulletin.

Remove Biofilm on SS

Question:
How do I remove biofilm on stainless steel?

Answer:
Alconox's recommendation to remove biofilm on stainless steel is to use a two step process entailing an alkaline cleaner, Solujet, followed by an acidic cleaner, Citrajet. In our experience we get the best results when the first step of 3% Solujet (alkaline cleaner) at 75 deg C for 30 minutes followed by a cursory rinse. Then the second step of 3% Citrajet (acidic cleaner) at 75 deg C for 30 minutes followed by a thorough rinse. Both Solujet and Citrajet are low foaming cleaners.

Additionally, we recommend the intermittent use of Tergazyme, an enzyme cleaner, as a maintenance procedure that will completely remove all dead cells and traces of polysaccharide biofilm. This is beneficial because it in turn slows down the formation of biofilm and allows the regular cleaning cycle (Solujet - Citrajet) to clean effectively for more cycles. It is important to note that Tergazyme is a powder that you typically mix 1% in cool to warm water (35 deg C would be fine, do not exceed 50 deg C - to ensure integrity and activity of the enzyme). Tergazyme is a high foaming cleaner and would not be suitable for a spray-in-air clean-in-place system. You can pump and gently agitate Tergazyme solutions; however you cannot employ high agitation at an air/solution interface without getting excessive foam.

For product technical bulletins and MSDS, visit Alconox.com for easy download.

Aqueous Degreaser

Question:
Do you have an aqueous degreaser to replace chlorinated solvents?

Answer:
Chlorinated solvents clean by solvating residues. Many polar organic and inorganic residues are soluble in chlorinated solvents. The solvents are typically used in baths where the residue is dissolved in to the bath; or the solvents are used with rags or wipes where the residue is dissolved and transferred to the rag or wipe; or in some cases the solvents are used in vapor degreasers where the solvent condenses on to the substrate and drips off in to the tank carrying the residue with it. In all cases, you typically keep cleaning to the point where enough residue is removed and you are now left with clean enough solvent on the substrate. In effect, these solvents are self rinsing. Once cleaning and rinsing are completed, then the last of the solvent evaporates away to dryness.

Aqueous cleaners can quite easily be used to remove polar organic and inorganic residues. In fact depending on what cleaner is used, aqueous cleaners can additionally remove particulates, oxides and a range of non-polar and other organic residues that are not soluble in chlorinated solvents. The method of use and cleaning mechanisms for using aqueous cleaners are quite different from solvent cleaning. Aqueous cleaners work by emulsifying, dispersing, wetting, chelating, dissolving, and saponifying residues. The big difference is that aqueous cleaners need to be rinsed with water. Aqueous cleaners also benefit from using heat, whereas for safety reasons, you usually do not heat chlorinated solvents except in vapor degreasers. You typically need to change the cleaning procedures to switch from a chlorinated solvent to an aqueous cleaner.

If you were using soak tanks to clean with chlorinated solvent, you can typically use a soak tank with warm 1% Liquinox followed by a thorough water rinse to get comparable or better cleaning. If you are using a vapor degreaser, typically you would use a warm or hot 1% Liquinox solution in an ultrasonic tank followed by a thorough water rinse to get comparable or better cleaning. If you were using chlorinated solvents with rags, you can often use rags of warm 1% Liquinox to clean with, followed by whatever best rinse is practical using other rinse water rags or ideally a running water rinse. The kinds of residues that are best removed by chlorinated solvents can typically be readily removed by Liquinox.

One other key difference between aqueous cleaners and chlorinated solvents is that the rinse water used can cause rust on certain kinds of tool steel, mild steel and iron. Since Liquinox is a residue-free cleaner, there are no corrosion inhibiting residues that will survive the rinse process. Once the detergent is rinsed away, any dissolved oxygen in the rinse water can attack the steel and cause rust. Typically rusting will not occur during cleaning, but during rinsing. You can minimize and control any rusting by being sure to rinse with cool ambient temperature water and the drying promptly by a water removing process rather than a water evaporating process. Water removing drying processes include wiping, blowing off with air or gas jets, dipping in isopropanol or other drying solvents. On stainless steel, plastics, ceramics and most other substrates there are not corrosion concerns with mild aqueous cleaners like Liquinox.

For more information, please download the LIQUINOX technical bulletin.

Clean Tough Cosmetic Residues

Question:
What Alconox brands are recommended for cleaning tough cosmetic residues off of manufacturing equipment?

Answer:
Whether you're scrubbing 1,500-gallon kettles or wrestling with plastic tubes and fillers, you need to ensure that the last batch of product you processed really is history. That's where Alconox cleaners come in. Proven detergents such as CITRANOX, TERGAZYME, and ALCONOX wash away your most tenacious cleaning problems-without leaving residues.

CITRANOX excels in removing trace metals and oxides—including titanium dioxide.

TERGAZYME conquers proteinaceous residues.

ALCONOX makes short work of silicon residues and even tackles waterproof mascara in heated immersion cleaning.

Whatever the surface-glass, plastic, metal, or otherwise- Alconox gets it critically clean. Visit us for more information.

Cleaning Cosmetic Operations

Question:
Want to make cleaning cosmetic operations cheaper and more efficient?

Answer:
Alconox can help! Alconox stretches your cleaning budget in two key ways. First, Alconox detergents make your cleaning jobs faster and easier. Scrubbing and rinsing big stainless-steel kettles can take hours.

Alconox can shorten-or even eliminate- manual scrubbing time. And that means saving money. Second, Alconox detergents are highly concentrated for economical use. A little bit of any one of them goes a very long way.

Our experts can help you improve your cleaning procedures, install new procedures, eliminate cross-contamination and ensure compliance with FDA standards. Whatever your cleaning problem, Alconox can help you solve it.

Alconox offers a broad range of powders and liquids for manual, machine, clean-in-place, and ultrasonic critical cleaning-all free-rinsing, corrosion-inhibiting, and biodegradable.

Visit for more information.

Removing DNA

Question:
What does Alconox recommend for removing DNA from laboratory equipment?

Answer:
Since DNA is stable to alkaline hydrolysis, we recommend testing 1% Citranox Liquid Acid cleaner, pH 2.5. Acids at high temperatures are capable of breaking the DNA molecule into its components. Note the working concentration Citranox recommended here is a starting point, higher concentrations may be required to achieve desired results.

Citranox is liquid acid cleaner for manual, soak and ultrasonic cleaning. It is corrosion-inhibited for glassware, metals, and plastic. Following cleaning with Citranox adequate rinsing with water is required. Citranox has rinse aids that leave no interfering residues on the surface. Before exposing laboratory equipment to any high temperature cleaning or acid cleaning, testing needs to conducted to ensure no damage to equipment surface or substrate. Also, do not mix bleach hypochlorite with Citranox because in sufficient quantities the mixture can form toxic chlorine gas, as they can acidify the bleach solution to below pH 7.

At Alconox we understand how important it is to have clean laboratory equipment, and recognize that any "leftover" DNA (or protein or RNA) could potentially contaminate your next experiment, we suggest that you analytically test for removal of these substances.

Click here for Citranox technical bulletin.

Removing RNA

Question:
What is Alconox's recommendation for removing RNA from laboratory equipment?

Answer:
The basis of our two recommendations for the removal of RNA from laboratory equipment is the principle that alkali can hydrolyze RNA down to mononucleotides.

First recommendation requires adding bleach hypochlorite to 1% Alconox Powdered Precision Cleaner (pH 9.5). Alconox Powdered Precision Cleaner is designed for manual, soak, and ultrasonic tank cleaning of glass, metal, and plastic. No interfering residues will be left behind when rinsed with adequate amounts of RNA-free water. Note the working concentration Alconox recommended here is a starting point, higher concentrations may be required to achieve desired results.

Our second recommendation is 0.5 - 1% Detojet Low Foaming Liquid Detergent pH 12. Detojet is a liquid detergent that can be used manually, in ultrasonic tanks as well as in labware and machine washers. It is corrosion inhibited for glass, metal and plastic and when properly rinsed, leaves no interfering residues. When working with Detojet appropriate safety precautions need to be taken when handling, i.e. safety goggles, gloves, lab coat, etc. Detojet contains KOH and an active chlorine compound, so there is no need to add bleach. The working concentration of Detojet recommended here is a starting point, higher concentrations may be required to achieve desired results.

In either case, Alconox +bleach or Detojet alone, there needs to be cleaner - surface contact time that you will need to determine. Again, the basis of this is alkali can hydrolyze RNA down to mononucleotides, but the alkali needs to come in contact with the surface for 8-16 hours to ensure hydrolysis is complete. This can be accelerated as the temperature of the solution is increased, as overnight at 37 C or 1-2 hours at 65 or 75 deg C. Following contact period with alkali cleaner, adequate rinsing with RNA-free water is required. Also, before exposing laboratory equipment to any alkali for extended periods of time, testing needs to conducted to ensure no damage to equipment surface or substrate.

At Alconox we understand how important it is to have clean laboratory equipment, and recognize that any "leftover" RNA (or DNA or protein) could potentially contaminate your next experiment, we suggest that you analytically test for removal of these substances.

Click here for Alconox technical bulletin.

Click here for Detojet technical bulletin.

Tergazyme Enzyme Cleaner

Question:
Can bleach be added to Tergazyme cleaner?

Answer:
Do not add bleach to Tergazyme, as it will denature the enzyme and render it inactive, in fact the enzyme in Tergazyme will be inactivated within seconds to exposure of 300 ppm hypochlorite, and within 2 minutes to exposure of 3.5 ppm hypochlorite at 100 deg F (37 deg C). Thus, it is not recommended to add bleach to Tergazyme.

Click here for Tergazyme technical bulletin.

Tergazyme for Cleaning Tissue, Blood, Protein

Question:
What does Alconox recommend for cleaning tissue, blood and protein off stainless steel exam and sampling equipment?

Answer:
Tergazyme, enzyme active powdered detergent, is Alconox's recommendation for cleaning tissue, blood and protein from glass, metals and plastics. Tergazyme has been used to clean filter membranes, fermenters and bioreactors as well. This detergent contains a protease that is excellent for cleaning of proteins, tissue, and body fluids and is designed for manual, soak, and ultrasonic cleaning methods. With proper rinsing leaves no interfering residues on the surface. Use at 1% (in solution it is stable for 8 hours). pH 9.5

Click here for Tergazyme technical bulletin.

Detojet Hard Surface Cleaner

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

Visit Alconox, Inc booth 3320 during PharmaMedDevice Symposium held concurrently with the INTERPHEX2009

Question:
Do the PharmaMedDevice Symposium conference attendees have access to the INTERPHEX exhibit floor? Is Alconox, Inc exhibiting at INTERPHEX2009?

Answer:
YES! Alconox, Inc will be attending the INTERPHEX2009 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, NY March 17-19, 2009. Stop by our booth 3320 for your free copy of The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook! Great opportunity to "Ask Alconox" and get experts advice about your medical device manufacturing cleaning needs!

In 2009, the PharmaMedDevice Symposium will once again run concurrently with the INTERPHEX Conference and Exhibition. Conference attendees will have access to the INTERPHEX exhibit floor showcasing the latest in products and ideas for the life science industry. Together, these educational programs provide Life Science professionals the knowledge and competitive advantage to accelerate product innovation.

For more information visit the PharmaMedDevice Symposium website.

Solujet Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid Detergent - Better Chemistry for Pharmaceutical Cleaning

Question:
What product will Alconox, Inc booth 3320 be highlighting at INTERPHEX2009?

Answer:
Solujet Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid Detergent

Alconox, Inc Booth 3320 INTERPHEX2009 offers superior cleaning with Solujet - even on your toughest pharmaceutical residues! With a superior surfactant system, Solujet out performs all others on the widest range of residues - even cleans titanium dioxide, tablet coatings and petrolatum - at low concentrations, without troublesome additives. Alconox, Inc adheres to cGMP and offers downloadable Certificates of Analysis, technical bulletins, MSDS and trace analysis directly from Alconox.com. For cleaning validation support including residue sampling techniques & analytical methods, visit us at Booth 3320.

Need to calculate Solujet or another Alconox brand cleaner residue acceptance limit for your manufacturing equipment? Stop by Booth 3320 and DEMO our brand NEW CALCULATOR for residue limits! It's a fast & simple tool especially created for the pharma engineer & validation specialist!

Solujet is concentrated to save money, distributed globally in convenient sizes up to 55 gal drums. For more information visit Alconox.com.

Visit Alconox, Inc booth 3320 at INTERPHEX2009

Question:

Will Alconox, Inc attend the INTERPHEX2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition?

Answer:

Alconox, Inc will be attending the INTERPHEX2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, NY March 17-19, 2009. Stop by our booth 3320 for 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 INTERPHEX2009 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.

At INTERPHEX, you will find technology solutions and education for every aspect of drug manufacturing from process development through delivery to market. INTERPHEX is comprised of four major segments: Facilities, Outsourcing & Contract Services, Information Technology, and Manufacturing/Processing.

For more information on INTERPHEX2009, visit http://www.interphex.com/

Alconox, Inc targets toughest critical cleaning challenges

Question:
Why use Alconox brands? How do Alconox brands differ from the rest?

Answer:

Alconox brands are:

Fast acting, long lasting, high penetrating cleaners - powders, liquids, acids, alkalis, low-foaming and high emulsifying - biodegradable, phosphate-free and readily disposable

Expressly formulated to save time - high penetrating power for cleaning oxides, particles, flux & oil - FAST with LONG bath life

Formulated for your specific application - machine & parts washers, manual wash & ultrasonic tanks - concentrated to save $$

Corrosion inhibited formula - for glass, metal, ceramic and plastic

Precise quality control - COAs, MSDS, trace analysis & lab tests

Convenient sizes available worldwide: drums to bottles and boxes

For more information visit www.alconox.com

Solujet Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid Detergent - Better Chemistry for Labware Washers!

Question:
What new cleaning chemistry will Alconox, Inc booth 4062 be featuring at Pittcon2009?

Answer:
Solujet Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid Detergent

Visit Alconox, Inc Booth 4062 to learn about Solujet and its unique formula for superior cleaning of glass, metal, plastic and ceramics in all kinds of machine washers- labware washers, dishwashers, washer sterilizers, washer-sanitizers, cart washers, and spray washers. Solujet is low-foaming, phosphate-free, biodegradable and readily disposable. Solujet saves time and cost due to rapid penetrating power and tackles the most demanding residues at low concentrations. With its free rinsing formula, Solujet leaves no interfering residues for reproducible results. Available in convenient sizes from a global network of laboratory & industry related suppliers. Solujet Certificate of Analysis, technical bulletin, MSDS, trace analysis and inhibitory residue tests are easily downloadable from Alconox.com.

Visit Alconox, Inc booth 4062 at Pittcon2009

Question:
Will Alconox, Inc attend the 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy - Pittcon - Show at the McCormick Conference Center Chicago, March 8-13, 2009?

Answer:
Alconox, Inc will be attending the 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy - Pittcon - Show in Chicago on March 8-13, 2009. Stop by our booth 4062 for your free copy the Labware Washer Guide designed to help you select the correct detergent. Great opportunity to "Ask Alconox" and get experts advice about your industrial cleaning needs!

Pittcon is the premier conference and exposition on laboratory sciences celebrates 60 years of service to the scientific community. Pittcon is the most comprehensive annual meeting on laboratory science in the world, offering a first class lab product exposition, a diverse, high quality technical program, unparalleled educational programs, and invaluable peer to peer networking opportunities. The 2009 venue is McCormick Place, Chicago, IL-a state of the art meeting facility in a vibrant, fun, and culturally rich city. Please visit often to learn more about Pittcon-the career building investment that you cannot afford to miss!
For more information on the 60th Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy - Pittcon - visit http://www.pittcon.org/.

Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner BOD and COD

Question:
What are the BOD and COD for a 2% solution of Alconox?

Answer:
In a 2% Alconox solution, the results should be:
BOD = 540 mg/L
COD = 6800 mg/L

To view a technical bulletin for Alconox, please download our PDF.

Cleaners for Cage Washers

Question:
What Alconox brand cleaners are best for use in cage washers?

Answer:
Alconox, Inc recommends a two step process that requires a first step alkaline cleaning using Solujet Low Foaming Phosphate Free Liquid, followed by an acid second step using Citrajet Low foaming Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse. The Solujet is used first to remove organic debris, feces and body fluids whereas the acid second step is used to remove urine scale and neutralize the cages. In some cases, Citrajet alone may be sufficient if the main concern is urine scale. In other cases, Solujet alone may be fine if the main concern is feces. This choice depends somewhat on the types of cages and animals being housed.

To read more about Solujet and Citrajet, visit Alconox.com.

Reduce BOD

Question:
Are there methods for reducing the BOD for wastewater effluent of DI + Alconox by removing organic compounds, i.e. surfactants?

Answer:
The surfactants are the major source of BOD in Alconox. A reverse osmosis membrane can remove the organic surfactants in Alconox. It is also possible to break down the surfactants using UV/oxidation with ozone or peroxide. The broken down surfactants will have reduced BOD. Also, adding an activated carbon filtration system after the oxidation step will further reduce the BOD level. It would also be possible to reduce the BOD using an activated carbon filtration system alone. It this case, a partition between water and activated carbon is created that favors the water, which means an oversized carbon filtration system, must be used to significantly reduce the surfactant content.

To view a technical bulletin for Alconox, visit download this PDF.

Assistance Selecting a Detergent

Question:
Does Alconox provide support to assist customers in selecting a detergent?

Answer:
Yes, ask the critical cleaning experts! We can assist you in detergent selection, answer general cleaning questions, arrange for a sample, and help with medical device and pharmaceutical cleaning validation for Alconox brand cleaners. Call us at 914.948.4040 or e-mail us at cleaning@alconox.com.

Visit our website www.alconox.com.

Low Foaming Detergent to clean silicon wafers

Question:
Does Alconox have a detergent to clean silicon wafers in a horizontal washer?

Answer:
Alconox, Inc. manufactures a very high purity product, Detergent 8, that is used in certain wafer cleaning and wafer tool cleaning processes. It is low foaming liquid that is typically used at 1-2% concentrations.

To learn more about Detergent 8, please download this informational PDF.

Cleaning Medical Devices

Question:
Are Alconox brand cleaners used widely in the medical device industry?

Answer:
Yes. Alconox brands are widely used in the medical device industry. Liquinox and Citranox are used to remove oils, grease, and mold release agents from recently machined medical devices. Whereas Tergazyme, an enzyme containing cleaner, is used to clean bodily fluids and blood off reusable medical devices after examinations and surgeries.

Whether cleaning manually, ultrasonically, or with automated cleaning systems, Alconox brand cleaners are formulated to remove residue and leave no interfering resides behind.

For more information on cleaning medical devices, visit our medical device section.

Detergent Selection

Question:
What are the questions to consider when selecting a detergent?

Answer:
Today's aqueous critical-cleaning detergents are blended for specific applications-substrate, degree of soil load, and cleaning process-these, are all important considerations when selecting a detergent. Here are a few questions to ask about a detergent brand to ensure that it meets your specific cleaning needs:

1. Does it have good detergency on the types of soils that you need to remove?
2. Is it free-rinsing? Will it rinse away without leaving interfering detergent residue?
3. Is the detergent recommended for the desired cleaning method?
4. How hazardous is it?
5. Can it be disposed of easily?
6. Is it environmentally friendly?
7. How economical is it?

To read more about selecting a detergent, request a copy of The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook, 4th Ed. by clicking here.

Biofouling Removal from Ultrafilters

Question:
What is the cleaning procedure for removing biofouling from ultrafilters?

Answer:
Biofouling is rapid microbial growth inside the ultrafiltration system that clogs the pores of the filters. When an in-house waste treatment plant equipped with ultrafiltration unit experiences excessive biofouling of filters resulting in frequent cleaning, this could lead to the system being out of service. In order to restore the filters to their normal length of service, we recommend using 1% Tergazyme enzyme cleaning solution at 120 deg F temperature. Temperature can be maintained by an immersion heater in the sump during a three hour clean-in-place program. Specifically a clean in place program of 20 minutes circulate, 20 minutes stop and soak, 20 minutes circulate followed by a thorough rinse will effectively remove the biofouling, restoring the filters to their normal length of service.

View the technical bulletin for Tergazyme by downloading our PDF.

Alkaline and Degreaser Cleaning of Aluminum

Question:
Can aluminum be safely cleaned with alkaline cleaners and degreasers?

Answer:
Typical alkaline cleaners and degreasers attack aluminum. Use of corrosion inhibited alkaline cleaners such as Alcojet or Detojet that contain proper ratios of silicates to form aluminosilicate at activated sites on the aluminum surface prevent aluminum oxide formation or corrosion during alkaline cleaning. It is always safer use lower temperatures to retard corrosion. Alternatively, cleaners that are below pH 9.5 such as Alconox or Liquinox can be used at temperatures (below 140 deg F) with limited contact time (under an hour) to reduce corrosion.

To learn more about Alconox brands, visit our homepage.

Alconox Booth #1428 at INTERPHEX Puerto Rico 2009

Question:
Will Alconox, Inc attend the INTERPHEX Puerto Rico 2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition?

Answer:
YES! Alconox, Inc booth #1428 at INTERPHEX Puerto Rico 2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan on January 29-30.

Visit the Critical Cleaning Experts at Alconox, Inc at booth #1428 for safe, effective, easy to-validate aqueous cleaners for manual, machine wash and clean-in-place applications - even for removing titanium dioxide, petrolatum, and tablet coating residues! All brands are free rinsing, biodegradable and readily disposable.

Get your FREE Hardcover Handbook - 187 pages!
&
DEMO new Calculator for Residue Limits!

Great opportunity to "Ask Alconox" and get expert advice about your industrial cleaning needs!

Mark your calendars for INTERPHEX Puerto Rico 2009 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Conference and Exhibition!

INTERPHEX Puerto Rico is the pharmaceutical industry's respected source of innovation, education, and professional advancement for a globally important center of drug manufacturing, from process development through delivery to market. Networking essential to business success is as important here as the exploration of new products and services that enhance human life and health.

For more information on INTERPHEX, please click here.

Questions about Medical Device Cleaning Validation

Question:
Does Alconox, Inc. answer questions about med dev cleaning validation?

Answer:
Yes, the Alconox, Inc. Critical Cleaning Experts are available to assist in medical device cleaning validations. We provide a comprehensive directory of residue detection methods for all Alconox brands, residue sampling methods, and assistance in calculating acceptance criteria.

If you require assistance with a med dev cleaning validation, contact us! We can be reached by email at cleaning@alconox.com or by phone at 914-948-4040!

Static and Dynamic Spray Balls in CIP

Question:
What are the differences between Static and Dynamic spray balls in CIP machines?

Answer:
The typical considerations in using either static or dynamic spray balls are that static spray balls can be placed strategically within a mixer to try to assure spray contact with all sides of various mixing apparatus inside the tank. Static spray balls typically rely on a high-volume, low-flow cascading cleaning action wherein much of the mechanical energy comes from the sprayed on solution running down the sides and surfaces of the tank being cleaned. Dynamic spray balls have low-volume, high-pressure spray with the spray nozzle spinning around while simultaneously rotating to direct a jet of spray to all interior surfaces of the tank. Dynamic spray balls have more mechanical energy applied during cleaning. There are concerns with the possibility that dynamic spray balls can jam up and stop rotating or stop spinning during a cleaning cycle. Dynamic spray ball manufacturers are developing sensors that monitor the performance of the spinning and rotating to be able to document and verify correct performance. When designed and installed properly, both kinds of spray balls can provide reliable cleaning. When using CIP systems with either static or dynamic spray balls in large tanks and mixers, Alconox, Inc recommends using low foaming detergents such as alkaline Solujet or acidic Citrajet.

For more information about the use, validation and selection of detergents for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and cosmeticeutical cleaning, please click here.

pH and dissolved oxygen probe cleaning

Question:
Which Alconox brand cleaner is well suited for cleaning pH and dissolved oxygen probes?

Answer:
Dissolved oxygen and pH probes used in fermentation vessels can get buildup from the fermentation media that degrades the probe performance and increases the likelihood of batch to batch contamination. Even CIP systems cannot always reliably clean the port crevices and o-rings. This is a particular problem with proteins found in pharmaceutical, biotech, cheese and brewery manufacturing. Use a 1% Tergazyme solution that does not exceed 130 deg F (55 deg C), preferably around 120 deg F (50 deg C). Clean manually with a small brush. Rinse thoroughly with water of suitable purity for your industry. O-Rings and other removable parts can be soaked in a warm (120 deg F, 50 deg C) solution for 20 minutes prior to final brushing and rinsing.

To view the technical bulletin for Tergazyme, Enzyme Active Cleaner, please click here.

Mold Release and Silicon or Polysilane Oil Removal

Question:
How do you remove silicon mold releases and polysilane oils from stainless steel, plastic and glass?

Answer:
Silicon mold releases and polysilane oils are very difficult to remove filmy residues. Mold release agents on glass act as a protective film on the glass attempting to clean them off with very aggressive acid or alkaline cleaners, the cleaning agent etches around the edges of the mold release agent and the un-coated sections of the glass, leaving behind a shadow of where the mold release was or had been. Even if the cleaner does eventually remove the mold release, there is a permanent shadow of where it had been due to the etching that occurred where the mold release had been. This same effect has also been with fingerprints on glass. If there is a silicon mold release agent on the glass, remove it with ultrasonic cleaning with extremely hot (over 170 deg F or over 77 deg C) 2% Alconox followed by a thorough rinse. Ideally, make sure the first rinse is with extremely hot water. Typically 10-20 minutes in ultrasonics is adequate to remove the residue. Alconox is a mild cleaner and will not etch the glass under normal cleaning conditions. On plastic first make sure your plastic is compatible with exposure to these temperatures. As we best understand it, many polysilanes have a softening point at somewhere in the 160-170 deg F (72-77 deg C) range. Above that softening point, the polysilanes can be more readily emulsified by a strong emulsifier. A 2% Alconox solution is a strong emulsifier and has been successfully used to remove difficult silicon oil residues. Once the polysilane is emulsified, you want to rinse it with hot water so that cold rinse water does not break the emulsion and redeposit the silicon oil before it has a chance to be rinsed away. The cleaning temperature is critical here. If this is a smooth, cleanable and easily rinsed surface, you can often get away without having to use a very hot water rinse. If there are crevices, blind holes or other features to the glass that would slow down the rinsing, then the very hot first rinse is critical tool Once you have done an initial static or running water initial very hot rinse, then subsequent rinses can be usually be done with ambient temperature water. Note that if extremely high purity deionized or reverse-osmosis water is used for the first very hot rinse, this water can etch glass; although at least it should be a uniform etch because there should no longer be a mold release mask on the glass. To avoid this, use tap water for the first very hot rinse, followed by cooler or ambient temperature higher purity water if a high purity water rinse is required to avoid water spots or other tap water residues. Note that as far as removing the mold release is concerned, tap water rinses will work just fine. The reason to use any higher purity water rinse is to avoid water spots or other tap water residues. These tap water residues can also be minimized by physically removing the tap water and not allowing it to evaporate and deposit - this can be done by blowing off the rinse water, wiping it off, or removing it using a drying solvent like isopropyl alcohol.

To view the technical bulletin for Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner, please download this PDF.

Cleaning Lab Glassware Exposed to Sea Water

Question:
What is the proper way to clean lab glassware that has been exposed to sea water?

Answer:
Sea water contains a large and variable quantity of salts, biological and organic residues. Lab glassware needs to be free of any of these residues to avoid interference in research involving sea water. Sea water would not particularly present challenges beyond the normal array of residues that lab glassware sees in the wide variety of types of lab glassware that Alconox, Inc. laboratory detergents are used to clean. A standard cleaning protocol, see the users manual at the top right hand corner of this web page, will work fine. For typical manual cleaning wash with 1% Alconox or Liquinox in warm water followed by a thorough rinse in water of suitable purity) for standard laboratory cleaning requirements. If you are doing some extremely sensitive analytical procedure with the glassware (beyond ppm analytical detections), then you will want to pay particular attention to your rinsing technique and the quality of your rinse water. In general use deionized water for inorganic analysis rinsing and distilled water for organic analysis rinsing. Carbon filtered or reverse osmosis water can be used in place of distilled water typically. Rinse more than the standard three time rinse for more critical analytical glassware. In the event of glassware used for extreme low level inorganic analysis, an intermediate acid wash step after cleaning with the Alconox or Liquinox will improve cleaning. For manual cleaning use a warm 2% Citranox for the acid cleaning step prior to the final thorough rinse.

To learn more about Alconox brand detergents, ask the experts at cleaning@alconox.com.

Optic Cable Cleaning

Question:
Which Alconox brand cleaner would be best suited to clean fiber optic surfaces at the glass joint to assure efficient light transmission?

Answer:
The use of a 1% Alconox heated 130 deg F ultrasonic bath followed by a deionized water rinse gives a suitable surface for bonding optical fibers.

More information about Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner, can be downloaded by clicking here.

Lens Cleaning

Question:
How do you clean wax marks on optical lenses which are difficult to remove?

Answer:
Use either 1% Alconox or Liquinox in a heated 160 deg F ultrasonic bath followed by a deionized water rinse to clean optical lenses during manufacturing.

To learn more about Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner and Liquinox, Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent, please visit Alconox.com.

Cleaning Nylon 6

Question:
Can Nylon 6 be successfully cleaned with high alkaline cleaners?

Answer:
Nylon 6 is generally labile to acids and oxidizing agents. Nylon 6 would be fine with an alkaline cleaner like Solujet. Nylon 6 is labile to strong oxidizing agents. Alcojet and Detojet contain small amounts of active chlorine oxidizing agents. At the high pH of these cleaners, the oxidizing agent is pretty stable and is not that strong an oxidizer, so do not expect rapid attack on Nylon 6, but given sufficient time and temperature, expect to eventually see some effect from Alcojet and Detojet.

To learn more about alkaline cleaners, visit Alconox.com.

PMMA alkaline cleaning

Question:
Is PMMA (Poly methylmethacrylate acrylate) compatible with Alconox brand high pH alkaline detergents?

Answer:
Poly methylmethacrylate acrylate (PMMA) is compatible with alkaline detergents like Solujet. PMMA is labile to strong oxidizing agents. Alcojet and Detojet contain small amounts of active chlorine oxidizing agents. At the high pH of these cleaners, the oxidizing agent is pretty stable and is not that strong an oxidizer, so a rapid attack is not expected on PMMA, but given sufficient time and temperature, expect to eventually see some effect from Alcojet and Detojet on PMMA.

To learn more about alkaline detergents, visit Alconox.com.

Neutralizing Solujet using Citric Acid

Question:
How much Citric Acid is needed to neutralize 100 gallons of Solujet below pH 7?

Answer:
100 gallons of 1% Solujet solution is 833.3 pounds. 833.3 pounds of 1% Solujet solution
contains 8.3 pounds of Solujet. The amount of citric acid needed to neutralize the solution below pH 7 is 1.67 pounds of citric acid.

For more information on Solujet, please download our PDF.

Citric Acid vs. Citranox

Question:
Is Citranox comparable to citric acid?

Answer:
Yes, 1% Citranox can be used to replace the kind of cleaning achievable from 1% citric acid. Citranox formulation is approximately 1/3 citric and other organic acids by weight, but there are also wetting and penetrating agents that enhance the performance of the acids, so that although to really get a roughly equivalent amount of acid you would need to use a 3% Citranox solution. Silica and other residues that the 1% Citric acid is designed to remove could also be removed by a 1% Citranox solution. Extremely heavy scale buildup can be removed by a 1% solution of Citranox. The solution will eventually become exhausted - an exhausted solution will typically be very heavily discolored and the pH will have risen to higher than a pH of 5.5. Instead, a 1.5% or 2% solution of Citranox can be used.

For more information on Citranox, download our PDF.

Detojet, Low-Foaming Liquid Detergent

Question:
What industries commonly use Detojet and what residues does Detojet remove?

Answer:
Detojet, Low-Foaming Liquid Detergent is used in a variety of industries such as Healthcare, Laboratory, Precision Manufacturing and Metalworking and Food & Dairy. Detojet is an alkaline non-ionic cleaner that would remove soil, tares, resins, grease, blood, tissue, oils, particulates, chemicals, and solvents.

For more information on Detojet, please see the technical bulletin.

General and Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished Pharmaceuticals

Question:
What part of the FDA Code of Federal Regulations applies to cleaning equipment?

Answer:
The FDA Code of Federal Regulations 21 CFR 211.67 applies to equipment cleaning and maintenance. If you are cleaning pharmaceutical equipment with Alconox brand cleaners, our team of experts can assist you in your cleaning validation. For more information on how the Alconox team of validation consultants can assist in your pharma cleaning validation, e-mail us at cleaning@alconox.com or call us at 914.948.4040. If you need pharmaceutical cleaning validation information, visit our website to view the Alconox Pharmaceutical Cleaning Validation References.

Chemistry Bath-life extension and control

Question:
How can bath-life be monitored?

Answer:
Some very simple, yet effective, techniques can be used to monitor bath life, including:

• Conductivity—When you are using detergents with high ionic content, measurement of the ionic content of the cleaning solution, using electrodes connected to a conductivity meter, helps determine when to add more detergent to the cleaning solution. Detergents high in salt content, for example, potassium hydroxide or sodium metasilicate, generally, have high ionic content. Conductivity will drop as soils react with the salts. This is not a useful technique for monitoring high emulsifying cleaners that rely heavily on surfactants.
• Refractometry—This is the indirect measure of the concentration of dissolved components which influence the refractive index of a sample of solution. The measurement may be taken using a simple handheld refractometer. Refractometry can also be used to monitor the build up of soils and concentration of a solution as a result of water evaporation. Empirical observations of cleaning solutions may be compared with recorded measurements to determine appropriate times to recharge or discard solutions.
• Foam Height—The foam height and foam stability, in a sample of cleaning solution in a vigorously-agitated, stoppered test tube will decrease as oils accumulate. When foam height decreases, recharge or discard cleaning solutions. Observations must be made at consistent temperatures.
• pH—This is the measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0–14. It is expressed as the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration, which is measured using electrodes dipped in the solution connected to a pH meter. Note that pH paper should not be used with surfactant-containing cleaners, because they commonly hamper accurate reading. A given brand of detergent will have a typical pH. If the soils are acidic, inorganic, or saponifiable natural oils, the pH will drop as the cleaning solution is used up. Typically, when pH drops 0.5 pH units, the detergent should be recharged. Then the solution can be used to exhaustion as it drops one full pH unit. The technique chosen to monitor bath life will depend on the both the type of detergent you are using and the soil or residue you are removing. For example, when cleaning with an ionic detergent, use conductivity to monitor dilution, dragout, and loss of detergent. Whereas, when using a highemulsifying or dispersing detergent to remove oils or particulate soils, refractometry is an effective means of measurement and control. Foam height observation is most effective when cleaners contain foaming surfactants that rely on emulsification to remove oily soils. When using an alkaline cleaner to remove a soil that is either acidic or neutralizing in character (as most soils are), pH can be used as a control measure.

- The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook, 4th Ed. p 127-128

To request a FREE copy of The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook, 4th Ed., please click here.

Cleaning Ceramic Aluminum Oxide and Polysulfone

Question:
Is Detojet, Low-Foaming Liquid Detergent, compatible with ceramic aluminum oxide and polysulfone?

Answer:
Detojet solutions are compatible with aluminum oxide ceramics. There is need to be concerned about polysulfone. Alconox, Inc. has some data that indicates that polysulfone reverse osmosis membranes will have the permeability of the membrane reduced by exposure to oxidizing agents such as sodium hypochlorite. Detojet contains sodium hypochlorite. Detojet also has a very high pH and contains potassium hydroxide. A high pH from the potassium hydroxide reduces the oxidizing activity of sodium hyprochlorite, so there is some compatibility between polysulfone reverse osmosis membranes and Detojet, but probably not continuous long term exposure compatibility.

Alconox, Inc. recommends stability testing for a polysulfone cleaning application and intended type of contact to determine if the Detojet is compatible. For single pass initial cleaning, the polysulfone would be fine. For repeated or extended Detojet contact, depending on the intended purpose of the polysulfone, there might be problems.

For more information on Detojet, please download this PDF.

Ultrasonic Cleaning with Alconox brand cleaners

Question:
Which Alconox brand cleaners can be used in an ultrasonic machine?

Answer:
All Alconox brands can be used in ultrasonic machines. Alconox powder brands or liquid brands can be used in ultrasonic machines and the choice can be based on convenience. Alconox, Inc. generally recommends using high emulsifying detergents. For example, Tattoo companies use Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner or Tergazyme, Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent in ultrasonic machines for cleaning equipment with blood residues. Medical Device Manufacturing companies use Liquinox, Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent to clean small stainless steel parts in ultrasonic machines. Alconox low-foam cleaners, such as Solujet and Alcojet can be used in ultrasonic machines as they are formulated to have superior detergency. It is important to remember to follow safety precautions when cleaning ultrasonically. Wear proper eye, hand, and body protection.

To learn more about ultrasonic cleaning with Alconox brand detergents, please visit Alconox.com.

Pharma Cleaning Validation – Swab Limit Calculations

Question:
How do you calculate the swab limit, once it has been extracted in solution?

Answer:
In general the calculations go as follows:

swab limit (ug residue/swab) = acceptance criteria (ug residue/cm2) X swab area (cm2) X swab recovery (%)

acceptance criteria = ug residue/cm2 of a given residue
swab area = cm2 of area swabbed
swab recovery = the percent actually detected compared to a spiked surface area of known amount of residue (amount detected/amount swabbed X 100)

To convert swab limits to test result limits by converting ug residue/swab to ug residue/mL based on the extraction volume that is used to extract the swab for analysis.

The general equation is:

test result limit (ug residue/mL) = swab limit (ug residue/swab) / mL of extraction solution.

If you need help calculating swab limits for pharmaceutical cleaning validation, contact the experts at cleaning@alconox.com.

Disposal of Citranox

Question:
What is the proper way to dispose of Citranox?

Answer:
By US federal standards, Citranox can be disposed of to drain as is. It is non-hazardous waste by federal RCRA standards. Local waste treatment standards could be more stringent and might require neutralization prior to discharge. The Citranox will have a pH of between 2.1 and 2.5 as is and it is possible this would be too acidic to discharge without neutralization according to local standards. A single gallon is unlikely to be that much of a concern, but if local standards are not known be extra cautious and neutralize the Citranox using any weak base such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or washing soda (sodium carbonate). It takes 14 lbs. of baking soda or 2.3 lbs of washing soda to neutralize 1 gallon of Citranox to near pH 7.

To view a technical bulletin for Citranox, please read this PDF.

Detergent Residue Testing - Conductivity for Alcotabs

Question:
Does Alconox have any information on using conductivity to test for residue of Alcotabs detergent?

Answer:
Yes, if you are testing for ALCOTABS detergent, please adapt the procedure to use a conductivity meter and deionized water that is sensitive to ionic detergent residue.

To read more about the procedure, please download this pdf.

Copper Cleaning

Question:
Which Alconox brand cleaner can be used to remove metal oxides from small Copper parts with attached plastic components?

Answer:
The emulsifiers and surfactants in Citranox, Acid Cleaner and Rinse, are ideal for the removal of metal oxides. Citranox is also ideal for soak and manual cleaning and can be used on soft metals such as copper. Start with a 2% solution of Citranox for the soak in warm water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.

To read more about Citranox please download this pdf.

Med Dev Validation Info

Question:
What med dev information is in the Medical Device Cleaning Validation References?

Answer:
The Medical Device Cleaning Validation References for Alconox Detergents contains information about identifying residues, selecting a residue detection method, selecting a sampling method, setting residue acceptance criteria, and more. Also included is a directory of cleaner residue detection methods for each Alconox detergent. Also available is the Alconox team of experts who provide validation support. To get a copy of the Alconox Medical Device Cleaning Validation References or to speak with a cleaning validation expert email cleaning@alconox.com or call 914-948-4040.

MedDev Cleaning Validation Consultant

Question:
Does Alconox, Inc. offer validation consultants to provide validation tech support?

Answer:
Yes, Alconox can provide valuable consulting and information to medical device manufacturers. Our critical cleaning experts can discuss validation concerns such as techniques for determining acceptable residual levels and analytical methods for residue quantitation.

Alconox, Inc. supplies detergents to medical device manufacturing companies that require exacting levels of quality control and technical service. Alconox, Inc. provides support for regulatory-compliant cleaning validations which includes lot number traceability of all cleaners and ingredients, cleaner toxicity and reactivity/degradation information, shelf-life testing, residue sampling, detection methods and written cleaning procedures.

Discuss worst case critical cleaning issues with the experts. 'Ask Alconox' at cleaning@alconox.com.

Pharma Cleaning Validation - Residue Detection Method Selection

Question:
What are the residue detection methods that can be used for cleaners? Does Alconox provide pharmaceutical validation information?

Answer:
A pharmaceutical cleaning validation involves residue detection method selection. Residue detection method selection for cleaners can involve specific methods for specific cleaner ingredients such as; high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ion selective electrodes, flame photometry, derivative UV spectroscopy, enzymatic detection and titration, or it can involve non-specific methods that detect the presence of a blend of ingredients such as: total organic carbon, pH, and conductivity. The FDA prefers specific methods, but will accept non-specific methods with adequate rationales for their use. For investigations of failures or action levels, a specific method is usually preferable. The later section of this document lists references to several methods for each cleaner brand.

Yes, Alconox, Inc. has compiled a directory of residue detection methods for all Alconox brand detergents and pharmaceutical cleaning validation information. To access this information, visit http://www.alconox.com/static/section_top/gen_cleanval.asp.

Corrosion Inhibition

Question:
Does Alconox provide any information on corrosion inhibition in Alconox brand cleaners?

Answer:
Yes! Corrosion during cleaning is accelerated by the same things that accelerate cleaning: heat, aggressive chemicals, time, and agitation. In approximate order of importance, to reduce metal corrosion concerns, use less heat, lower pH detergents, shorter cleaning time, and less agitation. In general use the mildest pH detergent to limit metal corrosion. Higher pH detergents such as SOLUJET or DETO-JET have special corrosion inhibitors that allow their use with aluminum. SOLUJET and CITRAJET have inhibitors that allow their use on a broad range of sensitive metals without leaving filming amine residues. In approximate order of importance, in general to reduce plastic corrosion, use less aggressive cleaners that have less solvent or surfactant character or use lower concentrations of those cleaners, use lower cleaning temperatures, use less contact time, and finally use less agitation.

To read more, please visit this page.

Solar Module Manufacturing

Question:
Which Alconox detergents can best clean glass or metal that has a photovoltaic surface?

Answer:
Thin film solar module manufacturing requires scrupulously clean substrates in order to optimize the yield of efficient photovoltaic surface. By optimizing yield, the cost of producing solar electricity can be reduced so that it can reach parity with the cost of producing electricity on the grid as other forms of energy rise cost. Thin film photovoltaic cells are made by vapor deposition of silicon (Si) or Cadmium/Telluride (CdTe) layers on transparent metal oxide coated glass superstrates; or by vapor deposition of copper, indium, gallium selenide (CIGS) on thin metal film. In either case, the glass or metal must be clean and free of particulates and oils that will interfere with proper film deposition and electrically isolated solar cell formation. When glass superstrates are laser scribed to form isolated cells, any particulates on the bare glass or oxide coatings can result in poorly formed scribe barriers that cause short circuits and inefficient performance of the resulting cell. Substrates must be clean before and after laser scribing. Detojet detergent is recommended for use in cleaning glass and coated glass substrates before or after laser etching. Large conveyorized spray and roller brush washing units are used. Citrajet is recommended for metal substrate cleaning. Detojet and Citrajet are available from the global distribution network of Alconox, Inc. dealers.

To read more about Detojet and Citrajet, visit www.alconox.com.

Types of Aqueous Cleaners

Question:
What are the different types of aqueous cleaners?

Answer:
There are mineral-acid cleaners that range in pH from 0-2 which remove heavy scales. Mild acid cleaners that range in pH from 2 – 5 ½ , remove inorganic salts, water, and soluble metal complexes. Neutral cleaners range in pH from 5 ½ 0 8 ½ and remove light oils and small particles. Mild alkaline cleaners range in pH from 8 ½ - 11 and remove oils, particulates and films. Alkaline cleaners range in pH from 11 – 12 ½ and remove oils, fats, and proteins. Corrosive alkaline cleaners that range in pH from 12 ½ - 14 remove heavy grease and soils. The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook p 17

Alconox, Inc. manufactures acid, neutral, mild alkaline and corrosive alkaline cleaners for use in various critical cleaning applications. To read more about Alconox brand cleaners, visit www.alconox.com.

Food contact surface cleaners

Question:
What are two Alconox brand cleaners are low foaming and USDA approved for cleaning food contact surfaces?

Answer:
Alconox, Inc. manufactures cleaners for food contact surfaces with no interfering residues. Citrajet, Low-foaming Liquid Acid Cleaner and Alcojet, Low- Foaming Powdered Detergent are designed for cleaning food contact surfaces.

To learn more about Citrajet, please visit http://www.alconox.com/downloads/pdf/techbull_citrajet.pdf.

To learn more about Alcojet, please visit
http://www.alconox.com/downloads/pdf/techbull_alcojet.pdf.

Cleaning Aluminum with Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner

Question:
What are the concerns when cleaning aluminum with Alconox?

Answer:
Alconox is widely used to clean aluminum, however we are aware that on extended contact time (typically measured in days) at elevated temperature, a chelate blush can form on aluminum. A chelate blush is a white crusty irregular deposit of aluminum edetate, a reaction between the aluminum and the chelating agent in Alconox.
When cleaning aluminum, it is assumed that the aluminum has been exposed to air and has formed the typical aluminum oxide layer prior to cleaning. If the aluminum has been recently machined and has oils that protect it from the air, then you can have a very active surface under the oil that will form a dark oxidation with Alconox or just about any uninhibited cleaner when the oil is removed under immersion without any air present to form the more passive aluminum oxide surface before being exposed to the cleaner.
If recently machined aluminum must be cleaned and it cannot be allowed to air passivate, then a cleaner that contains appropriate metasilicate inhibitors such as Solujet, Detojet, Alcojet or Tergajet must be used. With the use of these kinds of cleaners, on machined aluminum that does not have the oxide layer formed yet, you get points of aluminosilicate formed only at active sites on the aluminum surface. You do not get a film of any kind and this does not change the electrical, structural or bonding characteristics of the aluminum and is not generally considered to be a problem.

To learn about Alconox brand cleaners, visit www.alconox.com.

Alcotabs

Question:
What is the shelf life of Alcotabs?

Answer:
The shelf life of ALCOTABS Tablet Pipet Detergent (Mfr. Cat. Nos. 1500-1, 1500) has been increased from 730 days (2 years) to 1095 days (3 years) effective as of May14, 2008. Shelf life extension studies determined that the functionality of the ALCOTABS is consistent for a period in excess of 3 years.

To view the updated technical bulletin, download our PDF.

Safety Issues in Aqueous Cleaning

Question:
What are the safety issues involved when using aqueous cleaners?

Answer:
Worker safety issues with aqueous cleaners involve skin exposure, eye exposure, ingestion, and chronic systemic exposure. It is always necessary to consult the label and MSDS on the cleaner for warnings and safety precautions. Physical safety issues include storage and handling.

All Alconox, Inc. brands are biodegradable, technical bulletins and MSDS are downloadable via www.alconox.com.

To read more about safety issues and aqueous cleaning, the experts at Alconox, Inc have written The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook. To request your copy, visit this page.

Acidic Cleaners

Question:
What is the definition of an acidic cleaner?

Answer:
"An acidic cleaner is defined as an aqueous cleaner that has a pH significantly below 7, typically below a pH of 5.5. Acid cleaners contain acids and often other cleaning ingredients, such as surfactants. Acid cleaners use a mechanism known as "acid stabilization" in which an acid reacts with a soil molecule to create a water soluble molecule and "acid hydrolysis" in which an acid reacts with a soil molecule and breaks it into a smaller water soluble soil." The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook p. 157

Request your copy of the Aqueous Cleaning Handbook here.

Active Ingredients in Detergents

Question:
Do Alconox brand detergents contain active ingredients that may cause health concerns?

Answer:
From a pharmaceutical standpoint, there are no active ingredients in Alconox, Inc. brand detergents. Alconox, Inc. makes no health claims about our cleaners and so there are no active ingredients that have to be disclosed that are responsible for our health claims.

Certainly these are detergents, and all the ingredients used contribute to detergency and so the detergents have 100% active ingredients. This basically means there are no fillers, fragrances, or dyes that do not have detergent functionality. The usage of the word active ingredient here is not a pharmaceutical health claim usage.

For more information about Alconox brand detergents, visit www.alconox.com.

Ultra High Vacuum Compatible Cleaning

Question:
Can Liquinox be used to remove residues from stainless steel for ultra high vacuum compatible cleaning?

Answer:
Yes, Liquinox has been used for cleaning ultra high vacuum equipment as the detergent cleaning step. Use a 1% (10 mL/L) solution in water with such heat as is practical, ideally 40-50 deg C. Rinse very thoroughly with purified water. The key to good ultra high vacuum cleaning is thorough rinsing. If cleaning a small container fill and empty it 6X with high purity rinse water. If there is a running water rinse, expose each are of flooded surface to at least 30 seconds of flooding water. Rinse is a way that allows foam to flow off of the surfaces being rinsed and do not allow foam to congregate if possible. If due to the geometry of the parts being cleaned, foam during rinsing cannot be avoided, then at least rinse until all the foam is gone, and then rinse some more. It may take a while.

For more information on Liquinox, please download our PDF.

Cleaning Validation

Question:
What is involved in a cleaning validation? Does Alconox provide information or support for validation?

Answer:
A cleaning validation is a documented guarantee that cleaning can be performed reliably and repeatedly to meet a predetermined level of cleanliness. It involves testing for acceptable residues on manufacturing surfaces. Cleaning validation is becoming a requirement in the pharmaceutical industry and other industries that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Quality Systems Regulations (QSR). Other industries include bio-pharmaceutical, bulk- pharmaceutical, medical device, cosmeceutical, and clinical-diagnostic manufacturing. The validation is specific to detergent and method used for cleaning. -The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook Fourth Ed. p. 105

Yes, the experts at Alconox have written The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook with detailed information about cleaning validations. Copies of the Handbook can be obtained by visiting Alconox.com. Technical Support is also available to assist in cleaning validations.

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

Food Contact Surface Cleaning with Solujet

Question:
Can Solujet be used to clean food contact services?

Answer:
Yes, Solujet is USDA authorized category A1 for use in food contact surface cleaning. Solujet is recommended for cleaning stainless steel, glass, Teflon® and ceramic surfaces. Solujet is a low-foaming detergent which can be used in machine washing, spray washers, ultrasonic machines, and can be used manually if proper skin and eye protection are used.

For more information on Solujet, Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid Detergent download the Solujet technical bulletin by clicking here.

Cleaning BOD bottles

Question:
Which Alconox cleaners can be used to clean BOD bottles?

Answer:
Alconox manufactures several phosphate-free detergents ideal for cleaning BOD bottles. For manual and ultrasonic cleaning use Liquinox, Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent. Environmental labs often use EPA standard operating procedure manuals in the course of analyzing environmental samples. Many of these procedures call for a phosphate-free laboratory detergent such as Liquinox. For machine washing, use Solujet, Low Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid or Tergajet, Low-Foaming Phosphate Free Powder.

To order samples and get more information on phosphate-free detergents, visit www.alconox.com.

Residues best cleaned by acidic cleaners

Question:
What types of residues are best cleaned by acidic cleaners and does Alconox manufacture any acidic cleaners?

Answer:
Amines, alkaloids, amphoteric proteins, starches, carbonates and bicarbonates, metal oxides, and insoluble hydroxides are generally best cleaned by acidic cleaners. Alconox manufactures two acidic cleaners. Citranox, Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent, a high emulsifying cleaner, can be used ultrasonically or manually. Citrajet, Low-Foam Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse is ideal for spray, CIP, or machine washing.

To learn more about Citranox and Citrajet, please visit www.alconox.com.

Detergent Selection

Question:
What are the key considerations when selecting an aqueous cleaning detergent?

Answer:
Critical cleaning requires careful selection of cleaning chemistry and methods to ensure adequate performance without sacrificing either work safety or benign environmental impact. Key considerations include: Type of substrate, Type of soil, part complexity, level of cleanliness required, manufacturing process, cleaning efficiency, environmental consideration. – The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook Fourth Edition pp 31-33.

Request your copy of the Aqueous Cleaning Handbook here.

Tergajet Ion Chromatography

Question:
Can Ion Chromatography detection method be used for Tergajet?

Answer:
Sodium Ion specific electrodes can be used to detect Tergajet, however very good deionized water must be used and there can be no other significant source of sodium in your system. There is about 28% sodium by weight in Tergajet. Given that sodium is commonly found in fingerprints and many other compounds, this may not be the best method to use. If the substrates are cleaned in a way that would not tend to get outside sources of sodium on them, then this method will certainly work. There is plenty of sodium in Tergajet. Note that there is no potassium in Tergajet. There is almost 30% sodium citrate dihydrate present in Tergajet. This is a good marker for Tergajet.

Please visit http://www.alconox.com/static/section_top/gen_cleanval.asp for a list of residue detection methods.

Undissolved Alconox

Question:
Can using tap water to make a 1% solution of Alconox cause there to be some undissolved Alconox particles?

Answer:
Yes, it is possible that the tap water is very hard water and the undissolved Alconox particles being observed are actually white precipitates of calcium and magnesium carbonate. In extremely hard water (water that is very high in calcium and magnesium content) it would even be recommended to use as high as a 1.3% concentration. This would assure that there is sufficient chelating agent present to tie up the calcium and magnesium to avoid formation of insoluble precipitates of calcium and magnesium. If the problem is hard water, then Alconox recommends using a 1.3% solution of Alconox (390 grams of Alconox +/- 15 grams of Alconox) in 30 L. It may take more than 2 minutes to dissolve, because first the insoluble carbonates are formed, and then the chelating and sequestering agents work on these to react with the calcium and magnesium and eventually the carbonates go back in to solution. It could take as much as 4 minutes. Another solution would be to use softened water, purified water, or to simply dilute the hard water 50/50 with softened or purified water instead of using just hard tap water for the 30 L solution.

To view the technical bulletin for Alconox, Powdered Precision Cleaner please visit http://www.alconox.com/downloads/pdf/techbull_alconox.pdf.

Pharmaceutical Cleaning

Question:
What cleaners does Alconox recommend for cleaning pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and utensils?

Answer:
Alconox recommends using Solujet, Low foaming phosphate free Liquid or Citrajet, Low Foaming Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse. These cleaners are excellent for CIP systems and work at low concentrations. They remove soils such as titanium dioxide, tablet coatings, and petrolatum.

To learn more about Solujet and Citrajet, please visit www.alconox.com.

Medical Device Cleaning

Question:
What are the recommended cleaners for ultrasonic cleaning medical devices?

Answer:
Alconox manufactures high emulsifying cleaners ideal for removing difficult soils from surfaces such as elastomers, plastics, and stainless steel. Alconox recommends using Liquinox, Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent and Citranox, Liquid Acid Cleaner and Rinse, in a two step ultrasonic process which will remove hydrophobic organic residue, alkaline liable particles and inorganic residues.

For more information on Liquinox and Citranox, please visit www.alconox.com.

IRT

Question:
Are lot traceable Inhibitory Residue Test data available via the internet?

Answer:
Yes. Have the COA for the specific lot on hand, and visit www.alconox.com. If you do not have the COA on hand, you can print it out from the website as well. In the top header, select the product with the right pull down arrow and Inhibitory Residue Test with the left pull down arrow. Follow the instructions and you can print out the IRT data.