Learning about cleaning chemicals

[Richard Chivers]

Can anyone direct me to training on cleaning chemicals.

I’ve been in the food industry for a lifetime but never really got into the actions of different chemicals.  I know the difference between the actions of detergents, disinfectants and sanitisers. But let me give you a few of examples of where my weaknesses lie.

1. I am aware that hypochlorite will break down to water and salt but what the other residue is or does I do not know.
2. I would not know how to advise a client on the types of chemicals to use for destroying bacteria that will not leave salt behind that may damage aluminium cladding and some stainless steels.
3. I know hypochlorite destroys bacteria by attaching chlorine ions to them and that breaks down their outer layer (my understanding here is a little hazy, so forgive me if I am way out)

So, can anyone direct me to a source for learning on the subject of detergents and disinfectants please?

Kind regards

Richard 

www.foodsafetysouthwest.co.uk

[Tom Johnson]

Hi Richard,

 

You mention ‘salt residue’.  Can I assume you are using products of dilute brine electrolysis to generate HOCl in an on-site electro-chemical activation/reactor (ECA)?

 

If this is the case, then my guess is that the solutions are not being applied properly.  If you apply as a liquid any small pools or wet spots are left behind, your SS surface will begin to corrode within 3 days of use - if not sooner.

 

Anolyte (HOCl) at a near neutral pH is an approved (US FDA) food contact surface sanitizer.  At 500PPM FAC it is a broad spectrum disinfectant and at near neutral PH ( 6-7) and a titer above 800PPM FAC, it is sporicidal.  The US DOD uses such tech for biological and chemical warfare remediation of equipment, munitions and personnel.  

 

These solutions are NOT cleaners.  The reciprocal stream generated in the ECA machine is catholyte; it is an amphoteric surfactant and is an excellent non-foaming, non-corrosive, high pH cleaner (pH 12+) that you dilute (3:1) with hot water.  Surfaces are cleaned to value of 30RLU if using a Hygiena ATP luminometer, or zero RLU if using Charms luminometers to accurately quantify surface cleanliness before disinfection. Amtrak (US East Coast) uses catholyte to wash its passenger and commuter train cars inside and out, and the HOCl anolyte to disinfect surfaces (via light spray) afterwards.

 

Microbial assays do not measure cleanliness.  They count microorganisms before and after treatments to determine disinfection efficacy – NOT CLEANING EFFICACY.

 

The most popular ECA devices are also the cheapest (surprise), and have the lowest salt conversion rates, meaning that they use more salt and energy to produce a given volume and titer of HOCl, and leave far more chloride-based residues behind to attack and leach ferrous mineral ions from any such materials with which there is contact.  Tons of SS equipment in the UK and throughout the EU own by global brands has been destroyed by otherwise smart people by misapplying electrolytically generated solutions, ignorant of the anolytes corrosivity index and analysis of its material compatibility.  Coincidentally, folks overlook the enormous sustainable benefit of using catholyte to replace dish soaps in warewashers.  Hobart (with whom I worked) and the other major mfgrs are well aware of catholytes cleaning abilities.  From a sustainability and cost perspective – nothing is close.   Our physiological saline is 0.9%; 1/3 of the NaCl used in the on-site reactor.  Can’t say that about (plastic) jug quat concentrates, ammonium chloride, ClO2, PA, or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, the base for many if not most laundry detergent and some brilliant marketing minds that turned this toxic chemical into a fruit and veggie wash.

 

It is acute, persistent exposures to these products that deplete oxygen levels and harm flora and fauna along with all higher life forms including humans.  All the empties go to landfills because of concerns with recycling any toxic products remaining in the billions of jugs and drums sold. On-site system have no such packaging.  A 50# sack of high purity salt generates thgousands of gallons of RTU products, and since HOCl is only sprayed, very little is need3d.

 

The ECHA could do a much better job or promoting non-toxic alternatives to the toxic chemicals that they regulate.  That said, the US EPA embarrassingly far behind and the EU in these matters. 

 

I hope this helps - and good luck,

Tom Johnson

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