Cleaning Residues with Acidic Cleaners

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

A. Inorganic residues and other acid labile substances are the traditional targets of acidic detergents.  Amines, alkaloids, amphoteric proteins, starches, carbonates and bicarbonates, metal oxides, and insoluble hydroxides are generally best cleaned by acidic cleaners. Alconox, Inc. manufactures two acidic cleaners. Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent, a high foaming and emulsifying cleaner can be used ultrasonically or manually. Citrajet® Low-Foam Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse is ideal for high pressure spray, CIP, or machine washing.

Many wash cycles, be they manual or automated, depending on the industry, incorporate a dual stage cleaning.  Specifically, this would include an alkaline wash with a traditional higher pH detergent (in CIP systems, Solujet® Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid for example), followed by an acid rinse with a lower pH cleaner.  If there is heavy and/or mixed soiling of both an organic and inorganic nature, this may prove to be optimal.

For further details and specifics, you can access our free critical cleaning tools all in one place.

• The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook (PDF)
• The Alconox Product Catalog and Detergent Selection Guide (PDF)
• The Guide to Critical Cleaning (PDF)

To request these or any Alconox, Inc. detergents for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox, Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s  Safety Data Sheets.

Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox, Inc.?  Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.

Contact us any time: cleaning@alconox.com