Detergents

Q. We need a chelate-free detergent to avoid dissolved copper in our waste stream.

A. The only such product we make is Detergent 8. Note that Detergent 8 is a corrosive liquid and must be handled with appropriate personal protective equipment. Detergent 8 will attack aluminum and darken copper, forming copper oxide. Detergent 8 will not chelate copper.

Q. We have a line of grocery stores that have a wine dispenser. The dispensing lines need to be cleaned, and they are looking for a citric acid based cleaner
A. We recommend circulating a 1% Citranox (1.25 oz/gal or 10 ml/L) citric acid based detergent through the lines followed by a thorough potable water rinse.

For best results removing water insoluble pharmaceutical residues in a labware washer there are several factors to pay attention to:

1) Be sure to load glassware separated from other glassware in a way that will not trap wash solution between pieces of touching glassware.

2) Be sure to load glassware tilted in a position that will drain all surfaces so as to avoid any upturned “cup” that will retain wash solution and carry it in the rinse cycle where it gets redeposited all over other glassware – a classic example of this happens when you load a graduated cylinder straight upright and the base of the cylinder holds wash solution – it is best to load graduated cylinders at a bit of an angle.

Q. We need wetting agent that is stable in high temperature and high pH for a metalworking manufacturing application. What would you recommend?

A. We have Alconox powder and Liquinox liquid detergent that have excellent wetting as well as lifting and emulsifying characteristics that are stable at high temperatures and high pH. When you ask about high temperatures, know that …

Q. We would like a list of mild detergents that could be used for cleaning serofuges.

A. The serological tubes used in serofuges can have difficult to clean protein residues. These residues are best cleaned by a proteolytic enzymatic cleaner such as Tergazyme.