Environmental

Q. Bailers used to detect phosphate in surface water sampling gave positive readings in equipment blanks from a poorly rinsed phosphate containing detergent A.The US EPA standard operating procedures for sampling equipment cleaning say use “…a phosphate free laboratory grade detergent such as Liqui-nox…”

We applaud you for looking to employ sustainable, safe, clean, and reduced waste cleaning processes. The first step in evaluating the environmental health and safety of an aqueous cleaner is to secure the material safety data sheet and technical bulletins for the cleaners you plan to test or use, and to assemble as much information as you can about the soils you will be removing. A review of this information should disclose important environmental and health hazards as well as regulations.

Q. Can I use pH paper to confirm cleaning and rinsing of labware to comply with lab accreditation requirements?

A. If you are going to use pH strips to comply with lab accreditation requirements, you need to verify that your detergents are not interfering with the strips and papers. Detergents and surface active agents can interfere with some pH paper by causing a decrease of several pH units in reading. Please test any pH paper you intend to use …

Q. We are looking for cleaners that are minimally toxic or non-toxic to insects while effectively cleaning and removing biological debris, sugar, and pathogens.

A. Thank you for your request for a detergent that is minimally or non-toxic to insects. We regret to inform you that we do not have insect toxicity studies for our detergents. The mammalian and systemic toxicity information that we do have, however, shows that Liquinox® is very low in toxicity.

Q. Are there other oxygenated products/compounds in the Liquinox detergent?
A. Liquinox® does not contain any oxygen bleaches – peroxides. Liquinox® does contain ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactants which contain oxygen.