Metalworking & Precision Manufacturing

Q: We had a small fire incident in our lab when working with toluene and xylene.  We are now going with safer aqueous detergents and will replace toluene and xylene as cleaning agents.  What do you recommend for hydrocarbons from lab and glassware?

A: For removing hydrocarbons from lab and glassware, hot (60-80C) Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner or Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent should do a great job, and….

Q: We were wondering if Alconox Inc. has any data on detergent reuse? We will be looking at effectiveness of cleaning, and other parameters. Any other methods that you would recommend for detecting degradation and/or neutralization of the Alconox detergent?

A: Successful use for a period of time, whether it be one day, five days or up to two weeks, generally depends on soil load, type of soil and initial concentration of the detergent.

Q. Are your products suitable for oxygen service pre-cleaning ?

A. Alconox detergent has been tested by the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) oxygen service testing.  Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner is typically used at a 0.5-1% concentration (5-10 g/L) in water to soak and flush through piping and oxygen service equipment followed by a….

What is the proper way to dispose of your detergents? Detergent disposal in a proper manner is an integral part of a robust cleaning program regardless of scale or industry. Alconox Inc. detergents are biodegradable….

Q: We have insect and proteinaceous residues we are looking to remove from an aluminum drum.  We know Tergazyme is the “go-to” for such things but we seem to get aluminum chelate blush.  Can you recommend something different?

A:  A chelate blush is a white crusty irregular deposit of aluminum edetate, a reaction between the aluminum and the chelating agent in some Alconox Inc. detergents. You are totally correct to try a protean enzymatic detergent.