Using Citranox Detergent for Cleaning Copper

Q. We are cleaning copper pipe with Alconox powder and then using a citric acid wash after a rinse. Could we use a different detergent from Alconox Inc. that would accomplish both these procedures at once?

A. Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent is both a detergent and serves as an acidic rinse (removing oxidation, inorganic residue, etc.). So, if you’d like to switch to one product, Citranox cleaner is a great option. Since Alconox powdered detergent may be better at removing tougher organic residues, we would recommend a 2% Citranox solution to ensure you have sufficient capacity.

Recall that higher concentrations allow for more residue to be remove, and result in some increase in detergency.

Citranox detergent is great on a variety of soft and sensitive metals including:  bronze, aluminum, and zinc, as well as brightening and passivating stainless steel.  The result is a critically clean and brightened metal surface, devoid of oxidation and residue.

For washers and other low foaming applications, Citrajet® Low-Foam Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse is your path forward.

These acidic detergents also avoid the darkening than can happen in the presence of alkaline solutions for reactive metals like copper.

To request this 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.

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