Cleaning CO2 Incubators

Q: I would like to know which of Citranox or Liquinox you recommend to clean CO2 incubators inside a cleanroom environment, with particular attention to the rust that can come from the water tray. We have both detergents.

A: We recommend using hot 2% Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent (20 mL/L or 2.5 oz/gal) to soak and possibly scrub the water trays and incubator surfaces. Rinse thoroughly with water.

Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent is slightly better for general-purpose dust and debris cleaning, as well as oils, organic residue. You can look to use Citranox detergent for all applications, and know that when you run up against rust, it will work most optimally.

Citranox and Liquinox detergents are both general-purpose cleaning agents. Liquinox cleaner will not work as well on rust, but again is an excellent general cleaner or emulsifier of oil and organic residues.

In short, when your predominant residue is inorganic (ex. rust) look to an acidic detergent, discussed further below.

For best results for this incubator tray application in a cleanroom environment:

• Use a fresh 2% Citranox solution in hot water
• Completely submerge parts if possible for soaking
• Scrub if needed to loosen tough residues
• Rinse thoroughly with purified water, preferably with running water
• Dry promptly and completely

Following this procedure with Citranox will help descale and brighten any corroded surfaces, while also providing good general cleaning of the incubator. Citranox is corrosion-inhibited itself and free-rinsing to not leave any interfering residues behind.

While nearly all detergents will clean an array of different residues there are certain strengths and the right detergents depends on your expected predominant residue – What to choose: acid vs alkaline cleaner?

For cleaning via a washer or high pressure sprayer, the citric based Citrajet® Low-Foam Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse would similarly be our lead.

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.

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