What Systems Require Chemical Cleaning?

Do you ever struggle to determine which of your systems require chemical cleaning? It can be hard to know for sure – after all, the importance and necessity depend on various factors, such as what sort of systems are being cleaned and how often. Furthermore, it is essential for many machines and systems, but not all.

Knowing what type of systems require chemical cleaning can be confusing, even if you’re an experienced professional. However, with a better understanding of why you should implement it in your daily operations, you can optimize various cleaning processes while creating an even cleaner environment.

What is Chemical Cleaning?

Chemical cleaning is a process where different kinds of chemicals are used to clean out deposits and other contaminants from a system as well as sanitization of those systems that require (ex: potable water). It’s why numerous industries require chemical cleaning to ensure their systems are sterile and ready for production.

Many systems need cleaning to ensure they remain safe and effective. It can include cooling towers, industrial boilers, HVAC systems, cooling towers, and Chill and reheat water systems. Professional cleaners can also clean heavily fouled equipment or tanks before they are returned to service.

There are different types you can choose from that are available today. Some of these are the following:

• Acid cleaning
• Alkaline cleaning
• Detergent cleaning
• Disinfection
• Blow-Out

These types of chemical cleaning are developed to improve the efficiency of your system. At the same time, the proper method can prevent equipment malfunction. These solutions are also used as preventative maintenance to ensure your operation is 100%.

Different Systems that Require Chemical Cleaning

Innumerable systems and equipment require different kinds of chemical cleaning to enhance their lifespan and ensure they run optimally. Some of these can include the following:

• Pharmaceutical mixers: Pharmaceutical mixers and blenders are mixing equipment used to manufacture chemicals and pharmaceuticals. They are designed to handle small or large ingredients for industrial mixing. The mixers must be cleaned regularly with a chemical cleaner to prevent contamination, protect the quality of the product, and guarantee that the equipment performs up to par.
• Industrial Pipe Systems: Industrial pipes that accumulate mineral deposits can cause problems with flow and efficiency. Here, acid cleaning is utilized since it can help remove these deposits, allowing the tubes to work better and last longer.
• Brewing tanks: Breweries utilize brewing tanks for fermentation, storage, and other processes. Without detergent cleaning, sludge can build up in the tanks over time, causing them to be inefficient and hazardous.
• Oxygen pipelines: Another system where alkaline cleaning is required is oxygen pipelines. These are usually found in hospitals and medical facilities, so these systems must remain extremely clean. It is also ideal for new systems and preventative maintenance.
• Portable water systems: Disinfection allows for eliminating or inhibiting harmful microorganisms from systems where bacterial contamination is prevalent, such as water systems. You must often disinfect these systems to ensure they are safe before use.

Above are the most common systems or equipment where chemical cleaning is helpful. These are found in chemical companies, breweries, and companies belonging to biotechnological, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical companies. If you belong to these industries, don’t think twice about having them cleaned professionally to experience quality output.

Choose the Right Type of Chemical Cleaning for Your Facility

Every facility is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and equipment to facilitate its processes. It’s best to have your equipment chemically cleaned occasionally to ensure that this equipment is functioning correctly.

If you’re looking for a reliable service contractor, Cleansol is the number one go-to. If you have any questions about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We’re ready to help you find the best solution to ensure your equipment and systems are free from dangerous contaminants.

What is Passivation?

We all know that industrial processes can be tricky—but what if I told you there was a process that could ensure your parts and components work reliably, as expected? That’s where steel passivation comes in. Industrial companies have been turning to this fantastic method of protecting stainless steel against corrosion and oxidation for years.

But what exactly is this method all about, how does it work, and why should you consider implementing it into your industrial plant operations? Learning all about this process and how it can benefit your business will allow you to utilize it to the best of your abilities.

What is Passivation?

Simply put, the passivation process happens when materials like stainless steel are protected from rust and corrosion. Its primary goal is to reduce the deterioration and decay of material by protecting it from its environmental reaction. The result is an increase in the material’s lifespan because its corrosion-resistant properties have been improved significantly.

Metal passivation is the most common process that many industries use, especially in facilities where products are exposed to harsh environments. The process is mainly used on stainless steel but can also be applied to other metals such as aluminum and nickel or nickel alloys.

The Process of Passivation for Stainless Steel

As mentioned above, stainless steel is the most common metal that undergoes this post-fabrication process. Even though stainless steel is already resistant to rust and corrosion because it is an iron alloy, long-term exposure to moisture, heat, and other substances can cause the steel to oxidize. This process is implemented to restore the stainless steel’s surface while improving its corrosion resistance performance.

The passivation of stainless steel uses nitric acid or citric acid to remove free iron from its surface. This chemical treatment creates a protective layer or a film, which makes the metal less likely to react with air. Therefore, corrosion is also avoided. It’s worth noting that today’s industry standards, ASTM A967 and AMS 2700, represent the widely used standards for passivated stainless steel.

The Different Types of Passivation

According to the industry standards for passivation stainless steel, there are three types of this process to choose from. Each type will depend on the chemical that’s going to be used.

The three types are as follows:

• Citric acid
• Nitric acid
• Nitric acid with sodium dichromate

The type of stainless passivation used will depend on the specifications and requirements of the client. Since each has its benefits and drawbacks, it’s essential to know the purpose and application of the material before making a final decision.

Why Should You Passivate Stainless Steel?

This post-fabrication process is also used as cleaning passivation for the maintenance of stainless steel parts and components. But it’s also a post-fabrication method for newly-machined stainless steel equipment or surfaces.

Some benefits to take advantage of:

• Extend the life of the product
• Remove any contaminants from the metal’s surface
• It provides a chemical film barrier to protect against rust
• Reduces the need for future maintenance

Difference Between Derouging & Passivation

“Rouge” refers to the brownish stain in the pipes and tanks. It’s a corrosion product that can affect the various parts of a system. Cleaning the affected surfaces periodically can maintain good product quality. It’s also known for removing metal oxides and hydroxides from surfaces.

These two processes often go hand in hand since the standard practice is to passivate the surface, parts, or components to enhance its protection against corrosion. It’s why many industries prefer to use both processes together.

Protect Your Stainless Steel Equipment from Corrosion & Rust

Ensuring the protection of your equipment is a must in industries where corrosion and rust are predominant. If you’re looking for a reputable specialized cleaning service, Cleansol LLC offers derouging and stainless steel passivation for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and semiconductor industries. Contact us today to learn more about our other services as well!