Critical Cleaning - Alconox, Inc.: August 2008

Alconox, Inc. The Leader in Critical-Cleaning Detergents

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General Cleaner Info: Pharmaceutical Cleaning Validation CAP Residue Detection Methods
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Friday, August 29, 2008
Safety Issues in Aqueous Cleaning

Question:
What are the safety issues involved when using aqueous cleaners?

Answer:
Worker safety issues with aqueous cleaners involve skin exposure, eye exposure, ingestion, and chronic systemic exposure. It is always necessary to consult the label and MSDS on the cleaner for warnings and safety precautions. Physical safety issues include storage and handling.

All Alconox, Inc. brands are biodegradable, technical bulletins and MSDS are downloadable via www.alconox.com.

To read more about safety issues and aqueous cleaning, the experts at Alconox, Inc have written The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook. To request your copy, visit this page.

(Safety Issues in Aqueous Cleaning)

Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Acidic Cleaners

Question:
What is the definition of an acidic cleaner?

Answer:
"An acidic cleaner is defined as an aqueous cleaner that has a pH significantly below 7, typically below a pH of 5.5. Acid cleaners contain acids and often other cleaning ingredients, such as surfactants. Acid cleaners use a mechanism known as "acid stabilization" in which an acid reacts with a soil molecule to create a water soluble molecule and "acid hydrolysis" in which an acid reacts with a soil molecule and breaks it into a smaller water soluble soil." The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook p. 157

Request your copy of the Aqueous Cleaning Handbook here.

(Acidic Cleaners)

Monday, August 25, 2008
Active Ingredients in Detergents

Question:
Do Alconox brand detergents contain active ingredients that may cause health concerns?

Answer:
From a pharmaceutical standpoint, there are no active ingredients in Alconox, Inc. brand detergents. Alconox, Inc. makes no health claims about our cleaners and so there are no active ingredients that have to be disclosed that are responsible for our health claims.

Certainly these are detergents, and all the ingredients used contribute to detergency and so the detergents have 100% active ingredients. This basically means there are no fillers, fragrances, or dyes that do not have detergent functionality. The usage of the word active ingredient here is not a pharmaceutical health claim usage.

For more information about Alconox brand detergents, visit www.alconox.com.

(Active Ingredients in Detergents)

Friday, August 15, 2008
Ultra High Vacuum Compatible Cleaning

Question:
Can Liquinox be used to remove residues from stainless steel for ultra high vacuum compatible cleaning?

Answer:
Yes, Liquinox has been used for cleaning ultra high vacuum equipment as the detergent cleaning step. Use a 1% (10 mL/L) solution in water with such heat as is practical, ideally 40-50 deg C. Rinse very thoroughly with purified water. The key to good ultra high vacuum cleaning is thorough rinsing. If cleaning a small container fill and empty it 6X with high purity rinse water. If there is a running water rinse, expose each are of flooded surface to at least 30 seconds of flooding water. Rinse is a way that allows foam to flow off of the surfaces being rinsed and do not allow foam to congregate if possible. If due to the geometry of the parts being cleaned, foam during rinsing cannot be avoided, then at least rinse until all the foam is gone, and then rinse some more. It may take a while.

For more information on Liquinox, please download our PDF.

(Ultra High Vacuum Compatible Cleaning)

Monday, August 11, 2008
Cleaning Validation

Question:
What is involved in a cleaning validation? Does Alconox provide information or support for validation?

Answer:
A cleaning validation is a documented guarantee that cleaning can be performed reliably and repeatedly to meet a predetermined level of cleanliness. It involves testing for acceptable residues on manufacturing surfaces. Cleaning validation is becoming a requirement in the pharmaceutical industry and other industries that adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Quality Systems Regulations (QSR). Other industries include bio-pharmaceutical, bulk- pharmaceutical, medical device, cosmeceutical, and clinical-diagnostic manufacturing. The validation is specific to detergent and method used for cleaning. -The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook Fourth Ed. p. 105

Yes, the experts at Alconox have written The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook with detailed information about cleaning validations. Copies of the Handbook can be obtained by visiting Alconox.com. Technical Support is also available to assist in cleaning validations.

To speak to a technical representative about cleaning validation, call 914-948-4040 for Malcolm McLaughlin (x160) or e-mail mmclaughlin@alconox.com.

(Cleaning Validation)

Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Food Contact Surface Cleaning with Solujet

Question:
Can Solujet be used to clean food contact services?

Answer:
Yes, Solujet is USDA authorized category A1 for use in food contact surface cleaning. Solujet is recommended for cleaning stainless steel, glass, Teflon® and ceramic surfaces. Solujet is a low-foaming detergent which can be used in machine washing, spray washers, ultrasonic machines, and can be used manually if proper skin and eye protection are used.

For more information on Solujet, Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid Detergent download the Solujet technical bulletin by clicking here.

(Food Contact Surface Cleaning with Solujet)