■ CLEANING is a function of the Food management system, aimed at reducing the microbial loads on processing equipment and environment.

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↔️WufasAgronet was @ various times : ● Factory mgr. NIYAMCO (Ethanol Distillation- molasses ), ● BrewMaster, ●Prod.mgr.-7up bottling co.●Tech.Sales mgr.Cadbury plc. ● GM. Lister Flour mills. ● Plant mgr. Prime Distillery (Gin,whisky etc).● Ceo Wufason Foods (Beverages & Dairy).

CLEANING is very important in effecting a good quality control and to prevent microbes from inflicting damages to products. As a rule of thumb, production activities must be carried out in clean, controlled conditions to prevent contamination of products. Notable of equipment vulnerable to infections are the ones applied for various unit operations eg. Mixing, filiteration, Holding tanks, bottling etc.

CLEANING DETERGENTS ARE :
— CAUSTIC SODA – NaOH , maybe used in solutions up to 15% for removal of beerstone deposits from copper or stainless steel apparatus and pipelines for wort.. it is emphasised that this does not apply to copper beer lines , as copper may easily dissolve in the beer after this alkaline treatment thus causing serious turbidity in the beer.
Causticsoda should never be used for cleaning Aluminium, Enamel, Tin, Isolemail(meura), Hetesite(schlieren) , Metallogen( Hopfel, Hamburg) and other plastic linings.

— SODA ( sodium carbonate ), Na2Co3 .H20, has amilder action than caustic soda and is used in concentrations from 2-6 %. for caning rubber hoses and pipelines of some metals of Enamel or Ebon tanks or if otherwise possible , tanks lined with isolemail. Solutions of sodium carbonate should not be applied however , for cleaning aluminium, unless 0.5% of sodium metasillicate has been added as a corrosion inhibitors.

— SODIUM METASILLICATE, Na2 SIO3.9H2O. Called metasillicate is less alkaline than caustic soda but more so than sodium carbonate. It’s anticorrosive , emulsifing and surface tension- reducing action makes it a valuable component of detergents.

— SODIUM ORTHOPHOSPHATE.(Sodium polyphosphate , “Calgon” Na5 P3 O10 called “polyphosphate” is much less alkaline than metasillicate; but more so than sodium carbonate .its emulsifing and wetting actions and it’s water softening properties makes this substance a valuable component of detergents.

— SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE ( Sodium polyphosphate , “Calgon” Na5P3O10 called “polyphosphate” is much less alkaline than orithophosphate, sodium carbonate or metasillicate: it has the property of keeping calcium and magnesiumions in solution ,thus preventing mud ot scale formation on the plant.

— UNIVERSAL DETERGENT ( DV “Universal Reiniginsmiddel” UR ), consisting of 80% sodium metasillicate and 20% sodium TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE. Because it contains TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE the UD may be used in hard industrial water.A 2-2.5% solution of UD has pH of about 11.6 , this is the concentration most frequently used.it is suitable for most cleaning purposes in the brewery for cleaning bottling equipment 0.5 – 1% solution are used.
Universal Detergent has a pH of about 11.6 this is the most used concentration most frequently used. Its suitable for most cleaning purposes in the brewery . For cleaning of bottling equipment 0.5- 1% solutions are used.

— HYPOCHLORITE WITH CAUSTIC SODA.(solutions known as konezol or Antiformin); NaOCL + NaOH, contains- in concentrated solutions — 5% active chlorine and 10% caustic soda. It is a very harsh solution and should only be used in dilution of at least 1: 10 or 1 : 15, thus corresponding with 0.3-0.5% active chlorine . Konezol(diluted) may only be used for cleaning either copper beer lines or for aluminium apparatus. Due to its alkalinity, stainless steel should, under normal circumstances never be cleaned with konezol, unless as done in the dairy industry — the diluted solution (active chlorine content 0.3–0.5% ) is allowed to be in contact with the apparatus for not longer than10minutes at 30°C. Konezol should never be used at higher temperatures.

— CLENSOL is a mixture of organic and inorganic acids to which inhibitors have been added ( in this case corrosive -preventing substances ).for removing scale formation on metals eg incrustation. After using Clensol solution it is necessary to rinse again thoroughly with large volume of water.

— CLENRAD is a mixture of organic acids to which inhibitors have been added ; it’s applications are similar to those of Clensol with the addition that it may be used for cleaning aluminium, tin or zinc plant. One part of Clenrad should be diluted with 3 – 4 parts of hot/cold water. After usage, its always necessary to thoroughly rinse the plant with water.

DISSOLVINE the tetrasodium salt of ethylene diamine – tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) is a complexon that binds metal ions ; not only does it prevent deposits of scale occurring eg in Steam boiler, Hot water Cisterns pasteurisers and washers, but will also dissolve existing deposits.

PHOSPHORIC ACID – H3PO4 may be used in concentrations of 5-10% for cleaning Copper, Bronze, Brass and Stainless steel. Addition of an inhibitor ( 0.1% hexamethylene tetramine ) is necessary . It may also serve as a detergent for tanks lined with some kinds of plastic. Which are not resistant to alkali and also in solutions of 5% to which an inhibitors has been added for de- rusting water pipes, after which the circuit must be thoroughly be rinse with water.
— CHROMIC ACID/ NITRIC ACID/ CLAY; Is a paste prepared by mixing 10kg of potassium dichromate and 50kg of powdery clay ( free from chalk ) or if the latter isn’t available with 50kg of kieselguhr with 15kg or 60% nitric acid.; used in removing beer scale from aluminium tanks. The amount required amount to about 0.3kg/m`.The powdery clay is first mixed with a very little water until a thick paste is obtained, then the dichromate is added and stirred well for 2hrs, finally the nitric acid is added ,( the object of adding nitric acid is to give the clay its proper condition for this purpose . )Enamelled tanks should never be treated with this paste.
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At WufasAgronet, we are competent and reliable Food Technologists into Human Capital & Value chain Development Consultancy firm. Training the teeming youthful population and graduates of tertiary institutions the fundamental and basic Ethics of Food processing.
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