These formulated cleaning agents are broadly available in two categories: consumer products and institutional products. Even though a consumer product is much simpler to use, its application is limited. Institutional product has a much wider application dealing with specific needs in specific areas of specific surfaces.
“The formulated chemicals for institutions are concentrates or super concentrates where the costing/use fundamental come into play, wherein the cost per use is the basis of cost application for an institution. With consumer products, the costing/use calculations do not come into picture at all. The consumer merely uses the recommended amount of, say a detergent, for washing certain amount clothes. The consumer does not calculate per spoon/number of clothes costing. Similarly, fabric washing for consumers is all about a single detergent while for institutions linens have to be treated differently. The institutional market in itself has specific needs. A typical laundry, for example, in a five-star hotel would wash at least 2.5 to 3 tonnes of linens in a single day consisting of bed sheets, towels, chef coats, tablecloths and other cloths. Each of these would have a different soil to be treated. A towel would have hair and oil stains or F&B linen would have ketchup, spices and oil stains. Hence, one single detergent and a single-wash programme would be ineffective to treat these stains. Different linens have to be treated differently with different chemicals in different proportions.
“For consumers, again there are no benchmarks on the levels of cleaning, while for institutions, the cleaning effectiveness is measured. For example, in a hotel the brightness of linen, the rewash levels and fabric discards in a year are recorded. Similarly, cleaning agents in combination or in specific formulations are used for cleaning in all other applications,” adds Abhay Desai.
“Without knowledge of how the cleaning process works, one cannot be effective at cleaning”
Cleaning agents, particularly chemicals, are intended to clean, disinfect and sanitise. Ingredients of all cleaning chemicals have necessary substances, including surfactants, solvents, phosphates, EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid) and degreasers.
Detergents
Alkalies enhance the cleaning power of a synthetic detergent. Strong detergents are suitable for degreasing in industries or kitchens where there are a lot of oil or grease deposits and but are not recommended for certain floors of soft metals like aluminium or galvanised surfaces.
“The choice of a particular suitable formulated detergent depends upon the type of soiling, the surface to be cleaned, the time available for cleaning and specific requirements like grout cleaning & faucet cleaning,” adds Abhay Desai.
Detergents can be used in an industrial environment for various applications like floor scrubbing, degreasing or general cleaning works. Says V. Balathandayutham, Manager-Product Support, Roots Multiclean Ltd, “The main challenge in industries is to tackle the grit and grease. Generally, the built up grease is tracked throughout the premises during traffic. The detergent helps to remove the embedded dirt and grease effectively. When the build up is low both scrubbing and vacuuming can be done with a machine at one stretch. However, when the build up is comparatively higher, the degreaser emulsifies dirt slowly and then the sides are extracted. User friendly, economical degreasers and dirt removers are used for various applications like machine scrubbing, manual scrubbing and higher dirt removal.
“Detergents are used depending upon the type of industry and various floor types like tiles, coating, synthetic and rubber. A general purpose neutral detergent comes handy for wet mopping or for wet cleaning of office furniture and equipment. These detergents have high viscosity and excellent cleaning performance even with less quantity.”
Disinfectants
Disinfection chemicals destroy pathogenic microorganism on inanimate surface. Washroom specific chemicals “discourage the development of resistant types of pathogenic microorganisms building up in a toilet”, says Dr Joseph.
Used closely with disinfectants are sanitisers which remove contamination only to a certain extent, but makes the surface clean enough to protect health in general. “Like a hospital, that has marble flooring in the lobby, could require not just cleaning chemicals to keep it clean and nice but a sanitiser to decontaminate,” says Abhay. Sanitisers could be specially formulated chemicals or may be disinfectants that have been diluted to serve as sanitisers.
All the above chemicals could be used in combination to achieve the desired result of cleanness. A combination of detergents and disinfectants helps treat soil and decontaminate the surface. Disinfectant alone when used on a soiled surface in a toilet will not be effective. The soil protects the bacteria from germicidal action of the disinfectant. Thus, the choice of chemicals and its combination depend on the area of its application.
Chemicals when applied to a surface have to be in the right proportion to achieve the desired result.
A US study has warned not to over-dilute cleaning chemicals amid fears that this could boost resistance in bacteria. The study found that such bugs that survived disinfectants could be harder to kill. They evolve new defences which allow them to ‘pump’ cleaning chemicals out of their system. Experts have advised that cleaning guidance is followed closely.
Disinfectants are not just hospital-specific, as hotels and restaurants too provide an environment for breeding and transmission of diseases.
According to the Centre for Disease Control, USA, 77% of food borne illness originates in commercial food service establishments. The most common areas that need disinfectants in a hotel include the air conditioning system, bathroom fixtures, partitions, soap & towel dispensers, bathroom floors and fixtures, toilets, urinals, area around urinals, levers to flush toilets, telephones and drains.
Dry solvents
Dry solvents are liquid chemicals that do not mix easily with or contain water. These chemicals are hydro-phobic, or have “water-fearing” molecules, which can be very effective at dissolving greasy, oily soils.
Odourless mineral spirits (OMS) are typically used for dry cleaning furniture, and also used as the carrier for other products, such as “dry” carpet protectors. OMS are used to carry fluorochemical protectors in applications where excess water is undesirable, such as in upholstery care.
To this day, perchloroethylene, or “perc,” is still the most common dry cleaning solvent due to its stability, relatively low flammability, and gentleness on textiles.
Another dry solvent that is found in dry-cleaning products for spot and stain removal is Benzin, also known as petroleum ether or “naphtha.” Naphtha, while very effective at dissolving hydrophobic soils without bleeding carpet dyes, can be particularly nasty to handle, and should always be used with great care. Citrus solvents are very popular today and considered much safer to use.
Peroxides (oxidizers)
The main component of all of these so-called “oxygen bleaches” is hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide bleach is used by the professional carpet cleaner today to boost the performance of many cleaning chemicals. A small amount of powder (the chemical is sodium percarbonate) is added to the cleaner, and the results can be amazing. Sodium percarbonate itself is not peroxide. When the chemical is added to water, peroxide is generated. However, the peroxide is not stable in the cleaning solution and will lose its effectiveness if not used right away.
“The manufacturer not only has to choose the right ingredients but also has to ensure that there are no banned substances used and the list of substances used declared.”
Reducing agents
The chemical opposite of an oxidizer like peroxide is a reducing agent. Reducing agents are compounds that donate negatively charged electrons to other compounds, chemically changing them. Perhaps the most commonly used reducing agent in cleaning is sodium metabisulfite, a weak reducer that is used on coffee and red stains. Caffeine and red food dye are only coloured in their oxidized state, so by using a reducing agent, those chemicals are converted into products that are not coloured, thereby eliminating stains. Red dye is tougher to reduce than caffeine, which is why heat is recommended when removing red stains.
All purpose cleaning solution
There are many all-purpose cleaning solutions today in the market which provide a combination of chemicals suitable for most surfaces. There is an increase in demand for such products as it does away with the challenge of proportional mixing which is often handled by the cleaner who may not be from a sound educational background. A cleaner’s knowledge is limited to the training he receives. Most all-purpose cleaning solutions are pH neutral and safe for most surfaces that are cleaned with water-based products. These cleaning solutions do not leave a haze.
Green chemicals
Misconceptions and wrong practices
Cleaners often go by the colour of the chemical container or the name of the brand to determine its application. Dilutions, measurements and combinations are directly based on the training they receive. Many a time to get better results, cleaners tend to mix chemicals without knowing the contents of each chemical. Hazardous chemical reaction could take place in a mop bucket when a product with ammonia is mixed with another containing hypochlorite (such as bleach) or bleach is mixed with acid-based chemical. In either case, potentially dangerous chlorine gases are released.
Not just the institutional market, even at the consumer level wrong mixing of chemicals could damage the surface. Resultantly, consumers disqualify the product without realising it is the mixing and may be not the product itself which has caused the damage. Hence, process and procedures also play major role in making the product effective.
Mike James, Managing Director of UK-based Bio-Productions Ltd, which makes eco-friendly chemicals from oranges, says “the rule one for developing any cleaning product is that it should perform and two, it should be simple. Therefore, we believe that thought should be given to the selection of ‘chemicals’ when undertaking a task. It is also worth noting that, invariably, an aggressive chemical (which is quite likely to be harmful to the environment) could also damage the surface (or finish) of the item being cleaned. This ultimately enables soiling to enter the substrate, making it more difficult to clean the next time. Obviously, there are occasions when an aggressive chemical will be the only way of resolving a problem, such as killing germs. Here, as with using any toxic substance, thought must be given to the amount used, the dilution and the ultimate disposal.”
While choosing chemical products, the following factors should be considered:
Water hardness: The amount of calcium and magnesium found in water directly determines the performance levels of the chemicals. Disinfectants and sanitisers that are quaternary-based have a negative affect in hard water.
Stain/soil: Solvent cleaners that usually have petroleum base are suitable to treat grease and oil whereas acid-based cleaners could be used on scale and lime deposits on bathroom fixtures.
Costing-Usage: The cost per usable litre of cleaning solution is the basis of calculating the cost of usage. Different chemicals are diluted to different concentrations for different applications, which should also be taken into consideration.
Labour & equipment cost: This will help arrive at the actual cost incurred by the housekeeping company for a cleaning project.
Availability of product, distributors, after sales service are points to be considered.
TACT
“Finally, to make any cleaning successful, along with chemicals, there are three more parameters: Temperature, Time and Agitation or Action. These parameters are variable and adaptable according to the cleaning needs. Any cleaning process needs to have a combination of the parameters, such as Time (contact time), Agitation (mechanical action), Chemical concentration (detergents) and Temperature, which is technically known as TACT,” says Abhay.
Temperature: It is a scientific fact that cleaning solutions (detergent and water for example) work 100% using a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Any colder combination would require more of the other three ingredients agitation, chemical and time in variation. But by increasing the temperature more than double the power of the same cleaning process could be achieved thereby cutting by the requirement of remaining three ingredients.
Agitation: Scrubbing, scouring and scraping are actions in combination with temperature and chemical could perform best, thereby reducing time taken to clean.
Chemical: There are several chemicals available for different cleaning tasks. They can be classified into natural, organic or synthetic, acidic, alkaline, volatile (bleaching) or non-volatile, solvent or non-solvent and cationic, anionic or non-ionic based on the electric component. It works in combination will all the three ingredients.
Time: The goal in any cleaning task is to minimize performance time. With the proper use of temperature, agitation techniques and chemicals for a given cleaning task, cleaning could be performed safely and effectively in a minimum amount of time.
To quote, US Environmental expert Micheal Berry, “Manufacturers should sell cleaning science and environmental protection knowledge along with product. They should support testing & training and emphasize the effective and efficient use of cleaning products. They should use science-based knowledge to make products and cleaning systems for efficient and effective cleaning and for protection of environment.
Service providers should use science to develop cleaning professionalism. They should use knowledge to educate, inform and get closer to customers through effective-environment friendly cleaning. All in the cleaning and related industries should use cleaning science to gain a competitive advantage in this ‘green age’ by way of sound science and factual representation.
All cleaning products should be shown to be useful in the process of effective cleaning as part of Green certification. This is currently not happening.”
Treating water chemically
For the chemical treatment of water, a great variety of chemicals can be applied.
Algaecides
Algaecides are chemicals that kill algae and blue or green algae, when they are added to water. Examples are CuSO4, FeSO4 Salts. Algaecides are effective against algae.
Coagulants
Generally salts of Iron, Aliminium are used for this, aluminium as Al2 (SO4)3- (aluin) and iron as either FeCl3 or Fe2(SO4)3-. FeSO4 which is cheaper is also utilised, on condition that it will be oxidised to Fe3+ during aeration.
Coagulation is very dependent on the doses of coagulants, the pH and Suspended matter content. To adjust pH levels Ca(OH)2 is applied as co-flocculent. Doses usually vary between 10 and 90mg Fe3+/ L
Corrosion inhibitors
Corrosion is a general term that indicates the conversion of a metal into a soluble compound.
Corrosion can harm tubes of boiler systems, deposition of corrosion products in critical heat exchange areas, and overall efficiency loss.
That is why corrosion inhibitors are often used. Inhibitors are chemicals that react with a metallic surface, giving the surface a certain degree of protection. Inhibitors often work by attaching themselves on the metallic surface, protecting the metallic surface by covering like a film.
Disinfectants
Disinfectants kill present unwanted microrganisms in water. There are various different types of disinfectants in use most common of them are as follows:
- (Chlorine (dose 2-10 mg/L)
- Chlorine dioxide
- Ozone
- Hypochlorite
Chlorine
Chlorine is the most widely used biocide today. It has been used for disinfection of domestic water supplies and for the removal of tastes and odours from water for a long time. The amount of chlorine that needs to be added in a water system is determined by several factors, namely chlorine demand, contact time, pH and temperature of the water, the volume of water.
When chlorine gas enters a water supply it will hydrolyse to form hypochlorous and hydrochlorous acid. The latter determines the biocidal activity.
This process takes place according to the following reaction:
Cl2 + H2O -> HOCl + HCl
Hydrochlorous acid is responsible for the oxidation reactions with the cytoplasm of microrganisms, after diffusion through the cell walls.
Chlorine than disturbs the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), an essential compound for the respiration of microrganisms.
The bacteria that are present in the water will die as a consequence of experienced breathing problems, caused by the activity of the chlorine.
The amount of chlorine that needs to be added for the control of bacterial growth is determined by the pH. The higher the pH, the more chlorine is needed to kill the unwanted bacteria in a water system. When the pH values are within a range of 8 to 9, 0.4 ppm of chlorine must be added. When the pH values are within a range of 9 to 10, 0.8 ppm of chlorine must be added.
Chlorine dioxide disinfection
ClO2 is used principally as a primary disinfectant for surface waters with odour and taste problems. It is an effective biocide at concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm and over a wide pH range. ClO2 penetrates the bacterial cell wall and reacts with vital amino acids in the cytoplasm of the cell to kill the organisms. The by-product of this reaction is chlorite.
Chlorine dioxide disinfects according to the same principle as chlorine, however, as opposed to chlorine, chlorine dioxide has no harmful effects on human health.
Hypochlorite disinfection
Hypochlorite is applied in the same way as chlorine dioxide and chlorine. Hypo chlorination is a disinfection method that is not used widely anymore, since an environmental agency proved that the Hypochlorite for disinfection in water was the cause of bromate consistence in water.
Ozone disinfection
Ozone is a very strong oxidation medium, with a remarkably short life span. It consists of oxygen molecules with an extra O-atom, to form O3. When ozone comes in contact with odour, bacteria or viruses the extra O-atom breaks them down directly, by means of oxidation. The third O-atom of the ozone molecules is than lost and only oxygen will remain.
Disinfectants can be used in various industries. Ozone is used in the pharmaceutical industry, for drinking water preparation, for treatment of process water, for preparation of ultra-pure water and for surface disinfection.
Chlorine dioxide is used primarily for drinking water preparation and disinfection of piping.
Every disinfection technique has its specific advantages and its own application area.
Flocculants
Flocculants are dosed in water to bring together suspended and colloidal matter and form a bond between them to allow them to settle quickly. These polymers have a very specific effect, dependent upon their charges, their molar weight and their molecular degree of ramification. The polymers are water-soluble.
There can be several charges on one flocculent. There are cationic polymers, based on nitrogen, anionic polymers, based on carboxylate ions and polyampholytes, which carry both positive and negative charges.
Neutralizing agents (alkalinity control)
In order to neutralize acids and basics, we use either solution of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), CaCO3 (Calcium Carbonate), or lime suspension (Ca(OH)2) to increase pH levels. We use diluted sulphuric acid (H2SO4) or diluted hydrochloric acid (HCl) to decline pH levels. The dose of neutralizing agents depends upon the pH of the water in a reaction basin. Neutralization reactions cause a rise in temperature.
Oxidants
In Chemical oxidation processes chemicals are used to reduce COD/BOD levels, and to remove both organic and oxidisable inorganic components. The processes can completely oxidise organic materials to CO2 (Carbon Disoxide) and water, although it is often not necessary to operate the processes to this level of treatment.
A wide variety of oxidation chemicals are available. Examples are H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide), Ozone, Combined ozone & peroxide and Oxygen.
Oxygen scavengers
Oxygen scavenging means preventing oxygen from introducing oxidation reactions.
Most of the naturally occurring organics have a slightly negative charge. Due to that they can absorb oxygen molecules, because these carry a slightly positive charge, to prevent oxidation reactions from taking place in water and other liquids.
Oxygen scavengers include products, such as hydrazine (N2H4) or other organic products like carbohydrazine, hydroquinone, sodium sulphite (Na2SO3) and other inorganic compounds.
pH conditioners
Municipal water is often pH-adjusted, in order to prevent corrosion from pipes and to prevent dissolution of lead into water supplies. During water treatment pH adjustments may also be required. The pH is brought up or down through addition of basics or acids. An example of lowering the pH is the addition of HCl (hydrochloric acid), in case of a basic liquid. An example of bringing up the pH is the addition of sodium hydroxide.
Ganesh Pangarkar Technical Head-Water Projects and Treatment Eureka Forbes Ltd, with inputs from Lenntech
Natural cleaning products
Cleaning agents based on this technology harnesses this natural process to meet today’s need for cleaning, odour control and waste elimination without the use of potentially harmful chemicals. By harnessing natural processes, bio-products provide both immediate effect and long term residual for cleaning and odour control. The residual cleaning effects and the extended microbial cleaning capabilities provide penetration and organic removal efficacy unmatched by any standard chemical products.
Cleaning and odour control applications
Spills not only stain visible surfaces, they seep also into cracks & crevices and the microscopic pores of surfaces such as tiles, concrete, wood and grout. Over time, surfaces can appear dull and dirty because the organics have only been partially removed. Malodours are generated by residual organics.
Chemical products provide cleaning plus after-cleaning effects of microbial action. The microorganisms penetrate into cracks, crevices and pores of surfaces, the same places spills and grease collect. The microbes use grease and organics as a “food source”, converting it to harmless water and gas, thus leaving the area absolutely clean and odourless.
This residual deep cleaning is effective in many different applications.
Floor Cleaning
Many chemical products clean floor surfaces, but they don’t provide the residual cleaning effects of microbes. Says J. Lakhani, Managing Director, Lemmens Shardlow (India) Pvt. Ltd, “the microorganisms in Biosol cleaning products go to work after the initial cleaning is done. They penetrate into cracks and crevices of floor surfaces to degrade and digest spills, grease and other accumulated material leaving floors cleaner. Additional benefits include removing organic soils from grout to make floors visibly cleaner and removing accumulated grease to reduce slippage. Moisture is a limiting factor and accumulated organics may not be removed in one washing. With routine cleaning, the effect is enhanced with each application until floors are truly deep cleaned. Undesirable environmental microbes may also be displaced by safer Biosol microbes.”
Carpet Cleaning
Microbial technology is ideal for cleaning carpets. When food or urine is spilled on carpets, these organics seep into the carpet backing and padding and into the pores of the wooden sub-flooring or concrete under the carpet. Standard cleaning agents may be effective at cleaning the surface fibres, but cannot remove residual organics that cause stains and odours to reappear, even after cleaning. The microorganisms in cleaning agents follow organics into the pores or “micro-niches,” where they destroy the organics leaving carpets clean and odour free.
Drain line & grease trap applications
Bio-products keep drains clog-free and grease traps functioning efficiently. Products for drains and grease traps employ the same technology used by municipalities to clean grease-laden collection systems and by industrial waste treatment facilities to optimize oily waste water treatment.
When used in drain lines and grease traps bio-products work in conjunction with indigenous organisms to develop thin, active bio-films that line the surfaces of pipes and traps. These highly active microbes continue to grow on the surfaces by degrading grease and organics found in line deposits and in the waste stream. New microbes produced by this growth continue to eliminate grease and organics in several ways. In additions to further developing this active bio-film, they may pass into the waste stream to colonize pipes downstream. Or they may grow in the waste stream itself where they continue to eliminate grease and organics. They activate the entire system for grease removal. Regular addition of microbial products maintains a highly active system.
Drain systems generally flow by gravity and are prone to problems such as stoppages or backups. Elimination of the greasy deposits keeps drains and drain lines free-flowing.
Grease traps are designed to collect grease; preventing its passage downstream. However, since microorganisms can survive in the grease trap environment, natural microbes are always present. Some of the grease and organics are broken down to feed these natural microbes. By replacing the naturally occurring strains with highly effective grease degrading strains, much larger quantities of deposited grease can be degraded.
Odour treatment applications
The same biological action that provides deep cleaning could also deliver long-term odour control. By binding, surrounding, and removing the organics that cause odours, bio-products eliminate odours and prevent their return.
Specialized formulations like Biosol cling to hard surfaces, allowing microbes to degrade trapped and adsorbed organic material. It is ideal for cleaning and odour control in toilets, urinals, walls, floors and fixtures in bathrooms.
“Unlike standard treatments, bio-products act to remove the odour at its source, thus preventing its return. Combining immediate control and long term destruction of the sources of odours, bio-products offer more effective odour control than standard chemical treatments. No other technology works as well to eliminate persistent odours.
In addition to cleaning applications, bio-products can be used as a direct spray to control odours in applications such as bathrooms, garbage collection areas, pet cages, auto interiors, musty basements, campers, and summer homes,” says Lakhani.
Waste degradation/ waste water treatment
Nature evolved a fundamental biological process to keep components of our environment in perfect equilibrium. Microbes degrade waste organics converting them into simple building blocks, which are then used to rebuild complex organics. This Cycle provides a balance of resources and gives nature the ability to renew itself. However, man’s ability to contaminate the environment can exceed the rate of natural biological processes. Environmental contamination such as polluted water and airborne malodour chemicals occurs because the natural microbial population cannot degrade the organics as fast as they are building. “Bio-products technology helps nature clean itself by introducing highly specialised, naturally occurring microorganisms with enhanced degradation capabilities.
It can successfully be used in treating septic tanks, sewage treatment plant and related areas of waste degradation. We believe the use of safe microbial technology is a sustainable solution for cleaning and maintenance while protecting our workers, our children, and our environment.”
Other areas
Specialized bio-formulations are designed to remove motor oil, grease, and heavy grime from concrete walkways, garage floors, and driveways. These environment-friendly cleaners continue to work to initiate the degradation of the contaminants removed.
Safe, effective bio-enzymes cleaners remove embarrassing and bothersome pet strains and odours. Bio-products are excellent for heavy-duty sue in zoos or kennels or homeowner use on pet bedding, in pet cages, and on hard surface areas such as concrete, tile, or wood where pet stains and odours are a problem.