Before we go on to identifying the right chemicals for different applications, it is essential to spell the functions of chemicals in the cleaning process. In the cleaning process, mechanical action is the energy added by scrubbing, temperature is the heat energy and chemical is energy added through the use of cleaning agents.
The chemical interactions begin with wetting the surface with water which causes high surface tension due to the hydrogen bonding. Water alone cannot penetrate the space between the soil and the surface; hence the need for chemicals. Surfactants/detergents, or chemical compounds are added for deflocculation, followed by reactions like suspension, dissolution, emulsification, neutralisation and oxidation. There is a lot that goes on when chemistry is used in cleaning and not all cleansers can create the required interaction to treat a particular soil. Specialised chemicals customised for each application in different industries can alone provide the required cleaning results; besides ensuring safety of the surface being cleaned, safety of the person engaged in cleaning and savings through limited use of chemicals.
However, most industries are still engaging caustics, phosphates or chlorine bleach to break the coagulated protein in the soil clinging to the surface. Wrong chemicals can damage the surface leading to additional expense in the long run.
Besides right chemicals, the proportionate dosing of chemicals is equally important. Lowering the regulatory chemical cost and maintaining high cleaning quotient through dilution control system can be the ideal way.
Challenges
Says Jigar Shah of Revachem, there is a lot of difference in general or commercial cleaning and industrial cleaning as each has its specific challenges. “Industrial cleaning takes the challenge to a whole new level owing to the specific requirements it demands – cleaning of shop floors, which are often covered with oil and grease.
The spills easily spread in the whole factory through trolleys or forklifts that are constantly running on the shop floor. This demands specific chemicals to clean floors as well as offices, as the oil and grease sometimes spread to those areas as well.
Soiling levels in workers’ uniforms and on the shop floor are usually too high – demanding extra treatment for cleaning. Further, most of the shop floors usually are operated 24 hours; hence cleaning has to be done without affecting the performance. Cleaning staff need specialized training to do the same with extra care. Retaining skilled staff is another major challenge being faced by industries. Apart from the requirement of skilled staff, cleaning on shop floor needs to be mechanized as much as possible as there remain some odd soiled spaces that can’t be cleaned manually.
One of the leading manufacturers of diesel engines recently upgraded their Pune plant by laying high quality epoxy on the complete floor. The epoxy floor turned dull due to oil deposits. The oil and grease residue used to spread across the plant due to footfalls and trolley movement. The company’s facility services then decided to install a degreaser which was free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the result was more than satisfactory. The step was also in sync with their going green.”
Soil Assessment
Says Debapratim Dinda of 3M India Limited, “Any professional cleaning management solution for industrial application should compulsorily provide employees with the critical information so that they could be better prepared to take steps to reduce exposure, substitute less hazardous materials and establish safe work practices.
Through effective communication of hazard information, the cleaning management system seeks to prevent the occurrence of work-related injuries and illnesses caused by chemical use and exposure. Before zeroing down on the exact type of cleaning chemical required, it is important to analyze what’s on the floor first.
1) common soil
2) hard water mineral deposits
3) oil and grease and
4) floor sealer/finish.
Analyzing the soil type is essential to the cleaning process in order to select the best cleaner and procedure for the job. For example, an acid cleaner is a poor choice to remove floor sealers and conversely, alkaline cleaners such as floor strippers are ineffective at removing mineral deposits.
Once the soil problem has been analyzed selecting and bringing the best cleaner for the job is the next step. There are several products available in the market for each soil type problem. A working knowledge of the water hardness is another important consideration. Hard water test strips or kits are very common. Taking time to determine the hardness of the tap water helps determine the frequency of cleaning with mild to stronger acid cleaners.”
Clean storage of barrels from both inside and outside in wineries
“In most cases, storage barrels at the winery are cleaned using conventional methods consisting of caustic or acids. Such practices result in improper cleaning besides causing side effects on the barrel construction material and at times affecting the finished stored product itself.
To avoid such problems and for effective cleaning of the surface, we suggests thorough cleaning to be done using specialty cleaning chemicals. This operation can be divided into internal and external cleaning of the barrel surface.
s and sediments, if any. Recommended concentration for such type of caustic additive would be in the range of 0.1-0.2% along with 1.0-1.5% caustic.
For external surface cleaning, a general purpose germicidal cleaner, which is developed only for manual cleaning operations would be ideal. Depending on surface soiling and contamination, the concentration of the germicidal cleaner could be 1.0-2.0%.
Good rinsing with water is very necessary for the complete removal of cleaning chemical traces during the internal as well as external cleaning.
While selecting the chemicals, make sure that the chemicals are compatible to material of construction of storage barrels. This will ensure the long barrel life.”
Rohan Sakpal, Satol Chemicals
How to maintain warehouses storing raw materials for perfumery?
“For maintenance of raw material storehouse of a perfume company, hazardous and ill-smelling chemicals like strong acids, solvents and chlorine should not be used.
It is better to use water-based perfume-free cleaners. The formulation will be VOC free, non-hazardous and easy to handle. This formulation can be used for manual cleaning as well as for automatic floor cleaning machines.
Dilution level of the cleaner can be optimized depending on the soil loading and frequency of cleaning. The cleaning chemicals will not be air-borne as they will be water-based formulations and not solvent-based. The focus of these cleaners is mainly cleaning and not odour removal. Special additives need to be added for odour removal or odour-masking.
Sumedh Ganu, Akzo Nobel