Low temperature/never dump cleaning: A new way to reduce metal cleaning costs

Summary

In the metal cleaning industry considerable interest is being shown in ways of reducing the consumption of cleaner chemicals and energy. The increasing cost of effluent control has also led to much interest in evironmentally acceptable ways of reducing waste disposal costs. A combined approach to these problems is now offered in the form of a new low temperature/prolonged lifetime alkaline cleaner formulation.

Low temperature cleaners consist of a highly active builder system and a well balanced optimised combination of surfactants present at higher concentration than in conventional high temperature formulations.

The use of low temperature cleaners leads not only to important energy savings but also to savings in cleaner chemicals. Waste disposal costs can also be reduced significantly due to extended cleaner bath life.

Under certain conditions, these cleaners can be used infinitely, thus facilitating ‘never-dump’ operation.

The principles and conditions which govern never-dump cleaning are examined and illustrated by theoretical considerations based on experimental work.