Detergents for the food industry: overview, description, application

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

There are many enterprises producing a variety of food products. All of them are united by the need for detergents for the food industry. In today's industry, a wide variety of products are used to maintain cleanliness.

Traditional remedy

The modern chemical industry produces enough variety of chemical detergents and disinfectants to keep the food industry clean. They differ in the scope of use, the method of application and the effect of exposure. It is worth considering some of the most common types of detergents for the food industry.

Soap made up of several different s alts or acids. This is one of the oldest but still effective ways to keep clean. The widespread use of solid soap from sodium or naphthenic acids is due to a number of positive qualities, of which the following can be distinguished: abundant wetting of all surfaces, removal from 60up to 90% of all harmful microflora, the bactericidal effect persists for a long period, when heated, the effect of washing increases.

Synthetics

The most common detergents for the food industry are precisely synthetic products. These chemicals include surfactants, enzymes, water softeners, fragrances, bleaching agents, chemicals and disinfectants, dyes, and corrosion inhibitors. Such detergents and disinfectants for the food industry are the most widely used, as they are characterized by efficiency and can be used in a variety of environments. In addition, synthetic compounds do not react with potassium and magnesium, which avoids the problem of the formation of insoluble compounds during cleaning.

Use of synthetic products

Professional detergents for the food industry made from synthetic substances can have a negative impact on human he alth if they are used frequently and without special protection.

The negative impact is that the upper respiratory tract can be affected, it is possible to change the course of certain processes in the human skin, as well as the washing out of the natural fat layer of the epidermis. In addition, although synthetic compounds are considered one of the best means for maintaining cleanliness, they havedetrimental effect on the environment as well. Serious problems can arise if such products end up in waterways, lakes, etc.

For these reasons, the use of synthetic compounds as detergents at a food industry enterprise is allowed only after obtaining the consent of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision.

Alkali products

The range of modern cleaning products contains a fairly large group of alkaline products designed to maintain cleanliness.

1. Soda ash. It is a fine powder that dissolves in water before use. Solutions of such soda enter into a rather active reaction with fats and proteins, however, if they get into hard water, they are prone to the formation of insoluble compounds. Alkaline soda ash based food grade cleaner is best suited for removing stains from dishes, fabrics, and egg soaks.
2. Tri-sodium phosphate. This is a special additive that can soften water. In addition, the component is characterized by powerful peptizing and emulsifying qualities. Currently, it is actively used for cleaning food equipment, inventory, utensils.
3. Another alkaline remedy is caustic soda. It is a crystalline powder with the property of high solubility in a liquid medium. The use of different compositions based on this substance allows you to actively eliminate many different pathogenic microbes from the surface being cleaned. Besides,caustic soda actively fights protein and carbohydrate pollution. However, it has one significant drawback - the substance accelerates the corrosion of the metal.
4. Crystal soda. The composition based on this substance is well suited for soaking and washing any kitchen utensils.
5. Sodium metasilicate. The chemical is characterized by the strongest disinfecting and cleaning qualities. Because of this, it has become a popular base for many cleaning products. However, this substance also has significant drawbacks. Indelible stains remain on the surface of glasses in contact with this composition, paints become discolored, and sodium metasilicate has a negative effect on rubber.

Acid based cleaners

If we talk about acid detergents for the food industry, they are all made on the basis of two components. It is sulfamic or nitric acid. A weak concentration of such substances is characterized by a strong disinfecting effect, and therefore almost all preventive treatments are carried out with their participation. Compositions based on sulfamic and nitric acids are an integral part of detergent products in milk factories, as the substances actively combine with the s alts of this product.

Disinfectants

The compositions included in this group mainly belong to those products that have a strong antibacterial effect. Basicthe detergent-disinfectant component is a quaternary ammonium compound. The substance is characterized by excellent foaming, good wetting of the surface, capable of removing a wide variety of contaminants in the food industry. In an alkaline environment, the component tends to enhance its cleaning properties.

Popular products

The food industry uses many different formulations to remove contaminants and disinfect.

• "Termol Super" for thermal chambers. This composition is a highly concentrated alkaline detergent used in the food industry. It is able to effectively deal with protein deposits, oils of vegetable and animal origin, tar deposits in thermal chambers, etc.
• Liquid soap, although considered one of the most primitive products, is a necessary detergent in the food industry, where there are increased hygiene requirements. It is used to disinfect workers' hands.
• "MS-Diseptol" is an effective detergent that can clean and degrease the surface. The composition is actively used for antiseptic treatment.