Abstract:
Removal of water-insoluble organic residues from inorganic surfaces can be accomplished in aqueous cleaning solutions containing an oxidant at a preselected temperature wherein the pH is adjusted with respect to the isoelectric point of the surface material to be removed so that the pH is above the pK, and the isoelectric point of the surface for acid materials, and below the PKa and the isoelectric point of the surface for basic materials. Surfactants can also be added to the cleaning solution.
Abstract:
A method for cleaning an internal surface of a narrow diameter channel includes steps of: flowing a liquid cleaning medium and a gas through the narrow diameter channel under a flow regime that creates surface flow entities in contact with and sliding along the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel, the surface flow entities having three-phase contact lines and associated menisci, the surface flow entities detaching contaminants with which they come in contact from the internal surface of the narrow diameter internal surface of the narrow diameter channel; and rinsing the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel to remove residual liquid cleaning medium and detached contaminants from the channel.
Abstract:
A method for cleaning an internal surface of a narrow diameter channel includes steps of flowing a liquid cleaning medium and a gas through the narrow diameter channel under a flow regime that creates surface flow entities in contact with and sliding along the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel, said surface flow entities having three-phase contact lines and associated menisci, said surface flow entities detaching contaminants with which they come in contact from the internal surface of the narrow diameter internal surface of the narrow diameter channel; and rinsing the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel to remove residual liquid cleaning medium and detached contaminants from the channel.
Abstract:
The narrow diameter channel has a diameter of about 0.02 centimeter to about 1.6 centimeters and a length of about 0.75 meter to about 5 meters. The internal surface of the narrow diameter channel is hydrophobic, and the surface flow entities exhibit an advancing contact angle of greater than 50 degrees and a receding contact angle of greater than zero degree. The detachment of contaminants from the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel is produced by a sweeping of the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel with the three-phase contact lines of the surface flow entities, the cleaning medium is not predispersed in the gas before entering the channel, and less that 10% of the surface of the channel is covered by a contiguous annular film.
Abstract:
A method of cleaning surfaces using a mixed phase cleaning mixture of an aqueous solution and a flow of gas sufficient to produce droplets of the liquid which are entrained by the gas for a time sufficient to clean tubing of various lengths and geometries and porous membranes to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants.
Abstract:
Biofilm and debris can be removed from the interior and exterior surfaces of small bore tubing by passing an aqueous cleaning solution of water, one or more surfactants and preferably a source of hydrogen peroxide, optionally including small inert solid particles, together with a gas under pressure, to create a turbulent flow within the tubing that loosens the biofilm and debris so that they can be flushed from the tubing. When the exterior surfaces of tubing are to be cleaned, the tubing is inserted in a sleeve fitted with an adaptor that provides a pressure-tight seal between the tubing and the sleeve.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for cleaning passageways and the like with a two-phase mixture of gas under pressure and an aqueous cleaning solution. The two-phase cleaning mixture is generated in a module and is passed out of the module at a predetermined rate that determines droplet size, velocity and droplet density at the pipeline surface to be cleaned. The droplets impact the walls of the passageway to be cleaned, thereby fragmenting, eroding and removing contaminants in said passageway. These are then flushed out of the passageway by the two-phase flow. The flow of cleaning solution can be steady or pulsed. The apparatus and process include a clean-in-place system that is useful in food, beverage, pharmaceutical and similar process industries.
Abstract:
Hollow porous fibers containing adhered contaminants are cleaned to remove the contaminants by backflushing a liquid to fill the pores, and adding a flow of gas so as to form a two-phase mixture of gas and bubbles of liquid that can scrub the fibers, loosening the contaminants and allowing them to be flushed from the hollow fibers. The method is particularly useful for cleaning hemodialyzers used for dialysis and hollow fiber modules used in water treatment and separations. The two phase flow method is specifically effective in cleaning piping systems having high length to diameter (l/d) ratios.