1.Industrial cleaning
As the name suggests, refers to the process in industry of removing contaminants (dirt) formed on the surface of substrates due to physical, chemical, biological and other effects, so as to restore the surface to its original state. Industrial cleaning is mainly affected by three major aspects: cleaning technology, cleaning equipment and cleaning agents. Cleaning technologies mainly include: (1) Chemical cleaning, which includes common pickling, alkali washing, solvent cleaning, etc. This type of cleaning usually requires the use of cleaning equipment in conjunction with cleaning agents. In conventional industrial cleaning, this type of cleaning has low cost, is fast and convenient, and has long occupied a dominant position; (2) Physical cleaning, including high-pressure water jet cleaning, air disturbance cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, electric pulse cleaning, shot blasting cleaning, sandblasting cleaning, dry ice cleaning, mechanical scraping cleaning, etc. This type of cleaning mainly uses cleaning equipment, combined with clean water, solid particles, etc. for cleaning. It has high cleaning efficiency, but generally the equipment is expensive and the use cost is not low; (3) Biological cleaning uses the catalytic effect produced by microorganisms for cleaning, and is often used in textile and pipeline cleaning. However, due to its specific requirements for the catalytic activity of biological enzymes, its application field is relatively narrow. There are many classification methods for industrial cleaning agents, and the common ones are water-based cleaning agents, semi-water-based cleaning agents and solvent-based cleaning agents. With the enhancement of environmental awareness, solvent-based cleaning agents are gradually being replaced, and water-based cleaning agents will occupy more space. Water-based cleaning agents can be divided into alkaline cleaning agents, acidic cleaning agents and neutral cleaning agents according to different pH values. Cleaning agents are developing towards green environmental protection, high efficiency, energy saving and economy, which puts forward the following requirements for them: water-based cleaning agents replace traditional solvent cleaning; cleaning agents do not contain phosphorus, have low nitrogen to no nitrogen, and do not contain heavy metals and substances harmful to the environment; cleaning agents should also develop towards concentration (reducing transportation costs), functionalization and specialization; the use conditions of cleaning agents are more convenient, preferably at room temperature; the production cost of cleaning agents is low to reduce the use cost for customers.
2.Principles of Formulation Design for Water-based Cleaning Agents
Before designing a cleaning agent formula, we usually classify contaminants. Common contaminants can be classified according to cleaning methods.
(1) Contaminants that can dissolve in acid, alkali, or enzyme solutions: These contaminants are easy to remove. For such contaminants, we can select specific acids, alkalis, or
enzymes, prepare them into solutions, and remove the contaminants directly.
(2) Water-soluble contaminants: Such contaminants, such as soluble salts, sugars, and starches, can be dissolved and removed from the substrate surface through methods like water soaking, ultrasonic treatment, and spraying.
(3) Water-dispersible contaminants: Contaminants like cement, gypsum, lime, and dust can be wetted, dispersed, and suspended in water for removal with the help of the mechanical force of cleaning equipment, water-soluble dispersants, penetrants, etc.
(4) Water-insoluble dirt: Contaminants such as oils and waxes need to be emulsified, saponified, and dispersed under specific conditions with the aid of external forces, additives, and emulsifiers to make them detach from the substrate surface, form a dispersion, and be removed from the substrate surface. However, most dirt does not exist in a single form but is mixed together and adheres to the surface or deep within the substrate. Sometimes, under external influences, it may ferment, decompose, or become moldy, forming more complex contaminants. But regardless of whether they are reactive contaminants formed through chemical bonding or adhesive contaminants formed through physical bonding, cleaning them thoroughly must go through four major steps: dissolution, wetting, emulsification and dispersion, and chelation.
Post time: Jan-12-2026