Improving Cleaning Processes in the Dairy Industry
Because milk products are among the most perishable foods, the industry requires the highest cleaning and sanitization standards.
The calcium-based deposit casein—or milkstone—adheres to surfaces in dairy processing systems. Glycolic acid's high affinity for bringing calcium into solution makes the acid an excellent component onto which formulators can build effective, biodegradable dairy process cleaners.
Chemours produces a high-performing glycolic acid that is free of chlorides and phosphates and that enhances the efficacy of industrial cleaning solutions. It won’t accumulate in the environment because it is biodegradable. Additional properties include:
- Low toxicity
- Low odor
- Nonflammable
- Negligible fumes
- Low corrosion on most metals
Glycolic Acid Helps Keep Dairies Clean
In addition to effectively dissolving casein, glycolic acid also dissolves calcium carbonate and iron oxide scales. The resulting salts are water soluble.
Glycolic acid doesn’t cause stainless steel to stress-crack like hydrochloric acid, which means using this product can prolong equipment life. Classified as an A3 acid cleaner by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), glycolic acid is approved for use as a dairy cleaning agent.
Other Applications That Benefit from Glycolic Acid
Because the dairy industry demands the highest regulations for cleaning and sanitization, dairy cleaning technology is often adapted to other food industries. Soils, films, and residues left by other food processing are similar to dairy production byproducts that require cleaning, but are easier to remove.
