Also known as caustic soda, Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) gets widely used in cleaning and will definitively for many years. What’s interesting about Sodium hydroxide is that I had a coworker who sold it to a well-known pretzel shop in St. Louis and dipped their pretzels before baking it.
Other uses and benefits of Sodium hydroxide:
- Pharmaceuticals: the chemical is used to manufacture medicines such as aspirin.
- Energy: NaOH is used in fuel cell production.
- Water treatment: aids in reducing the acidity of water and removes heavy metals.
- Industrial manufacturing is used in various industrial manufacturing processes and production, such as crayons, epoxy resins, and spandex.
Sodium hydroxide gets used in chemical products such as commercial drain and oven cleaners, detergents, soaps, and other commercial applications. In addition, you will find that most hospitality companies have some form of Sodium hydroxide.
Sodium Hydroxide as a Cleaning Agent
What is excellent about Sodium hydroxide is its cleaning properties in its ability to change the form of proteins, grease, and fat build-up, such as in clogged drains.
One of the main reasons Sodium hydroxide is so prevalent in the cleaning industry is because of its accessibility, affordability, and disposal. However, when used as a cleaning agent, handlers of the chemical must handle it cautiously because it can burn their skin and cause severe internal damage if inhaled or ingested.
Sodium Hydroxide and Safety
Even when used moderately, Sodium hydroxide in its pure form is very hazardous to the skin and should get used when wearing gloves and eye protection. Vinegar can get used to neutralize Sodium hydroxide, but if it gets in your eyes, it can cause severe burns and blindness. The safest and most suitable way to use the chemical as a cleaner is spray-on oven cleaner. In cleaning products, it has been the backbone of both dish machines and the laundry chemical industry.
Sodium Hydroxide and its use in Breweries
The ‘old school’ way to clean vessels and tanks in breweries and cider making was to use straight caustic or Sodium hydroxide. It might have worked for years, but a build-up of soils began to develop in the tank. Possibly water containing soil properties got left behind during the rinse cycle.
It is not uncommon for brewers to scorch the bottoms of the brew pots, leaving behind a black, burned area that is difficult to remove. There is fear that you might scour a hole in the pot and get left with a costly mistake. The best and most straightforward way to remove the blackened area is to dissolve the stain with an oven cleaner. Ensure that you rinse the area thoroughly to prevent metal corrosion.
The Caustic attacks the soils and removes most of them, but the chemistry does not handle all of the soils. So it may slowly build up a barrier that you cannot see initially but builds up over time.
To solve the problem, the chemical industry started adding builders, wetting agents, and chelants. We are accomplishing many things here, and the best way to describe it is, “we are making water wetter. ” Clealants also help remove metal ions that help crosslink and stabilize stains. With the metal ions gone, the remainder of the stain is easier to clean.
To add these extras to Sodium Hydroxide adds to its cost, especially if looking at the price per gallon. On the other hand, it lowers the costs because you do not need to add as much, and the cleaning cycle time can get cut.
Today
Caustic or Sodium Hydroxide is the backbone of cleaning in the brewery, winery, and cidermaking industry. Some additives can improve its performance to keep your tanks clean. When you have patches of soil on your tank, it might change your product’s flavor, but not cleaning it often can eventually harbor bacteria which will cause a much bigger problem.
Cleaning is your facility’s most critical job and should always be done with care and a plan.
Please remember to use PPE when using these products because they can cause burns if they get on your skin. Also, be careful with removing the product from your drum or tote with your dispenser or pump. Finally, it is wise to use color-coded labeled measuring cups as well.
Please check out my podcast at Cleaning Processes with Jerry Podcast.
Also, if you are on Instagram, I am @brewerychemicalguy
