Method for cleaning and/or disinfecting food processing equipment
View Patent ↗A composition for a cleaning-in-place system is described. The composition has a halogen dioxide and a optionally hydroxide and does not require the use of a detergent to display excellent cleaning and disinfecting properties on processing equipment such as the equipment found in breweries, dairy plants and carbonated beverage plants.
1. A method for cleaning and/or disinfecting food processing equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) delivering an aqueous liquid cleaning-in-place composition in the absence of a detergent to the processing equipment at a minimum linear velocity from about 1.5 to about 2.5 meters per second through a conduit having an inside diameter from about 0.25 cm to about 20 cm thereby allowing for cleaning and/or disinfecting the food processing equipment; and
(b) removing and/or eliminating the composition from the said food processing equipment,
wherein the composition is an aqueous solution comprising
a halogen dioxide, the halogen dioxide being derived from a precursor alkali metal halite or alkaline earth metal halite, or both, the food processing equipment being brewery equipment, dairy equipment or carbonated beverage plant equipment.
a halogen dioxide, the halogen dioxide being derived from a precursor alkali metal halite or alkaline earth metal halite, or both.
2. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the halogen dioxide is fluorine dioxide, chlorine dioxide or a mixture thereof.
3. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the halogen dioxide is a chlorine dioxide.
4. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises a hydroxide wherein the hydroxide is sodium hydroxide .
5. A method for cleaning an disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the composition is delivered by pumping or spraying the composition to the processing equipment.
6. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the composition is:
(a) generated directly before delivery to the processing equipment, or
(b) generated, then stored, then delivered to the processing equipment, or
(c) both.
7. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the conduit has an inside diameter of 0 . 25 cm to about 20 cm thereby allowing for the cleaning and disinfecting of food processing equipment.
8. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the processing equipment including filling machines is for use in the food and beverage industry.
9. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the food processing equipment is selected from the group consisting of brewery equipment, dairy equipment, and beverage equipment.
10. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 1 wherein the food processing equipment is a filling machine.
11. A method for cleaning and disinfecting processing equipment according to claim 4 wherein the hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.