SynQ K500: The cleaning additive in the food industry
SynQ K500 is a cleaning additive for sodium hydroxide that can’t be ignored in the food industry. Since 1990, this cleaning additive has been produced by Synerlogic, of which In2Food is part of. K500 owes its name to the numerous tests required to develop this product. The 500th test was successful. Today K500 is part of the SynQ range for cleaning and disinfection. In this article we will explain the optimal ways to use K500 in liquid or powder form. Â
Hygienic process areaSynQ K500 as a cleaning additiveÂ
SynQ K500 is a cleaning additive; it is a substance added to a product or process to improve its cleaning capacity. This provides better soil-carrying capacity and better removal of grease and protein contamination, scale, and milkstone in Cleaning in Place (CIP) cleaning. SynQ K500 can be used in both powder form (Powder) and liquid form (Liquid).Â
What functions does SynQ K500 serve?
SynQ K500 has various cleaning characteristics and will be used for various applications. The two main functions of SynQ K500 (in combination with sodium hydroxide) are:
Degreasing
SynQ K500 helps removing grease, oil, and other fat substances from surfaces. How does it work? The characteristics of SynQ K500 reduce the surface tension of water and bind dirt, grease, and oil particles. These are then easier to flush away.
Descaling
The formation of SynQ K500 ensures that calcium and magnesium ions are bound and do not precipitate. This prevents the buildup of salts, such as calcium carbonate (scale), and removes them from surfaces. This makes it possible to start acid cleaning less frequently.
Application of SynQ K500
Due to its cleaning characteristics, SynQ K500 is used in practice for more applications than In2Food originally developed it for. In essence, SynQ K500 is applied as an additive in combination with SynQ Sodium Hydroxide solution in CIP systems for:
- Lightly contaminated equipment such as storage tanks, piping systems, RMOs (Riding Milk Transport), and all other types of equipment in dairy processing.
- Butter churns.
- Thermally contaminated equipment such as pasteurizers, sterilizers, centrifuges, and evaporators.
- In addition to its use in CIP systems, SynQ K500 Powder is also highly suitable as an additive for cleaning milk evaporators.
Why choose SynQ K500 as an additive for 1-phase cleaning?
In traditional 2-phase cleaning, both alkali and acid are used. By combining SynQ K500 with SynQ Sodium Hydroxide (alkali), alkaline 1-phase cleaning is reinforced. Thanks to the special characteristics of SynQ K500, the need for cleaning with an acidic agent is reduced in most cases.
Compared to traditional 2-phase cleaning, which uses both alkali and acid, the use of SynQ K500 offers several advantages:
- Cleaning time
- Water consumption
- Electricity
- Use of materials
SynQ K500 Powder versus Liquid
SynQ K500 is available in both powder form (Powder) and liquid form (Liquid). Both variants have the characteristics mentioned above, but there are slight differences. So, when do you choose which variant?
SynQ K500 Powder is the first developed version of K500. Powder has an advantage in:
- Antifoaming action, thanks to an additional detergent.
- Anti-adhesive characteristics. The metasilicate forms a layer on the metal, making contamination less likely to adhere quickly. For example, butter in a butter churn does not adhere as firmly to the surface.
- Contamination flushes better because the contamination stays better in the solution.
SynQ K500 Liquid is often chosen because of:
- The ability to use it directly with a dosing pump.
- Precise (automatic) dosing, reducing the risk of incidents.
- A conscious choice for a product without metasilicate.
The right personal protective equipment
When using SynQ K500 Liquid and Powder, it is important to take the right safety precautions. This means ensuring the right personal protective equipment (readily available) to protect your eyes, face, skin, and hands:
- Long gloves (nitrile rubber or neoprene rubber)
- Protective clothing (synthetic fabric)
- Safety goggles (with side protection).
It is also important to ensure adequate ventilation.
More information about SynQ K500
SynQ K500 is part of our hygiene range. Check out the product pages for SynQ K500 Powder and SynQ K500 Liquid for more information about the products. Download the Safety Data Sheet and/or product data sheet for more information, including safety instructions and usage information.
Do you need personal advice? Don’t hesitate to contact us.
