Winery Cleaning and Sanitation
Winery Cleaning Detergents
Cleaning detergents can contain several active ingredients, including oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, acids and bases (alkaline chemicals), surfactants that break down dirt and greasy residues, and chelating agents. Detergents also contain sequestrants (metal chelating agents), which are important when using hard water. Generally, increasing the concentration beyond recommended levels provides little additional benefit and is not cost effective. Cleaning detergent requirements vary according to the area and equipment to be cleaned.
Alkaline-Based Detergents
Alkaline detergents are most effective in removing organic substances such as sugars (carbohydrates), fats, oils, and proteins encountered in winemaking. The most commonly used detergents include alkaline-based detergents such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
Sodium Hydroxide
Of the cleaning agents, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), otherwise known as caustic soda, is widely used in wineries worldwide. Its effectiveness in dissolving proteinaceous soils and fatty oils by saponification is virtually unsurpassed.
Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide (KOH), otherwise known as caustic potash, is used as a cleaning agent and sanitizer in wineries, mainly to clean the insides of tanks from biofilms of bacteria and yeast. As a strongly basic inorganic compound, it works effectively to kill acidic wine organisms that are adapted to low pH environments.
Sodium Carbonate
Sodium carbonate is also known as soda ash. Sodium carbonate is the most common alkaline chemicals found in cleaning products, being very effective in dislodging heavy deposits from tank walls or removing greasy residues.
Sodium Percarbonate
The key difference between sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate is that sodium carbonate is a single molecule whereas sodium percarbonate is an adduct of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide.
Trisodium Phosphate
Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a white crystal that forms an alkaline solution when mixed with water. Trisodium phosphate is non-toxic, inexpensive, and has a pH of 12 to 14 in solution. This solution is extremely basic and is used to clean, sanitize, and remove stains from various substrates by saponification.
Detergent Compound Terminology
Detergents are agents made up of a variety of compounds. To further understand the properties of detergents, the following terms are important:
Acid-Based Detergents
Acid detergents, especially blends of acids such as phosphoric, nitric, sulfuric, and sulfamic, are mostly used for scale/mineral deposit removal and prevention. Acid detergents are a specialized type of cleaner and are not recognized as effective, all-purpose cleaning compounds. They are not nearly as effective against soil caused by fats, oils, and proteins, which acts as a binder, as are alkaline detergents.
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