Guidelines for CIP time?

[Terrifyingtesttube]

All-

I am trying to model a CIP process and have managed to find all sorts of wonderful information except how long the various steps should be.

For instance, I found CIP fluid flow rates based on tank size - 2-2.5 gpm per ft circumference.

Anyone know where I can find similar guidelines for how much time should be spent? (like min per ft3 tank volume) I don't expect much residue or build-up on surfaces...

Thanks

 

[abcmex]

Clindeman,
a CIP process depends strongy on many factors like:

a) Product
b) degree of dirtiness at the begining
c) degree of cleanness needed
d) geometry of the vessel

There is a lot of "trial and error" involved. The flow you mention is probably for only one set of conditions. That is why to validate the cleaning results it is usual to do analysis.

There is also a forum for Pharmaceutical engineering which you may visit. Good luck
RGS.

 

[cheute79]

Clindeman:

CIP is pretty broad. Depends on what you need to do. You say not much buildup, so is it sanitation, or removal of coloring agents (dyes/pigments), or flavorings, or ....?

I encounter CIP where the purpose is to remove a thin film before it cures or interferes with an unrelated solution that will be made or processed thru the same tank or pipe system. In this case, it is often a solvent (including water) that might be heated, and is sprayed or pumped at high velocity. this might be time dependent to facilitate sufficient contact and dissolution time (usually determined in a laboratory)

Others (especially in food), where there is a caustic/detergent solution, followed by acid rinse, followed by water rinse (and sometimes repeated). and the purpose is to (mostly) disinfect - contact time is proscribed by standards and/or solution provider.

Others need to remove coloring or flavoring agents, and it is a matter of the mechanical agressiveness and chemical contact for solubility, and this is variable for each product combination. The food industry often starts with the lightest color (or no color), and works through the darkest (like chocolate), so they can save on CIP chemicals and time, only putting the major effort in when they reach the end of the color spectrum.

So, rules of thumb? How big is your thumb?

 

[quark]

You have to set your own guide line by performing Cleaning Validation