MBAA-RMD OOT Meeting
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
September 17, 2011
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning in the Brewery
Dana Johnson, Director of new Business Development
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Who is BIRKO Corporation?
• Founded in 1951
• Largest chemical blending facility in the
Rocky Mountain Region
• Women’s Business Enterprise National
Council (WBENC) Certified
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
• A Little History: NONCAUSTIC Cleaning in
the Brewery, The New Brewer, March-April
1996
• Acid First (phos/nitric)
• No rinse!
• Noncaustic Cleaner
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Craft Brewers Conference, Atlanta, 1998 –
MBA Article on Using Acid First to remove
beerstone.
• Phosphoric/Nitric Acid Blend
• No Rinse!
• Noncaustic Cleaner
• Works Great in Serving Tanks!
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Wine Tanker Before
Wine Tanker After
Wine tanker/trailer cleaned with acid first, no rinse, immediately
followed by the noncaustic cleaner
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
September, 2007
• Avery Brewing Co. Begins Keg Cleaning with
Nitric Acid/Phosphoric Acid and Detergent
Additive ONLY
• The New Brewer Article
(July/August, 2008 
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
pH Scale:
0………………………….2……………….5………………….7……………….9………………………12………………………14
Acid      Neutral  Alkaline
•
pH 0-2: Very few organisms can survive very long at this pH.
•
pH 2-5: Some acid tolerant organisms can survive, especially fungi (yeast and mold).
•
pH 5-9: Most bacteria grow very well in this pH range.
•
pH 9-12: Growth of most organisms is very limited. Some alkaline tolerant organisms can survive.
•
pH 12-14: Very few organisms can survive at this pH.
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Solubility of Amino Acids
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Where is Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning Appropriate:
• Post-Primary Fermentation (Secondary Fermenters)
• Aging Tanks
• Bright Tanks, Serving Tanks
• Kegs
• Filler
• Tap Line Cleaning
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Let’s do some Acid! (Cleaning, that is).
Acids that can be used for beverage processing equipment cleaning:
• Mineral Acids (Hydrochloric, Phosphoric, Sulfuric) Oxidizing Acids (Nitric,
Peracetic Acid- PAA)
• Organic Acids (Citric, lactic, acetic)
• Phosphoric/Nitric acid blends
• Nitric/Phosphoric acid blends
Surfactant Blends
• Normally Proprietary, Check with your supplier.
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Big Key To Remember with Acid First
and Detergent ONLY cleaning: Keep
your pH preferably in the range of 1.0 1.5 for optimum performance.
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Fermentation Vessel CIP (using acid and
detergent only)
The test was performed in the following manner:
• Acid Wash: 3% as supplied nitric/phosphoric
blend & 0.25% detergent additive – 20 minutes
• Rinse Cycle
• PAA Sanitation
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Acid and Detergent Cleaning ONLY
Fermenter Before Acid and Detergent ONLY CIP
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Fermenter After Acid and Detergent ONLY CIP:
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
60 gallon reservoir using acid and detergent ONLY
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Key to cleaning kegs - get a good purge first!!!
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Comac Model 2T Keg Cleaning, Sanitizing and Filling
Machine
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Bright Tanks are perfect for acid and detergent only
cleaning!
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Serving and Bright Tanks • Ideal for Acid Only and Detergent Cleaning
• Beerstone Biggest Issue here
• Cleaning Solution can be run cooler, under
C02 conditions
• Lowers DO Levels in beer
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Reducing Dissolved Oxygen
(Acid and Detergent ONLY
Cleaning of Bright Tanks)
Article in
The New Brewer
(July/August, 2011 
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Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Filler Bowl, Tap Line Cleaning
• If beerstone is a problem, try this approach!
• May not suitable for brass and other soft
metals (do not pack brass faucets with the
cleaning solution, stainless is OK).
• Dirty tap lines are a huge issue in bars and
restaurants.
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Why Use a Detergent Additive?
• Better Soil Wetting and Penetration
(Compared to Using Acid Alone)
• Better Soil Removal (Protein Displacement/
Dispersion)
• Better Rinsing with a properly formulated
detergent additive
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Why Use Nitric/Phosphoric Acid Blends?
• Nitric is an oxidizing acid, extremely effective
on organic soils. (Beerstone contains
protein).
• Nitric is a passivating acid to stainless steel
• Phosphoric “tames down” the nitric and holds
pH
• Recycles well, and can be easily neutralized
and sent down the drain.
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Pros of acid first and detergent only cleaning:
• Acid and Detergent Recycles Well
• Saves CO2/unaffected by C02 in the keg or tank
• Better at removing and preventing beerstone formation
• Can reduce DO level in subsequent beer in bright tanks
Cons of acid first and detergent only cleaning:
• May not be as effective on protein soils
• Make sure the detergent blend works!
• Need good spray nozzles, preferably spinning type
• Caution – acid is tough on untreated concrete!
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Acid and Detergent ONLY Cleaning
Conclusion:
• Acid & Detergent ONLY Cleaning can be not only less expensive in terms of use cost,
it is proving to be more effective in removing and keeping beerstone from forming in
secondary FV’s,kegs, brite tanks.
• Overall product quality can be improved (less DO in the beer and no flavor profile
issues.
• Don’t work harder-Work Smarter! (Shhh: X-Puma has “bits of real panther in it!!!. Just
kidding.)
• Thank you for your attention!!!
Copyright 2011 Birko. All rights reserved.
Thank you for your attention!
Discussion and Comments?