Multi‑length Scale Approach to Investigate Cleaning of Food‑Derived Deposits Adhered to Hard Surfaces: Mixtures of Starch, Whey Protein, and Lard
Identificadores
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10481/89193Metadata
Show full item recordAuthor
Sáenz-Espinar, María José; Arroyo-Camarena, Marina; Vicaria Rivillas, José María; Luzón González, Germán; Ávila Sierra, AlejandroEditorial
Springer Nature
Materia
Milli-manipulation Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) system Starch Whey Lard Fouling
Date
2024-03Abstract
Fouling, the accumulation of undesirable material on manufacturing equipment surfaces, poses a pervasive challenge in
industrial processes. In the food industry, the complex interactions among these compounds can give rise to stubborn deposits
that deviate from conventional cleaning protocols. In this work, the forces and removal mechanisms of model fouling
agents composed of mixtures of starch, whey protein, and lard deposited on solid surfaces of relevant industrial interest (i.e.
stainless steel, aluminium, and PTFE) are investigated using a multi-length scale approach, involving milli-manipulation
and a lab-simulated Clean-In-Place (CIP) system. The forces involved in the removal process, the types of failure observed
when the deposits are subjected to shear stress (adhesive, mixed, or cohesive), and the performance of the CIP system are
systematically analysed as a function of the cleaning treatments applied. For stainless steel surfaces, alkaline treatment
seems to facilitate the cleaning of lard and starch deposits, while the whey foulant removal tends to be more effective using
hot water under the conditions tested. Hot water is effective for stainless steel and PTFE surfaces, reducing the mechanical
shear stress required, while the alkaline treatment demonstrated superior efficacy for aluminium surfaces. These findings
emphasise the importance of customising cleaning protocols for CIP optimisation.