What is CIP and how do I clean my Stainless Steel container?

Now that you own a Stainless Steel container you may be wondering how you clean it. To find the answer to this question and others it is best to read the manual which came with your container and develop your own Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that are compliant with your Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and HACCP procedures. The following article is a brief summary of what you need to understand when establishing your procedures. These are a guideline to develop your own procedures and it is critical that you have these SOPs written down and observed by those responsible for the containers.

To start cleaning the container, the container must first be opened by releasing pressure first then unlatching the lid.

Preliminary cleaning is carried out inside and outside using a steam jet cleaner. The main cleaning is carried out in the wash plant where the container is cleaned by a Clean in Place (CIP) system. This is most frequently done with a power washer for the outside of the container and a CIP spray ball system which attached to the lid for the inside of the container.

One way is to use a CIPlid produced by the manufacturer of the containers with an attachment (permanently or temporarily through a blind flange) with a water pipe and spray ball at the end of the pipe. The length of type and versatility of the spray ball depends upon your tank size, the viscosity of the product you are cleaning and the next step in your process. One CIP lid can be utilized by any number of containers that you have depending upon your time requirements for turn of the container from one use to next.

With the CSC containers it is not necessary that you have a CIP lid because you can insert a CIP through the top of the lid of the container. One CIP can be utilized by any number of containers that you have depending upon your time requirements for turn of the container from one use to the next. The older container, or containers not manufactured to the finite detail of the CSC tanks may not be universal and a one-size-fits-all lid or part may not be possible.

Using a CIP cleaning lid equipped with spray ball and pressure outlet. The exact pipe dimensions and water pressure and flow can be found in your manual; however, this is an example of what you could find with a pipe diameter of 50mm. The cleaning lids are equipped with a threaded neck which is compatible with a diameter 50 mm pipe connection (DIN11851) and have a spray ball on the inside. At a flow rate of 5m3 / hour the spray ball should be designed for a pressure of 2 bar or more.

The container may only be cleaned with specifically authorized cleaning agents and rinsed with water. Similarly, all add-on pieces, such as e.g. valves, cover, etc., may only be cleaned with specifically authorized cleaning agents.

This is a Clean in Place (CIP) not a Sterilization in Place (SIP). To sterilize you will need to utilize steam. For details on this please review other articles in our Blog.