Industrial descalers: limescale and mineral deposits in equipment and circuits
Limescale from hard water builds up in dishwashers, boilers, heat exchangers, circuits and surfaces, and reduces equipment performance. Thirteen acid descalers with their dosage, application method and compatible materials, exactly as stated on the technical data sheet.
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Each type of scale calls for its own acid and application method
All the products on this page are acids (pH 1.2 to 2.2 at 1%): they dissolve the limescale and mineral deposits left by hard water and the residues of alkaline detergents. What changes is how they are applied: by circulation in equipment and circuits, by immersion for parts, as foam on walls and machinery, or by hand on surfaces.
And the material changes too. Check the data sheet: Acid Foam and Acid Foam Pro do not attack aluminium or stainless steel; Detercal does not attack chrome plating, enamel, rubber seals or plastic; Detercal 1N contains corrosion inhibitors for ferrous metals; Cemex and Desincpool must not be used on aluminium or natural stone.
Which descaler for each case
Dishwashers, boilers and circuits
By circulation
- Detercal — 10–20% at 40–60 °C; also towers and condensers
- Vacid — 5–10 g/l; 50–100 g/l for old scale
- Nitracip Pro — nitric acid, 0.5–1% in recirculation
Rust and greasy scale
Corrosion inhibitor
- Detercal 1N — immersion at 15–20%; circulation at 5–10% with antifoam
Food industry
Manual, automatic or immersion
- Detercal + — 5–10% manual, 1–3% automatic, 2–5% immersion
- Acid Pro — 5–10% manual, 1–3% automatic, 2–5% immersion
Walls, floors and machinery
As foam
- Acid Foam — 2–5% at 20–60 °C
- Acid Foam Pro — concentrated, 2–5% at 20–60 °C
Surfaces by hand
Abrasive powder and building residues
- Oxin — acid powder; stainless steel, brass, bronze and iron
- Cemex — cement, lime and efflorescence, at 25%
- Desincpool — pool basins before filling, at 25%
Washing machines and linen
Laundry
- Machine Clean — 40 g/kg with the machine empty, 60 °C, 30 min
- Decal — limescale and detergent residues in linen, 30–40 g/kg
For the acid phase within a circuit cleaning cycle, see the guide to CIP cleaning. For limescale on washbasins, taps and toilets, see the guide to professional bathroom cleaning.
Dosage, application and materials for each descaler
| Product | pH (1%) | Dosage and application | Use and materials as per data sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detercal | 2.0 | 10–20%; 40–60 °C; rinse until pH is neutral | Dishwashers, boilers, towers, condensers, circuits; does not attack chrome plating, enamel, rubber or plastic |
| Vacid | 2.0 | 5–10 g/l at 50–60 °C; 50–100 g/l for old scale | Circuits, pipes, tanks, bottling plants, milking parlours; avoid high doses on low-grade steels |
| Nitracip Pro | 1.5 | 0.5–1% in recirculation; 1–5% by immersion; 40–60 °C | Circuits and CIP systems in the food industry; nitric acid |
| Detercal 1N | 1.5 | Immersion 15–20%; circulation 5–10% with antifoam | Installations with rust and greasy scale; corrosion inhibitors for ferrous metals |
| Detercal + | 2.0 | 5–10% manual; 1–3% automatic; 2–5% immersion; 40–60 °C | Periodic acid cleaning in the food industry; does not attack chrome plating, enamel, rubber or plastic |
| Acid Pro | 2.0 | 5–10% manual; 1–3% automatic and CIP; 2–5% immersion; 40–70 °C | Automatic and CIP systems; does not attack chrome plating, enamel, rubber or plastic |
| Acid Foam | 2.2 | 2–5% at 20–60 °C, as foam or by immersion | Walls, floors, machinery; does not attack aluminium or stainless steel |
| Acid Foam Pro | 2.0 | 2–5% at 20–60 °C, as foam or by immersion | Concentrated; does not attack aluminium or stainless steel |
| Oxin | 2.0 | Neat, with a sponge or scourer | Limescale films and rust; stainless steel, brass, bronze, iron; not on marble |
| Cemex | 1.7 | 25% in water, by hand | Cement, lime and efflorescence; avoid aluminium and natural stone |
| Desincpool | 1.7 | 25% in water, by hand | Pools before filling; not in liner pools |
| Machine Clean | 2.0 | 40 g/kg, machine empty, 60 °C, 30 min | Limescale and bad odours in washing machines |
| Decal | 1.2 | 30–40 g/kg of dry linen, 45 °C, 30–45 min | Limescale and detergent residues in linen; attacks iron, cast iron and zinc |
Always rinse with plenty of water after the contact time, as the data sheets indicate. Acid descalers must never be mixed with chlorinated products.
Who this range is for
Hospitality and catering
Industrial dishwashers and boilers: Detercal at 10–20%, rinsing until the pH is neutral.
Food industry
Periodic acid cleaning of equipment, walls and machinery: Detercal +, Acid Pro and Acid Foam.
Industrial maintenance
Heat exchangers, circuits and rusty parts: Detercal 1N by immersion or circulation.
Building work and pools
Cement residues with Cemex; pool basins before filling with Desincpool.
Frequently asked questions about industrial descalers
How do you descale an industrial dishwasher?
With Detercal, diluted at 10 to 20% depending on the scale, at 40–60 °C. Then rinse with water until the pH is neutral.
Which descaler does not attack aluminium?
Acid Foam and Acid Foam Pro: their data sheets state that they do not attack aluminium or stainless steel. They are applied as foam, by immersion or by hand, at 2–5%.
What should I use if the scale contains rust or grease?
Detercal 1N, with degreasing power and corrosion inhibitors for ferrous metals: by immersion at 15–20%, rinsing immediately, or by circulation at 5–10% with an antifoam such as Defoamer Pro.
How do you remove old scale from circuits and tanks?
Vacid is circulated at 5–10 g/l for 5–10 minutes at 50–60 °C, and its data sheet indicates increasing to 50–100 g/l for old scale. High concentrations must be avoided on low-grade steels.
Is it suitable for cooling towers?
The Detercal data sheet includes towers and condensers. In these installations, cleaning is part of the Legionella control programme: see Legionella control.
How do you clean cement and lime residues from building work?
With Cemex at 25% in water, rinsing with plenty of water. Aluminium and natural stone must be avoided. For pool basins before filling, Desincpool, which must not be used in liner pools.
Do you supply maintenance companies and distributors?
Yes. We have been manufacturing at our plant in Vic since 1990, in 10 to 25 kg packs and 1,000 to 1,200 kg containers depending on the product. See the distribution programme.
What scale do you need to remove?
Tell us what equipment or surface it is, what material (aluminium, stainless steel, iron) and how you can apply the product (circulation, immersion, foam, by hand): we will recommend a descaler and dosage at factory price.
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