- Sign
- Counts rise after CIP
- Hot spots
- Dead legs, gaskets, valves
- Fix
- Alkali, acid, oxidiser
- Products
- AlkaliPlus · TC86 · PAA 15 · HP35
Signs that biofilm is present
- Bacterial counts rise on product that passed through a "clean" line.
- Off-flavours or shorter shelf life from one line or one silo only.
- Swabs fail at the same spots every week.
- A slimy feel inside gaskets, valve seats or pipe ends.
Why ordinary CIP misses it
CIP removes soil through four things working together: chemistry, temperature, time and flow [1]. If any one is short, a thin layer of fat and protein stays behind. Bacteria attach to that layer and protect themselves with slime. A sanitiser alone cannot reach the cells underneath.
Where to check
Check dead legs, sample valves, gaskets, spray balls that do not reach the whole tank and pipe sections with low flow. Use ATP swabs after CIP and micro swabs on the worst spots.
| Step | Purpose | INNOVA product |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-rinse | Remove loose product | Water |
| Alkaline wash | Remove fat and protein at full strength, temperature and flow | INNOVA CIP 50 with INNOVA CIP AlkaliPlus, or INNOVA CIP TC86 (chlorinated) |
| Rinse | Remove detergent | Water |
| Acid wash | Remove mineral scale where bacteria shelter | INNOVA CIP Descale |
| Oxidising sanitiser | Kill remaining bacteria without residue | INNOVA PAA 15 or INNOVA HP35 |
Design points that stop biofilm coming back
- Remove or shorten dead legs, so cleaning solution flows through every section.
- Check spray ball coverage in tanks and silos.
- Replace hardened or cracked gaskets.
- Keep the acid step, so milkstone does not give bacteria somewhere to hide.
Products used
Quick answers
How do you remove biofilm in dairy pipelines?
Restore full alkaline strength, temperature and flow, add the acid step, then use an oxidising sanitiser such as peracetic acid. Fix dead legs and worn gaskets so it does not come back.
Why is CIP not removing biofilm?
Usually one of chemistry, temperature, time or flow is short, so a thin soil layer stays behind. Biofilm also forms where cleaning solution never reaches, such as dead legs.
Is peracetic acid good against biofilm?
Peracetic acid is an oxidising sanitiser that works at low temperature and breaks down to acetic acid, water and oxygen. It is most effective after the alkaline and acid steps have removed the soil.