From: Darrin McComb <mal@iafrica.com>
Reply-To: "mal@iafrica.com" <mal@iafrica.com>
To: "'seafood@ucdavis.edu'" <seafood@ucdavis.edu>
Subject: RE: Ammonia Problem
Dear Kelly
Would recommend that your friend send a water sample to local lab to be
analysed for NH4+ level. You would then need to consult your local
authority on local potable water restriction with regard to NH4+ levels.
Your friend's main problem may be with product taint which will be
detected with sensory analyses of the product. The white pasty substance
is probably a proteinaceous soil (check to see if it is rubbery) which
could be removed by using a foam application of an acidic detergent (won't
solubilise protein, just lift from surface) which can then be cleaned
using mechanical method (20 bar water pressure) or manual scrubbing.
Trying to neutralise ammonia should not be necessary as NH3 would form
NH4OH when exposed to water. Ammonium salt compounds are soluble and thus
should easily be rinsed off. Sanitation of the line with Chlorine
sanitiser (200ppm) may further solubilise excess ammonia, if any is
present, which can then be rinsed off. I doubt that there will be
excessive ammonia residual on the line but the chlorine can be used as a
safety measure. Best advice is to thoroughly rinse entire system with
fresh clean water and check water in contact with product for NH4+ levels.
regards
Darrin McComb Ecolab - South Africa
Dear listers,
I have a colleague who is in dire need of assistance with the following:
A refrigeration line blew leaking ammonia into the water system of a surimi
processing factory. On a contaminated belt and inside a piece of machinery,
he found a hard white 'pasty' substance which was not easily removed (came
off with scraping). He drained, flushed, and refilled the water tanks, but
he is not convinced that the ammonia is completely removed. He is getting
pH's on his distilled water between 9.2 to 9.5. His concerns are as
follows:
- What will neutralize the ammonia
- How can he be sure the ammonia is removed from the water
- What could the white 'pasty' substance be and might it be within the
piping
- If it is within the piping, will it continue to be picked up in the water
flow, contaminating further
- What will the ammonia do to the surimi
- What, if any, levels of ammonia are safe (i.e., if there is ammonia in
the water used to process surimi)
Any insight would be most appreciated.
Best regards,
Kelly
Surefish
Dutch Harbor Office
(907) 581-4904 ph
(907) 581-3459 fax
sfdutch@arctic.net
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