Posts by Bob Sandor
IQ, OQ, PQ Examples for Analytical Instruments
Analytical instruments confirm processing equipment used in the pharmaceutical, food and other industries meet standards set by the FDA, the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 and other regulatory bodies. Standards apply from the very beginning with design qualification. At the customer location equipment is validated and verified via initial and ongoing tests described in this post as IQ, OQ, PQ examples.
IQ, OQ, PQ Examples Defined
In brief IQ, OQ and PQ mean Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification and Performance (or Process) Qualification . An example is an HPLC system, including its pumps. These systems must precisely and accurately analyze pharmaceutical compounds as they proceed from R&D into manufacturing. We’ll go into that in more detail later.
But first, some more detail on our IQ, OQ, PQ Examples
Installation Qualification Described
As described in an FDA Group blog post “Newly installed or modified equipment must first be validated to … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Energy Cleans Cannabis Equipment
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global cannabis market is projected to grow from $28.266 billion in 2021 to $197.74 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 32.04% in forecast period, 2021-2028. These growth projections along with stringent regulations require the cannabis industry adopt proven methods to clean cannabis equipment. Ultrasonic energy is highly effective to remove gummy contaminants and other unwanted residues from cannabis processing glassware.
Cannabis Equipment Cleaning Challenges*
The cannabis distillation process can be called a “high-maintenance activity” because glass used in short path distillation is susceptible to being highly soiled with baked on and polymerized contaminants. The distillation process involves crude concentrates that are boiled until the desired components are distilled out, leaving behind unwanted residues.… Read the rest
Solvent Ultrasonic Cleaning Helps Porvair Filtration
An explosion-proof ultrasonic cleaning system satisfies customers’ preferences for flammable solvents employed during initial cleaning processes for new and reconditioned stainless-steel filters, reports Jeff Bernier, Quality Manager at Porvair Filtration Group in Caribou, ME.
“Solvent ultrasonic cleaning falls into our passivation cycle as a means of improving the corrosion resistance of our 316L stainless steel filters by removing ferrous contaminants like free iron from surfaces, and restoring them to their original corrosion specifications,” Mr. Bernier explains, adding “many of our chromatography customers expect it.”
Solvent Ultrasonic Cleaning Replaces Aqueous Solutions
… Read the rest“Our explosion-proof ultrasonic cleaner allows us to safely use flammable solvents versus previously employed non-flammable aqueous solutions for initial cleaning,” Mr. Bernier says.
“Grade A isopropanol alcohol and pharmaceutical grade acetone are the preferred solvents. However, they require specially designed ultrasonic cleaners as well as compliance with strict safety standards.
“These include the National Electric
Ultrasonic Cleaning with Flammable Solvents Resource
Select Your Topic of Interest
How Can I Use?
Example Uses
Select the Cleaner
Baskets & Accessories
How Can I Use Flammable Solvents in an Ultrasonic Cleaner?
Examples of a widely used flammable solvents are IPA (Isopropyl alcohol), Acetone, and IMS (Industrial Methylated Spirits). Any time flammable solvents are used for cleaning purposes there is risk of fire or explosion due to ignition of volatile vapors by a flash source. Ignition can occur from any source due to spills or as flammable solvent vapors spread. This guide will explain how you can safely use flammable solvents in an ultrasonic cleaner.
You may not have to use a flammable solvent as your cleaning solution. Watch the video below for details on selection a cleaning solution for your ultrasonic cleaner.
Cleaning with flammable solvents requires extreme caution in any case but ultrasonic cleaning with … Read the rest
How to Use an Ultrasonic Bath to Make Liposomal Vitamin C
Liposomal encapsulated vitamin C offers a high absorption efficiency vs. taking vitamin C pills and is much more convenient than intravenous administration. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic there has been an increase in demand for vitamin C as a means of protection or treatment while a recent report states that demand for liposomal vitamin C has outpaced that for hand sanitizers*. Because liposomal vitamin C has a short shelf life, this post tells you how to make it yourself using an ultrasonic bath and a beaker kit.
Why Ultrasonic Energy Delivers Superior Liposomal Vitamin C
While it uses a benchtop ultrasonic cleaner, the process employs the power of what is called ultrasonic cavitation to encapsulate ascorbic acid within liposomes. Encapsulation improves the bioavailability of the vitamin C in your body.
Ultrasonic processing is also preferred as a means of reducing … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Cleaners Protect Dentists During Corona Virus Pandemic
The American Dental Association releases guideline updates on how dental technicians can protect themselves during the current Corona Virus pandemic. The ADA on March 16 encouraged dental practitioners to postpone elective procedures for the next three weeks. It also refers dentists to conform to CDC guidelines for sterilizing and disinfecting patient care items and devices.
These guidelines refer to reusable dental instruments, and among other techniques recommend the use of ultrasonic cleaners as a pre-sterilization or disinfecting procedure to render them safely for reuse.
Ultrasonic Cleaners In CDC Recommendations for Covid-19 Infection Control
The CDC’s 2008 Infection and Sterilization Guideline notes that “The most common types of mechanical or automatic cleaners are ultrasonic cleaners…” and that “Ultrasonic cleaning removes soil by cavitation and implosion in which waves of acoustic energy are propagated in aqueous solutions to disrupt the bonds that hold particulate matter to surfaces.”
Note that ultrasonic cleaning … Read the rest
How Ultrasonic Cleaning Brass Can Restore Gleam
Those appreciating the gleam of brass – whether fireplace andirons & tools, chandeliers, escutcheons, or antique decorative brass hardware of any description – also appreciate the work that goes into restoring and maintaining the gleam of brass. Chemical-based brass cleaners on the market usually require lots of time to apply and buff it off to reveal the shine. This post describes how ultrasonic cleaning brass can help savvy collectors or sellers of brass products restore the gleam of antique brass.
Why Ultrasonic Cleaning Brass Works so Well
The power of ultrasonic cavitation in an ultrasonic cleaner removes heat marks, soot deposits and other grime on fireplace implements that accumulates over the heating season.
Similarly it removes tarnish and other surface deposits on brass door knockers, mail slots, latches, name plates, switch plates – in fact any decorative or functional product made of brass.
As suggested above, sonic cleaning also avoids … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Cleaning Options for 3D Printed Products
Ultrasonic cleaning is widely used to remove mold support and other surface contaminants from 3-D printed parts. Among the reasons for the popularity of ultrasonic cleaning is its thoroughness, speed and ability to access complex geometries unreachable via water sprays and potentially damaging manual cleaning with brushes.
This post briefly describes popular methods for manufacturing 3-D printed parts, then offers you useful options to employ ultrasonic cleaning to ensure a high degree of cleanliness in your finished products.
Two Popular Techniques Making 3-D Printed Parts
Companies and hobbyists employing 3D printing techniques employ a variety of plastics and resins such as ABS, PLA, polyamide (nylon), glass filled polyamide, stereolithography materials (epoxy resins), silver, titanium, steel, wax, photopolymers and polycarbonate.
Among the earlier techniques still used combine two moldable thermoplastic formulations such as ABS for the part itself and PLA for removable mold supports to quickly produce highly complex configurations. … Read the rest
How Scientific Refrigeration Equipment Works
Scientific refrigerators, also called pharmaceutical refrigerators or lab refrigerators, meet stringent requirements essential to protect contents from temperature fluctuations above or below those recommended by content manufacturers. Residential-type refrigerators do not make the grade. Reasons described in this post will help you understand how scientific refrigerators work.
- How scientific refrigerators “make cold”
- The difference between manual and auto defrost scientific refrigerators
- Tips on proper use of your scientific refrigerator
- Ongoing care and maintenance of scientific and pharmaceutical refrigerators
- Tips on moving your scientific refrigerator
How Scientific Refrigeration Equipment Makes Cold
The first thing you need know is that when a liquid evaporates it absorbs heat and when a gas condenses to a liquid it releases heat. Got that? Good.
Let’s start with the receiver where the liquid refrigerant is stored under high pressure. The liquid passes through a thermal expansion valve causing a … Read the rest
Norlake White Diamond Feature-Rich Line of Undercounter/Freestanding Refrigerators and Freezers
To select the correct undercounter/freestanding lab refrigeration system from the Norlake White Diamond series for a small to medium-sized laboratory or healthcare facility you must evaluate a system’s capability to satisfy a number of important criteria. This post explains important criteria to consider. They include:
- required storage capacity
- refrigerator/freezer temperature range
- stable, accurate temperature control
- alarm systems signaling temperature excursions
- auto defrost vs. manual defrost
- compliance with standards
- other useful features
While these criteria apply to any laboratory/scientific refrigeration system, our post focuses on undercounter/freestanding refrigerators and freezers for small to medium-sized facilities. Our examples come from the new line of Norlake White Diamond units now available from Tovatech.
Determine Optimum Storage Capacity
Lab and scientific refrigerators and freezers, as with domestic models used in your home, are available in a wide range of storage capacities. Two things to keep in mind about storage capacity when selecting your unit:… Read the rest