A quantitative test for evaluating the effectiveness of cleaning chemicals

A rapid, simple, quantitative method was developed to assess the effectiveness of foam cleaners that are used to clean packaging conveyers. Stainless steel plates were inoculated with soil material from conveyers that had been operating with either a synthetic or fatty acid lubricant. Brewers yeast was added to the soils to increase the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the inoculum. The stainless steel plates were placed in different dilutions of the cleaners for fixed times, then removed, and the amount of ATP measured using a luminometer. Results were expressed as a log reduction in ATP compared to the initial inoculum. This test gave an excellent measure of a cleaner's effectiveness at various cleaner concentrations, contact times, and on different soil types.