EFFECT OF ADDED HYPOCHLORITE ON DETERGENT ACTIVITY OF ALKALINE SOLUTIONS IN RECIRCULATION CLEANING***

A laboratory apparatus was designed to simulate commonly encountered recirculation cleaning conditions. Cleaning efficiency was determined by visual examination of stainless steel strips coated with synthetic milkstone. It was found that varying concentrations up to 100 ppm of sodium hypochlorite, added to three representative cleaners, significantly increased their cleaning efficiency. The increased cleaning efficiency is possibly due to the solubilizing action of the hypochlorite on the protein fraction of the soil.