HOME FAQs BOOKS JOBS: Help Wanted Suggestions you are here: Hotline/Forum => Letter 8164

Phosphate Sludge Removal

Dear friends,

We are doing Phosphating on car bodies. We clean Phosphating tank every month.With only water it is difficult to remove the Phosphate sludge from the tank & inside of pipings.

I want suggestion for better cleaning conditions.

Thanking You,

Ramesh Pukale
- Bangalore, Karnatak, India

I would recommend using an inhibited hydrochloric acid.Get the concentration to about 5% v/v. Be sure that you get the solution up over 120 degrees F and then start circulating for a couple of hours. Keep extra acid on hand to keep the pH down - the pH will rise as the scale is dissolved. Neutralize, drain, remove debris and loose scale, rinse, rinse, and recharge to production specs. This should provide a good basic cleaning procedure and can be adjusted to your specific needs.

Dan Brewer
chemical process supplier - Gurnee, Illinois

ANSWER, or ASK a related Q. POST an unrelated Q.See HOT Topics

Disclaimer: It is not possible to diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information
presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The
internet is largely anonymous; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations may be deliberately harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: