Summary for phosphoric acid cleaning products Discussion
phosphoric acid cleaning products are discussed with a caution that most household cleaners do not contain phosphoric acid or other phosphates, according to Ted Mooney, because they can cause problems for municipal sewage systems. He says industrial cleaners used as pretreatments for plating or painting may contain phosphoric acid, and the way to verify this is by checking material safety data sheets. He also notes that the most common phosphate in cleaning is trisodium phosphate (TSP). Later replies add examples: Kevin Pursell says Buckeye’s Sparkle contains 36% phosphoric acid; Lane Chaffin says Diversey Johnson’s Alpha HP is another cleaner that contains it; and a 2018 reply says naval jelly and many rust converters are based on phosphoric acid, with phosphoric acid also available directly. The thread also mentions Coke as containing phosphoric acid, though no percentage is given.
Q. I would like to know what cleaning products contain phosphoric acid because I am doing a project and it is required.
Melissa Sue [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
student – Steelton, Pennsylvania
2004
A. I hate to tell you this, but household cleaners do NOT contain phosphoric acid or other phosphates. This is because they generally create problems for the municipal sewage systems.
Industrial cleaners (and by this I mean cleaners used as a pretreatment for a later process, like plating or painting) may contain phosphoric acid. To determine this, you would need to look at material safety data sheets.
The most common phosphate used in cleaning is trisodium phosphate
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or
Amazon [affil link]
, generally known as TSP.
James Totter, CEF
– Tallahassee, Florida
2004
A. Melissa, check out Loctite’s naval jelly
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
. According to data at https://www.henkelcamsds.com/pdf/01-80276.pdf, it contains 25-30% phosphoric acid.
Weldon Scardino, P.E.
(ret)
A. I was under the same impression, Jim. And then I put Cascade Dishwashing Detergent into the dishwasher last night and noted that the label said it contained phosphates. 5-1/2 percent if I recall accurately.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2004
A. I believe Coca Cola is supposed to contain phosphoric acid – it cleans up pennies a real treat.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004
A. There is a product called sparkle made by Buckeye
It has 36% phosphoric acid
It is an acid cleaner and can be found at any janitorial distributor that carries Buckeye
Kevin Pursell
– Billings, Montana
October 7, 2008
A. Yes, some cleaning solutions do contain phosphoric acid. One that I am looking at right now is “Alpha HP” by Diversey Johnson. It is a bathroom disinfectant cleaner, sold in highly concentrated liquid form and is a hydrogen-peroxide based cleaner.
LANE CHAFFIN
– TEMPLE, TEXAS, USA
April 27, 2010
Q. I heard that WD-40
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or
Amazon [affil link]
and Radiator Fluid contain Phosphoric Acid. Does anyone know what the %’s are in comparison to Coke?
And YES, “Coke” does contain Phosphoric Acid. though I DON’T know what the % is in comparison by volume to household cleaners and such. I’m doing research for a book so anything you can contribute will be most useful.^_^
Telara Sky
– Pond, California
March 6, 2016
Q. I’m looking for something to clean my vintage tractor engine water galleries while the block is still in the tractor … any suggestions for a cleaner that has phosphoric acid in it which will eat rust?
Roland Karl
– Grants Pass, Oregon USA
January 28, 2018
A. Hi Roland,
Naval jelly
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
, and most if not all “rust convertors”
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eBay
or
Amazon [affil link]
are based on phosphoric acid. You can also buy phosphoric acid
⇦ on
or
Amazon [affil link]
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.