Circulation Cleaning. III. The Kinetics of a Simple Detergent System

Cleaning of milk films by solutions of sodimn hydroxide is shown to follow the kinetics of a first-order reaction. A molar velocity constant is calculated, and the role of solution temperature is evaluated in terms of its effect on the rate of the reaction. The reaction between solutions containing hydroxide ion and milk fihns exhibits a Q~o of 1.6 under these conditions, and the effect of temperature on the reaction rate constant is linear, at least within the limits of 36 to 82 C. Application of kinetics to detergency permits temperature effects to be measured rather than estimated, and will allow studies of compatibility, incompatibility, or complementary interaction of detergent fractions, and selection of detergents best suited to particular requirements.