Pepperoni Drying Unit (Mexico)

Area of Interest

Mold accumulation in pepperoni drying room units.

Problem

A pepperoni producer contacted STX Bioscience because their aluminum drying units were very dirty. Due to high humidity and dirt accumulation, mold developed in the pepperoni drying rooms, affecting air quality.

Context

Following air quality testing, a protocol was established at the plant for the remediation of the air handling units. One of the main concerns was material compatibility, as the units are mainly made of aluminum. As a result, the plant decided to conduct a pair test with Ultra Disinfectant Cleaner Solution and Ultra Soft Metal Activator, and a competitor's coil cleaner designed for soft metals.

Results

• In the unit treated with the spiral cleaner, the water collected showed a slight discoloration.
  and small mold particles. On inspection, mold was observed both inside and outside the unit.
• In contrast, in the unit treated with STX Bioscience solutions, the water showed strong discoloration and red and black mold particles and coin-sized debris were observed up to the size of a small coin.
  of a baseball. On inspection, no debris or mold was observed in the unit.
• Due to the test results, Ultra Disinfectant Cleaner Solution and Ultra Soft Metal Activator were implemented as part of the bi-weekly cleaning program for the air handling units.