Optimization of corrosion process of stainless steel coating during cleaning in steel brewery tanks.

The aim of this research was to optimize and investigate effects of corrosion process during cleaning of stainless-steel coatings in microbrewery tanks and to predict their resistance to nitric acid in washing solution. Experimental conditions were limited with minimal concentration of acid that satisfied requirements of sanitation protocol, and maximal concentration of acid that did not cause corrosion and release of metals higher then prescribed law limits. Process was monitored by release of metal ions and optimized by design of experiment (DOE) using software Design-Expert. This approach proved to be very beneficial, cost reductive, and effective for optimization of complex systems. The results of experiments prediction were compared to additional testing, and their matching proved the effectiveness of modeling. Therefore DOE is an effective tool for estimation of steel coating corrosion processes. In addition, optimized values satisfied required criteria, so the proposed protocol can be used in the effective sanitation of industrial tanks and pipelines in brewing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]