Chinese medicine extraction and concentration equipment should be cleaned according to GMP requirements after three consecutive production batches or after one week of operation. The detailed cleaning steps are as follows:
Clean water circulation cleaning
First, circulate clean water to preliminarily remove residues inside the equipment until the water becomes clear, preparing for subsequent cleaning steps.
Hot water circulation cleaning
Circulate hot water at 65–70°C for 5 minutes. Hot water can more effectively remove grease and residues, and soften some stubborn stains.
Alkaline solution cleaning
Clean with a 2% NaOH solution at 65–70°C for 15 minutes. NaOH solution is strongly alkaline and can neutralize acidic residues while effectively removing organic matter and inorganic salts. During cleaning, the heating chamber can be used to heat and circulate the cleaning solution between the heating chamber and evaporation chamber to ensure cleaning effectiveness.
Clean water cleaning
After alkaline cleaning, circulate clean water again to thoroughly remove residual NaOH solution and prevent contamination of subsequent products.
Acid solution cleaning
Clean with a 2% HNO3 solution at 65–70°C for 30 minutes. HNO3 solution is strongly acidic and can neutralize alkaline residues while removing stains that are difficult to clean with alkaline solution. Similarly, the heating chamber can be used to heat and circulate the cleaning solution.
Clean water cleaning
After acid cleaning, circulate clean water again to thoroughly remove residual HNO3 solution and prevent contamination of products.
During the cleaning process, the following points should also be noted: the cleaning balls in the device should be cleaned with a separate water pipe to ensure the head of the evaporation chamber can be reached; the wire mesh mist eliminator in the upper part of the evaporation chamber should be periodically removed and cleaned to prevent blockage and maintain smooth, efficient operation; and the entire cleaning process should strictly follow operating procedures and safety regulations to ensure personnel safety and equipment integrity.
For components involved in the cleaning systems of Chinese medicine extraction and concentration equipment, such as cleaning balls, wire mesh mist eliminators, pipeline connectors, flanges, and heating chamber fittings, we can provide precision custom machining according to customer drawings or samples. We select suitable stainless steel materials and perform surface treatment to ensure the parts are corrosion-resistant and easy to clean, meeting GMP requirements.
