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Home » On Site Services » Passivation: Citric Acid Ultra Pass ®, Nitric Passivation & High Purity Cleaning

High Purity Cleaning and Ultra Pass Passivation

Description of Services

Astro Pak is the worldwide leader in precision cleaning and Ultra Pass passivation of high purity gas and fluid systems. We are committed to providing our clients with the level of excellence they expect and deserve. High purity cleaning and Ultra Pass passivation is an integral part of system preparation and maintenance. We believe the synergism of technical knowledge, logistical mobility, superior equipment and a dedicated field experienced staff will provide the Owner with the highest economic return. Furthermore, our processes and procedures meet or exceed Industry Standards such as ASTM A-967 and ASTM A-380.

Astro Pak has been precision cleaning and passivating high purity stainless steel systems and components since 1959. The processes we carry out when we passivate include citric acid based or nitric acid based chemistries depending on customer specifications and industry standards.

Our services include:

  1. Pre-operational alkaline cleaning
  2. Citric Acid Ultra Pass passivation of stainless steel
  3. Nitric Acid passivation of stainless steel and other alloys
  4. Preventative maintenance high purity cleaning and passivation
  5. Derouging of fouled piping and equipment
  6. Sanitization of process and utility piping
  7. Particulate flushing of pre-operational construction debris
  8. Biofilm and organic deposits removal

Types of Systems Serviced

With a staff over 140, and service centers worldwide, Astro Pak has the capability to perform in-house or onsite high purity cleaning and Ultra Pass passivation for the following systems:

  1. Water for Injection
  2. Pure Steam
  3. Reverse Osmosis
  4. De-ionized Water
  5. High Purity Gas and Vacuum
  6. Product and Process
  7. WFI Stills
  8. Pure Steam Generators
  9. CIP and SIP Skids and Components
  10. Autoclave and Isolation Barriers
  11. Vessels and Tanks
  12. Fermenters and Bio-reactors

Specialized Training and Personnel

Each professional Astro Pak Field and Clean room Technician is experienced and thoroughly trained in the high purity cleaning and passivation field. Our technicians receive comprehensive training as new employees and on-going instruction to stay on the cutting edge of providing superior service. Required training modules our technicians complete include:

  1. Astro Pak cleaning and Ultra Pass passivation procedures
  2. Iron testing and conductivity meter testing and certification
  3. Passivation piping systems rigging layout
  4. Safety awareness and hazard recognition

Equipment Used

  1. pH meter
  2. Conductivity meter
  3. Hach Colorimeter
  4. 480v. Passivation pump skid with filtration, flow control, heat exchanger, temperature and flow gauges, and mix tank
  5. Teflon-lined, stainless steel encased hoses
  6. Temporary stainless steel tubing

Applicable Standards and Specifications

  1. ASTM A-380
  2. ASTM A-967
  3. Ultra Pass Passivation Process
  4. Client Passivation Protocol Specifications

Astro Pak Procedures

Astro Pak is capable of utilizing several different passivation processes to meet specific system needs and Owner preferences. Each procedure has significant flexibility to address individually identified problems. Astro Pak can perform client generated procedures as well. These common processes carried out when we passivate include: Nitric Acid, Multi-Stage Chelant (Citric Acid Based), or Phosphoric Acid.

  1. Alkaline Cleaning
  2. Ultra Pass Passivation
  3. Derouging
  4. Oxygen Cleaning
  5. UltraSan Sanitization
  6. High Velocity Flushing

Quality Assurance

Astro Pak understands we are only as good as the quality of service we provide to our customer's satisfaction. Consequently, advanced analytical testing equipment is utilized to verify the results of our Ultra Pass passivation and high purity cleaning processes.

Testing that we conduct include:

  1. Iron dissolution testing
  2. Conductivity rinseate testing
  3. Temperature, flow and pH monitoring
  4. Water quality

What is passivation?
Passivation is the chemical treatment process by which the electrochemical condition of passivity is obtained on the surface of metal alloys. Passivity as it relates to austenitic stainless steel is the state in which chemical reactivity is minimized under special environmental conditions, such that the metal exhibits a very low corrosion rate.

Glossary of Terms
Passivation Theory of Austenitic Stainless Steel
Electropolishing
Chelation
New System Passivation
Existing System Passivation

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