Revolutionising industrial cleaning with dry ice blasting

Dry ice blasting is revolutionising industrial cleaning in South Africa. This non-abrasive, non-toxic innovative cleaning method saves times and leads to increased productivity. By Abby Vorster

The cleaning method is ideal for a variety of industrial equipment and it can be applied in various industrial settings from pharmaceutical and medical to food and beverage manufacturing, printing and packaging, contract cleaning etc.

In the pharmaceutical industry, dry ice cleaning can be used to blast clean stainless-steel containers, reactors, mixers, tablet moulds and separators. It offers several benefits in comparison to traditional cleaning methods and steam cleaning, such as the elimination of harmful bacteria and micro-organisms. The cleaning method does not create secondary waste or chemical residues and it is non-abrasive.

Quicker cleaning that is eco-friendly

Based in Soweto, Kool in Ice now offers dry ice cleaning throughout Gauteng. Kgotso Mashinini founded the business six years ago as a supplier of dry ice and ice cubes to retailers, restaurants and pubs. He recently expanded into dry ice blasting with a focus on cleaning industrial and manufacturing equipment.

The dry ice blasting process is a dry, non-toxic and non-abrasive method of cleaning, which is faster, more thorough and environmentally friendly. It also allows for the elimination of environmentally harmful cleaning chemicals and worker exposure to hazardous cleaning agents.

A superior cleaning method

Unlike other blast media, dry ice is frozen CO2 at a temperature of -78.5°C. Dry ice blasting utilises 3mm dry ice pellets, which are accelerated in a pressurised air stream and subsequently directed at the surface to be cleaned.

The dry ice freezes the dirt on impact and rapidly sublimates while the CO2 gas removes frozen dirt without causing damage or abrasion to the surface. Because of the temperature difference between the dry ice particles and the surface being treated, thermal shock occurs during the process aided by kinetic energy. This causes a breakdown of the bond between the two dissimilar materials and results in what Mashinini says “is a far superior method of cleaning”. •

Kgotso Mashinini, founder of Kool in Ice