What is a Chemical Solution? A Complete Guide to Industrial Cleaning Solutions

What is a Chemical Solution? A Complete Guide to Industrial Cleaning Solutions

A chemical solution is a homogeneous mixture where one substance (the solute) is dissolved in another (the solvent). In industrial cleaning, they break down hazardous contaminants such as hydrocarbons, pyrophorics, and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), ensuring equipment is cleaned and safe for maintenance. 

In industries like petrochemical and refining, where downtime can lead to significant losses, choosing the right solution minimizes shutdown time, enhances safety, and supports regulatory compliance. This guide will show you the types of industrial cleaning solutions, their applications, safety and handling concerns, and how you can select the most appropriate one for your industrial application.

Where Do Industrial Cleaning Solutions Make an Impact?

Chemical solutions are indispensable across a wide range of industries and each application is designed to address specific contamination challenges, from routine maintenance to critical shutdown preparations. Below are the primary industrial scenarios where chemical solutions play a vital role:

• Petrochemical and Refining Facilities: essential in many processes like catalyst changeouts, system-wide cleanings, and decontamination, pre-commissioning, and passivation.
• Manufacturing and Power Plants: used to maintain performance, prevent equipment fouling, and avoid unexpected shutdowns.
• Offshore Operations: these facilities require cleaning solutions designed to comply with stringent safety and environmental regulations. A few examples of these are pipelines, tanks, and production units on offshore platforms.

Each tailored application helps meet the unique demands of the industry while reducing risks and maximizing productivity. Next, we’ll explore the types of chemical solutions available for industrial cleaning and decontamination. 

Understanding Your Options for Chemical Solutions

When it comes to industrial cleaning and decontamination, the choice of the ideal solution depends on the type of contaminant, the cleaning objective and the operating environment. Here are the main types of industrial decontamination chemicals used to tackle everything from routine maintenance to more complex challenges: 

Water-Based

Eco-friendly and biodegradable, these chemical solutions typically include surfactants and oxidizers that break down hydrocarbon and neutralize pyrophoric materials. They are compatible with multiple applications, including online and offline processes, and they generate reduced waste and disposal costs.

Solvent-Based

These solutions are formulated to dissolve heavy contaminants like asphaltenes, tar, and waxes. Their key benefits include rapid breakdown of hardened deposits, effective cleaning of tanks, vessels, and exchangers, and reduced need for labor-intensive mechanical cleaning. 

Hybrid

Combining the benefits of water- and solvent-based chemistries, these solutions address specific challenges such as pyrophoric deposits and temperature limitations. They reduce the cleaning time, project duration and are effective for single-step applications like presoaks and circulation cleaning.

Neutral pH and Alkaline

These solutions are effective for general maintenance, surface cleaning and degreasing. Their main benefit is reducing equipment wear and extending lifespan.

Understanding the types of industrial decontamination chemicals is the first step into making a smart choice. Next, you need to understand the safety protocols to ensure optimal handling and performance.

Staying Safe: Best Practices for Chemical Solution Use

Industrial cleaning chemicals must be stored, used and disposed of responsibly. Below are key safety considerations and best practices:

• Storage: store them in sealed, labeled containers in designated areas. Make sure you have secondary containment systems, like spill trays or containment berms.
• Handling: ensure safe concentrations by measuring precisely. Follow manufacturer's instructions when diluting or mixing solutions. Guarantee adequate ventilation to prevent the buildup of toxic vapors of some chemical solutions.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): implement the appropriate equipment to minimize the risk of injury during decontamination tasks.
• Routine: perform regular inspections and training on safety protocols to contribute to a safer work environment.

You are almost ready to select the most appropriate chemical cleaning solution for your facility. Here are the most important factors to consider before making that decision.

Choosing the Best Chemical Solution for Your Facility

Your choice of an industrial cleaning solution impacts performance, safety and cost-efficiency. Here’s how to evaluate your options and make an informed decision:

1. Identify the Cleaning Needs: assess the type of contaminant, equipment's cleaning requirements, steam availability and pressure, and the operational conditions — such as temperature tolerance and cleaning duration.
2. Check the Compatibility and Cost: ensure the solution will not corrode the equipment (you may need a compatibility test or expert consultation). And look for cost-efficient materials. Some chemistries may be more expensive but significantly reduce manual cleaning and downtime.
3. Regulatory Compliance: select products that meet regulations such as the EPA and REACH standards to avoid fines and maintain safe working environments.

By following these steps, you are closer to selecting chemical solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and compliance. Partnering with a reliable supplier is your most critical decision, as it can be the difference between a lengthy, costly shutdown and a smooth, efficient turnaround.

Why ZymeFlow is the Industry Leader in Industrial Cleaning

ZymeFlow has been a trusted leader in the industry for over 35 years. Their proprietary solutions offer a combination of speed, safety, and precision, reducing downtime by up to 50%. 

ZymeFlow’s water-based and solvent-based chemistries handle hazardous contaminants like pyrophorics and hydrocarbons while supporting compliance with environmental standards. With tailored solutions and expert support during turnarounds, they help facilities achieve sustainable, cost-effective decontamination.

By choosing ZymeFlow’s eco-friendly and high-performance solutions, you can achieve faster, safer and more sustainable turnarounds. To learn more about how we can support your next project contact us for a personalized consultation.