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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Slime/algae on surface of anodizing tank

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Q. Dear Mr. Probert,
I see it's an old thread, but I'm currently struggling with it.
We're testing an anodizing additive based on glycolic acid and I observed algae in water rinse tank after anodizing step. This helped me to find that we have bigger problem with algae, which are probably present in demineralised water station.
Since we used this additive, our sealing solutions are short-lived. Conductivity increases very fast and details are dull.
I think the line was contaminated with algae after the anodizing stage, because of additive.
I would be grateful for any advice on how to get rid of the problem.

PS. I hope you understand my English. ;)

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Q. Dear Mr Mooney,
Thank you for your answer.
I have already read these topics and found this one ;)
However I used Acticide MV at all processing bath and rinses after anodizing stage. We also used potassium permanganate to disinfect the rinsing tank before sealing and the sealing tanks and it helped.
I need to find the root cause of the problem.

⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩

Q. I am having problems with dark, slimy (maybe oily?) feeling substance on the top of my anodizing tank. I think it may be a type of fungus and believe it may be the cause of some very small pinhole sized voids in a black coating. Isn't there some type of biocide for acid? I hate to put anything in my tanks without knowing for sure. If anyone has any info on this, I would really appreciate you help.

? Are you using the glycolic acid and glycerin anodizing additive which feed algae?

Robert H Probert
Robert H Probert Technical Services

Garner, North Carolina

October 16, 2009

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