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Optimum citric acid concentration for cleaning Copper piping

What is the optimum concentration of citric acid solution to use in cleaning copper pipelines? We propose to neutralize the system with Sodium Hydroxide. It there a better neutralizing agent for this application?

George Bellows
- Charleston, South Carolina
2000

George:

We have had good success at 5%, but the effectiveness depends on time, temperature, and what other additives you have in the formulation.

Neutralizing can be done with soda ash, also, or if residue is critical, and you can't rinse well, you can use ammonia ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or another volatile basic material (with CARE!).

Regards,

Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

2000

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