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Sodium hydroxide (caustic), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylenediaminetetraacetic_acid EDTA (ethylene diaminetetra-acetic acid)], chlorinated disinfectants, and hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectants such as Pur-Ox from Birko or Lerasept-O from Loeffler are effective at breaking up biofilms when used in their highest recommended concentrations <ref name="Wirtanen_2001" /><ref>Brandon Jones. Private correspondence with Dan Pixley. 04/02/2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/TheBrewery/comments/6hqnvf/mtkettle_cleaning/dj0zd0s/ Levader on Reddit.com. "The Brewery". Retrieved 04/02/2018.]</ref>. Foaming agents that are often used in packaging lines for cleaning, however, might not be as effective. One study found that one foaming agent (VK10 Shureclean, which is sodium alkylbenzenesulphonate) required two times the maximum concentration that is recommended by the manufacturer to completely remove biofilms. In comparison, all of the sodium hydroxide (caustic) based cleaners that were tested were effective at completely removing biofilms in concentrations that were below the vendors' recommended maximum concentrations <ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13213-010-0085-5#Bib1 Susceptibility of wine spoilage yeasts and bacteria in the planktonic state and in biofilms to disinfectants. Mariana Tristezza, António Lourenço, André Barata, Luísa Brito, Manuel Malfeito-Ferreira, Virgílio Loureiro. 2010.]</ref>. Peracetic acid (PAA) has also been shown to be effective against biofilms in the highest recommended concentrations but isn't as effective as the previously mentioned cleaners and should be used after a caustic cleaning cycle <ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273439407_Disinfectant_testing_against_brewery-related_biofilms Disinfectant testing against brewery-related biofilms. Storgårds, Erna & Närhi, Mikko & Wirtanen, Gun. 2001.]</ref><ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/244994186_COMMERCIAL_SANITIZERS_EFFICACY_-_A_WINERY_TRIAL COMMERCIAL SANITIZERS EFFICACY – A WINERY TRIAL. Duarte, Filomena & López, Alberto & Alemão, Filomena & Santos, Rodrigo & Canas, Sara. 2011.]</ref>, but its effectiveness decreases below 20°C. Chlorine and iodine-based disinfectants destroy microbe at colder temperatures, however, they are less effective in the presence of wort or other residues. Chlorine-based disinfectants can cause pitting in stainless steel if left in contact for too long, and [https://ssbrewtech.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/205602399-DO-NOT-USE-BLEACH-OR-CHLORINATED-CHEMICALS- some stainless steel manufacturers] recommend not using chlorine-based disinfectants at all (refer to your equipment and chemical manufacturers). Hot water is one of the most effective disinfectants, however, dry heat is not as effective at killing bacteria (one strain of ''L. brevis'' was able to withstand 80°C dry heat for 60 minutes) <ref name="Wirtanen_2001" />. Dry heat at higher temperatures will sterilize at 170°C for 1 hour or 190°C for 12 minutes and can be used to sterilize many metal and glass instruments. Flaming surfaces kills within seconds <ref>Private correspondence with Dr. Bryan Heit by Dan Pixley. 04/12/2018.</ref>.
Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol have also been found to be very effective sanitizers. The downside to these sanitizers is that they are flammable and are very volatile, evaporating quickly after use. In one One experiment by Elliot Parcells & Josh Pohlmann from Bells Brewery, they found that ''Lactobacillus'', ''Brettanomyces'', and ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'' var. ''diastaticus'' were all killed within 15 seconds by 70% concentration ethanol (note that this experiment's validity has been questioned due to its methodology; see [[Quality_Assurance#Homebrew_cleaners_and_disinfectants|Homebrew cleaners and disinfectants]] below). See the [http://masterbrewerspodcast.com/096-efficacy-of-sanitizers-in-the-brewery MBAA Podcast with Elliot Parcells & Josh Pohlmann from Bells Brewery ] claimed that iodophor was an ineffective sanitizer at concentrations of 25 ppm, however, their results have been questioned due to their methodology <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/2172245389470330/?comment_id=2172685769426292&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Dr. Bryan Heit. Milk The Funk Facebook thread on an MBAA podcast about the pros and cons efficacy of ethanol versus isopropyl alcohol versus iodophor as a sanitizer in a spray bottle format. 07/10/2018.]</ref>.
===Homebrew cleaners and disinfectants===
A popular alternative to Star San is iodophor, which is an iodine-based sanitizer.
[http://masterbrewerspodcast.com/096-efficacy-of-sanitizers-in-the-brewery Elliot Parcells & Josh Pohlmann from Bells Brewery ] tested the efficiency of various sanitizers to kill ''Lactobacillus'', ''Brettanomyces'', and ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'' var. ''diastaticus''. The sanitizers tested were 100% ethanol, 70% ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and claimed that iodophor was ineffective at concentrations of 25 ppm concentration (the recommended no-rinse concentration). With 15 seconds of exposure, both 100% ethanol and 70% ethanol showed no growth. At which is the maximum time tested, which was 90 seconds, iodophor still showed growth. They found that a concentration of 50 ppm concentration of iodophor at 2 minutes was enough concentration and time to kill ''Lactobacillus'', and 5 minutes for the yeast species tested at 50 ppm. At 75 ppm concentration of iodophor (which is the maximum concentration that is possible to achieve in water due to the equilibrium of free iodine <ref>[http://realbeer.com/jjpalmer/cleaning.html#iodo Palmer, John. A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CLEANING AND SANITATION. RealBeer.com website. Retrieved 07/09/2018.]</ref>), it took 2 minutes to kill all of the microorganisms tested. Across all of the tests, the yeast species were more resistant than the lactic acid bacteria species testedbe considered a no-rinse sanitizer. The ethanol solution remained their preferred sanitizer for spray bottles despite its fast evaporation rate. The methodology of this experiment has received some criticism that might invalidate its results. They diluted yeast/bacteria cultures on a 1:10 ratio into iodophor, thus diluting the iodophor below its recommended dilution and exposing it to concentrations of microbes far beyond what it was designed to kill. Testing the ability to sterilize a bulk solution does not translate to the ability of the sanitizer to sanitize trace surface microbes after proper cleaning <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/2172245389470330/?comment_id=2172685769426292&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Dr. Bryan Heit. Milk The Funk Facebook thread on an MBAA podcast about the efficacy of iodohor as a sanitizer. 07/10/2018.]</ref>. See the full interview with Elliot and Josh on the [http://masterbrewerspodcast.com/096-efficacy-of-sanitizers-in-the-brewery MBAA Podcast].
'''Five Star PBW'''