Speaker: Dr. Matthias Reihmann

Company: GELITA AG

Title: Effective Cleaning thanks to Second Skin - Sustainable Solutions against Climate Change and Environmental Pollution

Language: English

Abstract: The development of sustainable, environmentally friendly and particularly resource-saving cleaning agents is becoming increasingly important. The innovative easy-to-clean concept with hydrophilic protective layers formed by functional collagen peptides on cleaned surfaces enables the development of more environmentally friendly cleaning agents that are effective even at mild pH conditions. In addition to a convincing cleaning result, prolonged cleaning cycles, lower water consumption and easier cleaning are already documented advantages.

Several bus and train operators have already published that water consumption has been reduced by up to 90% and cleaning intervals have been extended by a factor of 7.
It was shown that this mechanism can also be used effectively to clean solar cells. For this purpose, solar panels were first cleaned with several liters of deionized water. For half of the panels, a small additive of 0.1% protein was added to the water. After drying, the solar cells were treated with a test dirt made of fat, carbon black and pancreatin. A comparative measurement of the electricity output also ensured that all the solar cells for the test were equally soiled.

The cells were then successively cleaned with water and the increase in electrical power output and the visual cleaning result were documented at intervals. By adding the protein, the electricity production during the washing intervals could be almost doubled and the amount of water required for cleaning could be almost halved.
Since the protein itself is completely biodegradable and as a natural component it is completely harmless to humans and animals, this process can also be used near residential areas or agricultural areas. Further studies should determine the potential in larger field trials and potentially highlight the advantages of combining the technology with environmentally friendly surfactants.