POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SOAP SCUMS AND GUMS IN CANS

Abstract

Gums can be seen as a problem regarding in the appearance of the cans. It is a

term used when the cans are already out from the retort vessel after heating and a sticky

portion below or above the can is left. Sometimes it can be seen along with the water

marks or soap scum outside the cans. This study focuses in finding the possible causes

of soap scums and gums that give problems to the laborers. The investigation of the

problem started at the can washer moving to the retort discharge conveyor and then the

case up where the sterilized cans from the retort vessel are placed after getting rid of the

excess water. Information were gathered from the different areas indicated.

Case Background

Philbest Canning Corporation is a tuna canning company in General Santos City,

the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. It is a member of RD Group of companies and it deals

a lot of business with its sister companies. It has been running on for about 3 decades.

But just like any other companies, Philbest is also having some problems. Some of the

problems they are facing are the soap scums and the gums in cans. According to Mr. Ig-

agao, the Mechanical Engineers team manager in the Engineering Maintenance

Department, this matter has been going on for years but is only recognized as a problem

when a container was returned.

Canning as a form of food preservation has a long history of use in human cultures, as

the air-type containers help combat the growth of harmful bacteria. However, corporations

should not only deal with the problems concerning the food inside the cans but also the

appearance outside. It is important that the cans are also presentable in the eyes of the

buyers or consumers.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to derive the problem that causes the soap scums and

gums in cans which are needed to be cleaned manually by the laborers and results delay

in production.

Evaluation of the Case

The researchers first familiarized the process in the production area. They have

seen that there is a problem concerning the cleansing of the cans. Laborers are manually

cleaning the cans; even after being washed, rinsed and sterilized, water marks form and

gums appear.

Water Marks/Soap Scum Gums

The researchers examined the process as to why such things form. First, they looked into

the can washer. They have observed that even after the final rinsing, there are some

bubbles left. The laborers are doing extra work to wash them away using hose.

The reasons why there are still bubbles left after rinsing that produces soap scums are:

 The design of the can washer is not efficient enough to wash the cans properly.

 The soap produces too much bubbles.

 The water used for final rinsing is recycled and used again for final rinsing.
The soap used for washing the cans is one of the factors why after the final rinsing, the

cans still have some bubbles left. According to the person in charge, the soap produces

so much bubbles that the can washer is having a hard time to rinse them off. Another

reason is the water used in final rinsing is only recycled from the water they used in rinsing

the first ones (cans). This kind of procedure has a tendency of rinsing the cans using

water mixed with soap coming from the recycled water.

Upon looking on the inside of the can washer, specifically the final rinsing part, it’s design

may have contributed to the reason why the cans are not rinsed properly.

Direction of the nozzles spray is at 45̊ downwards and upwards which results in stocking

up of water mixed with soap above the cover of the cans.

When the cans have already been washed, they are placed in the retort basket and are

separated using a retort separator sheet to help evenly distribute weight and make the

loading and unloading process easier. After, they are deposited inside the steam spreader

retort vessel to be sterilized under 240 ̊C. When the cans are withdrawn from the vessel,

that is when the soap scums and gums appear.

Soap scum is formed into a solid substance when soap is being used in hard water. On

a scientific level, soap scum combines calcium and magnesium particles (ions) that are

currently in the water with the soap, which forms into the soap scum substance. This

formation is frequently caused by minerals in tap water that combine with soap and dirt

to create a layer of scaliness over the surfaces in bathrooms and sometimes even on

laundry. Those with mineral-filled hard water are much more likely to have a soap scum

build up. (http://www.thespruce.com/soap-scum-information-1900291)

As per investigation, gums are formed from the retort separator sheets. It is observed that

the gums are usually seen at the bottom of the cans where they are placed above and in

contact with the separator sheet made of polypropylene.

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic “addition polymer” made from the combination of

propylene monomers. It is used in a variety of applications to include packaging for

consumer products, plastic parts for various industries including the automotive industry,

special devices like living hinges, and textiles. Polypropylene has a high thermal
expansion coefficient which limits its high temperature applications. Its melting point is

130 ̊C. (https://www.creativemechanisms.com/blog/all-about-polypropylene-pp-plastic)

The cooking temperature of the retort vessel in the company is 240 ̊F or 115.6 ̊C. This

results to the gumming of the separator sheets which sticks at the bottom of the cans.

Proposed Solutions/Changes

According to the person in-charge, the problem regarding the soap which produces

too much bubbles is already solved by changing the soap they are using to a degreaser.

But the water they are using for final rinsing still a recycled water. To prevent the

appearance of soap scum, the water used for final rinsing should be pure water. Another

one is to change the design of the can washer’s final rinsing.

To avoid the gums in cans, the researchers have thought of a solution. There are different

factors to be considered in getting rid of the gums. First is to change the material of the

separator used. Second is to change the design of the cans.

The change of the material of the separator can be considered but as they have studied,

the polypropylene retort separator sheet is the best option they can have without

considering the gums it produces.

Changing the design of the cans is the best way they thought to solve the problem. They

have noticed that only the cans with bottoms that touch or are in contact with the separator

are having gums.

With this kind of cans (pictures below), we can prevent the sticking of the gums in cans.

Bottom Top

Recommendations

 Use pure water in the final rinsing.

 Better use a can washer that can clean and rinsed the cans properly.

 Always clean the retort separator sheets after being used.

 Make sure that the cans are dried up properly.

 Use cans whose tops and bottoms don’t touch the separator.