In the field of food packaging, the oil content of air compressors is extremely strict, compressed air in direct contact with food must meet ISO 8573-1 Class 0 standard (oil content is almost zero), while indirect contact must meet Class 1 standard (oil content ≤ 0.01 mg/m & sup3;, about 0.008ppm). The following is a specific analysis:
oil content of compressed air 1. in direct contact with foodstuffs
- standard Basis: The international general standard ISO 8573-1 classifies the oil content of compressed air, of which Class 0 is the highest standard, requiring the oil content to be almost zero. This standard applies to compressed air in direct contact with food, such as food ingredients, fermentation, mixing, bagging and other process operations.
- practical application in the process of food packaging, if the compressed air contains oil, it may cause quality problems such as product rancidity, excessive colonies, and even cause food safety accidents. Therefore, compressed air in direct contact with food must meet Class 0 standards to ensure the safety and quality of food.
- Implementation mode: In order to meet the Class 0 standard, it is usually necessary to use an oil-free air compressor or a high-efficiency filtration system (such as an activated carbon filter oil mist separator combination) to purify the compressed air for the second time.
Oil content of compressed air 2. indirect contact with foodstuffs
- standard Basis: For compressed air in indirect contact with food, such as air in food production workshop environment, bottle blowing, packaging and other links, the oil content requirement can be appropriately relaxed, but it still needs to meet ISO 8573-1 Class 1 standard, I .e. oil content ≤ 0.01 mg/m & sup3;(about 0.008ppm).
- practical application if the compressed air in indirect contact with food contains oil, it will not directly pollute the food, but it may affect the sanitary condition of the production environment and indirectly affect the quality of the food. Therefore, the oil content still needs to be strictly controlled.
- Implementation mode: In order to meet the Class 1 standard, a multi-stage filtration system (such as PF pre-filtration AO degreasing AA precision degreasing dryer) can be configured at the back end of the air compressor to ensure the cleanliness of the compressed air.
3. different standards and certification requirements
- FDA Standards: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stipulates that compressed air in contact with food must be treated through an oil-free or high-efficiency filtration system to ensure food safety.
- EHEDG Guide: The European Hygienic Engineering Design Organization (EHEDG) recommends the use of oil-free air compressors for food processing, or a combination of activated carbon oil mist filters to reduce the risk of oil contamination.
- 3-A Health Standard dairy products, beverage industry equipment to meet the Class 0 oil-free requirements to ensure the quality of the product hygiene.
Risk and Countermeasures of 4. Oil Content Exceeding Standard
risk excessive oil content in compressed air may lead to quality problems such as product rancidity, excessive colonies, shortened shelf life, and even lead to food safety accidents. In addition, there may be risks such as regulatory penalties, shutdown rectification or recall losses.
Countermeasures in order to ensure that the oil content of compressed air meets the standard requirements, the following measures shall be taken:
- use an oil-free air compressor or equipped with a high-efficiency filtration system.
- Regularly check the oil content of compressed air to ensure compliance.
- Regular maintenance and maintenance of the air compressor to ensure its normal operation.
