Conclusion

Washing glass or plastic bottles that have undergone several successive filling cycles at the bottler's and emptying cycles at the consumer's is an operation that is now well mastered, but requires bulky, heavy equipment that is difficult to move if the packaging unit is reorganized.

It should be noted, however, that container washing using acid or alkaline solutions for soaking or injection is not neutral towards glass, and if the dissolution of glass in these solutions is not significant during treatment, it can result in pitting of the inner and outer walls of the container over time, which can lead to areas that are difficult to access for cleaning and create degassing start-ups when the container containing a carbonated beverage is opened. In addition, the rubbing of bottles against each other as they are transferred onto conveyors creates an unsightly frosting...