Tank Cleaning Chemical FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Hasten Cleanse
We get a lot of the same questions from operators, safety managers, and procurement teams. Here are straight answers to the most common ones.
1. What is Hasten Cleanse?
Hasten Cleanse is a water-based, non-hazardous industrial cleaning chemistry designed for oil and gas applications. It’s used for tank cleaning, degassing, vapor suppression, and hydrocarbon spill response. The active chemistry uses fatty acids and surfactants to break down and emulsify hydrocarbons.
2. Is it flammable?
No. Hasten Cleanse has no flash point. It’s completely non-flammable. We prove this with a live torch test — we add gasoline to our product and the competitor’s product, then put a torch to both. Theirs lights up. Ours doesn’t.
3. Is it safe for my crew?
Yes. It’s non-hazardous, non-toxic, and non-irritating. No special PPE is required beyond standard site requirements. No respiratory protection needed for the product itself. Your crews will notice the difference immediately — no solvent fumes, no headaches, no burning eyes.
4. How does it actually work?
The fatty acids and surfactants bond to hydrocarbon molecules on contact. They break the hydrocarbon into smaller particles and hold them in emulsion so they can be rinsed away. At the same time, the chemistry raises the flash point of the hydrocarbon, which suppresses vapor emissions. It cleans and degasses simultaneously.
5. What can it clean?
Crude oil, condensate, refined products, heavy oils, paraffin wax, asphaltenes, tank bottom sludge, and general hydrocarbon fouling. It works in storage tanks, pressure vessels, coker drums, fractionators, heat exchangers, process piping, and on spills (soil, water, or hard surfaces).
6. How fast does it work?
Operators see up to 80% less downtime compared to conventional tank cleaning methods. The exact time depends on the vessel size, what product was stored, and how much sludge is present. But the improvement is dramatic across the board because degassing and cleaning happen at the same time.
7. Is it biodegradable?
Yes. Hasten Cleanse is fully biodegradable. The product breaks down naturally in the environment and does not persist in soil or water.
8. Is it TSCA compliant?
Yes. Hasten Cleanse meets all requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act. All ingredients are listed on the TSCA inventory.
9. Does it work in saltwater?
Yes. Hasten Cleanse is effective in both freshwater and saltwater environments. This makes it suitable for offshore applications, coastal facilities, and any situation where saltwater is used for rinsing or dilution.
10. Is it corrosive?
No. Hasten Cleanse is non-corrosive. It’s safe for use on carbon steel, stainless steel, fiberglass, coatings, gaskets, and seals. It won’t damage vessel internals or tank linings.
11. Does it contain bacteria or microbes?
No. Some bioremediation products use bacteria to break down hydrocarbons. Hasten Cleanse is purely chemical — fatty acids and surfactants. No biological components. This means consistent performance regardless of temperature, pH, or environmental conditions.
12. How much wastewater does it generate?
About 50% less than conventional tank cleaning methods. The chemistry emulsifies hydrocarbons more effectively, which means fewer rinse cycles are needed. Less wastewater generated, and the wastewater is non-hazardous, which makes disposal simpler and cheaper.
13. How is the wastewater disposed of?
Because Hasten Cleanse is non-hazardous, the wastewater from cleaning operations is typically classified as non-hazardous waste. This opens up more disposal options at lower cost compared to the hazardous waste streams generated by petroleum-based solvents.
14. What’s the shelf life?
Hasten Cleanse has a long shelf life when stored properly. It does not degrade, separate, or lose effectiveness in storage. Keep it sealed and out of extreme temperatures, and it will be ready when you need it.
15. Can I use it for vapor suppression?
Yes. Vapor suppression is one of the primary applications. When Hasten Cleanse contacts hydrocarbons, it raises the flash point and suppresses VOC emissions. LEL readings drop quickly and consistently when the product is applied to a vessel that needs degassing.
16. Does it work for spill response?
Yes. Hasten Cleanse can be applied to hydrocarbon spills on soil, water, and hard surfaces. It encapsulates the hydrocarbon, suppresses vapor, and eliminates the fire risk from the spill. It’s a good product to keep in your spill response trailer.
17. Do you offer demos?
Absolutely. We bring our product and yours to the same table. Side-by-side comparison. We run the torch test, we run cleaning tests, and we let the results speak for themselves. No charge, no obligation. Every customer who has seen the demo has switched.
18. Where are you located?
Hasten Chemical is based in Houston, TX. We serve refineries, petrochemical plants, terminals, and oil and gas operators across Texas and the Gulf Coast.
19. How do I order?
Call us at 832-655-7763 or email info@hastenchemical.com. We’ll discuss your application, recommend the right approach, and get product to your site. For first-time customers, we typically start with a demo so you can see the performance before committing to a purchase.
20. Why should I switch from what I’m already using?
Because what you’re already using is probably flammable, hazardous, and slower. Hasten Cleanse is non-flammable, non-hazardous, and cuts cleaning time by up to 80% with 50% less wastewater. The crews prefer it, the safety department prefers it, and the cost savings make the decision easy. Every operator who has tested Hasten Cleanse against their existing product has made the switch — and stayed.
Still Have Questions?
Call 832-655-7763 or email info@hastenchemical.com. We’d rather answer your questions on the phone than have you guess.
Technical Questions
What dilution ratio should I use?
Dilution ratios range from 1:10 (heavy crude sludge, asphaltene deposits) to 1:50 (light residue, maintenance cleaning, vapor suppression). Our technical team will recommend the appropriate ratio based on your specific application. If you’re unsure, start at 1:20 — this is the most common ratio for general tank cleaning applications.
Can I use it with my existing equipment?
Yes. Hasten Cleanse is applied through the same spray systems, circulation pumps, pressure washers, and foam generators you already use for tank cleaning. No special equipment is required. It’s compatible with standard chemical hoses, gaskets, and seals.
Does it work on sour crude residue?
Yes. Hasten Cleanse is effective on sour crude residue including iron sulfide deposits. However, iron sulfide is pyrophoric — it can spontaneously ignite when exposed to air. While Hasten Cleanse suppresses hydrocarbon vapors, the pyrophoric risk from iron sulfide requires additional precautions (wetting, nitrogen blanketing) that are standard practice for sour service cleaning.
What temperature works best?
Hasten Cleanse works at ambient temperature, but heat accelerates the cleaning process — particularly for paraffin and heavy wax deposits. If you have the ability to circulate the solution through a heater or use the tank’s existing heating coils, 140-160°F is the sweet spot for most crude oil cleaning applications. For light residue and vapor suppression, ambient temperature is sufficient.
How does it handle emulsions?
Hasten Cleanse can break light emulsions through its surfactant action. For heavy, stable emulsions (tight rag layers in crude tanks), the chemistry helps mobilize the emulsion layer for pump-out rather than breaking it in place. Once removed from the tank, the emulsified material can be processed through a heater treater or settling tank to separate oil and water phases.
Safety and Compliance Questions
Is Hasten Cleanse safe for confined space entry?
Hasten Cleanse is non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-corrosive at working dilutions. It is significantly safer than petroleum-based solvents for confined space work because it does not produce flammable vapors and actively suppresses hydrocarbon vapors from the residue being cleaned. Standard confined space procedures (atmospheric monitoring, ventilation, rescue standby) still apply — Hasten Cleanse makes the atmosphere safer, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for proper confined space protocols.
Does it affect downstream wastewater treatment?
The fatty acid components in Hasten Cleanse are biodegradable and actually support biological wastewater treatment processes by providing a nutrient source for hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. The wash water from Hasten Cleanse is generally compatible with industrial wastewater treatment systems. We recommend checking with your wastewater treatment operator before introducing any new chemical to ensure compatibility with your specific system.
What about marine discharge regulations?
Hasten Cleanse is biodegradable and non-toxic, which supports compliance with MARPOL regulations for marine tank cleaning. However, discharge regulations vary by jurisdiction and waterway. Always verify local discharge requirements with the port authority or Coast Guard before discharging any cleaning waste overboard.
Getting Started
How do I evaluate Hasten Cleanse for my facility?
Start with a free on-site demonstration. Our technical team brings the product to your facility and runs it on your equipment, with your hydrocarbons, under your operating conditions. You see the cleaning speed, vapor suppression, and waste reduction firsthand. No obligation, no purchase required for the demo.
What information do you need to recommend a cleaning program?
Tell us what you’re cleaning (tank type, vessel type, pipeline diameter), what product was stored or transported, how severe the fouling is, and what your timeline looks like. We’ll recommend the appropriate dilution ratio, application method, and estimated volume of concentrate needed. Our technical team has seen virtually every cleaning scenario in the Gulf Coast oil and gas industry — whatever you’re dealing with, we’ve likely cleaned something similar.
Do you provide on-site technical support during cleaning?
Yes. For first-time applications and complex cleaning jobs (refinery turnarounds, marine cargo tank cleaning, large-scale soil remediation), our technical representatives can be on-site to supervise the application and ensure optimal results. For routine cleaning by experienced crews, phone support is always available.