Process for the cleaning of fouled heat exchangers and other equipment

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Heat exchangers and other equipment whose surfaces have become fouled with sludge deposits during the use of the equipment in the removal of carbon monoxide, lower olefins, or other complexible ligands from gas streams with a liquid sorbent that comprises a cuprous aluminum tetrahalide and an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent are cleaned by contacting the fouled surfaces of the equipment with an aqueous ammonium chloride solution to dissolve and/or loosen substantially all of the deposited sludge washing the, surfaces with water to remove loosened sludge and residual cleaning solution and drying them.