​​​​Consultation in Passivation—A Legacy Built on Science

Consultation in Passivation (CIP) was founded in 1995 and proudly reflects three decades of service under that name. Yet the scientific foundation of our process reaches much further back. The core technology, and particularly the formulations developed during early Chemical Research and Development focused on CRD–Rouge Dissolution and stainless conditioning, began in 1979. That history represents 46 years of uninterrupted refinement, field validation, and measurable performance in demanding manufacturing systems. When we speak of “over 45 years of experience,” we are referring to the full lifespan of the science that drives CIP, not only the years since incorporation.

Collaboration with Industry Pioneers

Our technology grew out of work with some of the most respected laboratories in the world, including Dow Chemical—a recognized pioneer in chelation chemistry. Dow synthesized EDTA and for many years held the foundational patents on EDTA acid and its various salt-form applications. These developments shaped how the entire metal industry approached iron-ion control, carbon-steel boiler maintenance, and later stainless-steel passivation. CIP’s methodology was born in those state-of-the-art research environments and strengthened through decades of hands-on system challenges within pharmaceutical, biotech, medical-device, and power-generation facilities. It was never the result of informal, small-scale experimentation; it is advanced laboratory science translated to practical, repeatable outcomes.

From Versene to Modern Passivation

During the era when EDTA use was governed by Dow patents, contractors were required to purchase Dow’s Versene products to access that chemistry. Dow commercialized numerous EDTA variants—alkaline forms such as tetrasodium EDTA, lower-pH forms like disodium EDTA, and ammonium-based blends—primarily to dissolve magnetite and rouge in carbon-steel boilers. Those concepts were later adapted for stainless surfaces, opening the door to precision cleaning and true passivity in high-purity systems.

The Citra Solv Revolution

Pfizer, long before its modern pharmaceutical prominence, produced large volumes of citric acid through corn and grain processing and employed talented chemists dedicated to enrichment of feed and fertilizer blends. Pfizer and Dow combined citric acid production knowledge with EDTA chelation into what became known as the Citra Solv process. Halliburton acquired the rights for boiler cleaning applications and further advanced its efficacy. This collaboration fundamentally changed boiler maintenance, replacing older mineral-acid methods—hydrochloric and phosphoric—that were hazardous, laborious, and required extreme pH cycling. Citra Solv chelation delivered faster, safer dissolution of magnetite and rouge, saved significant downtime, and restored efficient heat transfer.

Extending Chelation Beyond Boilers

CIP’s subsequent research asked a broader question: what else can chelation accomplish? Engineers and chemists studied exact ratios of EDTA salt forms with controlled amounts of citric acid, buffered and heated at defined conductivity and pH conditions. Using established reactivity scales, we identified where solutions were optimally aggressive toward free iron yet gentle to base alloys. These programs—conducted within major industrial laboratories and later carried forward by CIP—became the basis of the proprietary three-step process we use today.

Legally Supported, Methodologically Superior

As Halliburton, Dow, and Pfizer eventually left field-cleaning markets to focus on oil-field services, plastics, and pharmaceuticals respectively, CIP obtained formal releases allowing continuation of the technology by those who helped create it. The chemistry that supports CIP is therefore both legally grounded and scientifically proven. Equally important, effective passivation depends on disciplined methodology and experienced application. EDTA or citric acid alone cannot guarantee results; CIP provides the expertise required to achieve a uniform, self-healing chromium-enriched oxide layer and long-term system integrity.

Who We Are Today

Consultation in Passivation stands as the bridge between rigorous laboratory science and the realities of modern manufacturing. Our process reflects more than four decades of collaboration with industry pioneers and 46 years of continuous improvement. CIP delivers true stainless-steel passivity through precision cleaning, advanced chelation, and tailored application for each unique system—far beyond casual recipes and well outside the limits of one-size-fits-all approaches.