In my lab we have a stainless steel separator for liquid products of one of our hi-pressure catalytic testing assembly. It is a steel cylinder with two short pipes and one another short pipe with a valve. The problem is, the separator cannot be disassembled and washed. It accumulated organic residues for unknown time, presumably years (it happened before it moved into our responsibility). Some residues were washed with acetone and other solvents, but we want it much cleaner.
Personally, I would love to threat it repeatedly with a strong oxidizer, but I'm afraid that stainless steel might disagree. Also, heating above 200-300 Celsius unfortunately is out of question.
The residue is from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, so it probably consists of heavy hydrocarbons and possybly some oxygenates and products of their reactions.
Any suggestions?