Copper "packing" turned grey/silver

[dongtokes]

My packing I'd basically just 14g copper strand cut into 1" sections and bent in half. Over the course of the day the packing started turning grey and my distillate has the same color grey particles floating on the surface. Is this okay?

[rad14701]

My packing I'd basically just 14g copper strand cut into 1" sections and bent in half. Over the course of the day the packing started turning grey and my distillate has the same color grey particles floating on the surface. Is this okay?

Was this the first time using the stranded copper...??? Had you done a cleaning of the copper before using it...??? Boiling in vinegar and water followed by boiling in water would be a good pre-use cleaning routine if you haven't cleaned it... Some copper wire has oil, varnish, etc, coating the surface...

[dongtokes]

It was cleaned well before use, but I've never used it in the column. Only in the collection jars.

[HDNB]

if the first jars are clean, the silver floating stuff is likely fusal oils.

the copper is going to patina quickly in the column. none the less, i'd boil it in some vinegar and water just to clean it up.

you can always make more likker if you decide to throw this batch out.

[Hound Dog]

.....my distillate has the same color grey particles floating on the surface. Is this okay?

No it is not OK.