Search found 11 matches

by akcom
Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:36 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: cold temps during fermentation?
Replies: 3
Views: 693

cold temps during fermentation?

Hi all, Going for my first run here. I am using a simple sugar mash ( link ) and I've got a question or two. Number 1, I used water straight from my tap: should I have added campden tablets to deal with chlorine? If so, how long do I have to let them sit before pitching my yeast? Number 2, Temps hav...
by akcom
Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:04 am
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Plastic codes
Replies: 79
Views: 76221

Re: Plastic codes

100% yes. Those totes are made from LDPE. LDPE is considered heat resistant (won't break down) until about 80C (170F). So as long as you're not boiling your mash in the plastic pail, you are good to go. Also, just as a heads up, the chemicals that plastics leach into water (if/when they do so) are n...
by akcom
Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:46 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: 1970's plastic codes
Replies: 10
Views: 725

Re: 1970's plastic codes

LDPE is considered heat resistant (won't break down) until about 80C (170F). So as long as you're not boiling your mash in the plastic pail, you are good to go. Also, just as a heads up, the chemicals that plastics leach into water (if/when they do so) are non volatile. That means that when you dist...
by akcom
Thu Jan 30, 2014 6:58 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Propionic acid
Replies: 104
Views: 15961

Re: Propionic acid

Since you're just going to add gallons of water to the feed anyway when you ferment it there is no need to dry it. I would wash it at least twice just to be safe. The water doesn't have to be boiling because propionic acid is so soluble at room temperature.
by akcom
Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:37 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Propionic acid
Replies: 104
Views: 15961

Re: Propionic acid

Just a heads up from a chemist, propionic acid is miscible with water, meaning it loves being in there. It will kill yeast, but only if you used in high enough concentrations. What does that mean, practically speaking? If I were in your shoes, I'd soak my cracked corn in water for 5-10 minutes, stra...
by akcom
Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:30 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hi from Maryland
Replies: 4
Views: 638

Re: Hi from Maryland

Hi Mitchy, I'm very excited to throw in any expertise I can offer here. I've already commented on the bicarb and use of brass take off valves and I'm finding all of this discussion very interesting. Plastics and propionic acid aren't things I've seen covered before so I'll be interested to check it ...
by akcom
Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:06 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: What do you use to charcoal filter?
Replies: 11
Views: 5113

Re: What do you use to charcoal filter?

Here's a picture of something we frequently use in the lab: http://i.imgur.com/KcsPLIi.png The alcohol is poured in on top and then a cap with a nipple is secured on. You could just let the alcohol drip through but it would take for-fucking-ever. So you attach an air compressor to the top nipple and...
by akcom
Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:53 pm
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Brass Fitting
Replies: 9
Views: 3471

Re: Brass Fitting

Hi all. As a medicinal chemist, I'd like to clear up some confusion. First and foremost, we need to talk about the different forms of lead. Lead in your brass fittings is elemental (metal) lead. Chemists would call this Pb(0). Over time, when exposed to moist air, the lead surface "corrodes&quo...
by akcom
Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:58 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Baking Soda
Replies: 342
Views: 227083

Re: Baking Soda

Hi all, medicinal chemist here. While this is a good idea in theory, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is practically insoluble in water so it's not really going to react the way you want it to, it will just sit at the bottom of your bucket. In addition, sodium carbonate is a much stronger base which means ...
by akcom
Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:21 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hi from Maryland
Replies: 4
Views: 638

Re: Hi from Maryland

Hi jkhippie, I my drink of choice is hendrick's gin and st germaine. As far as distilling goes, my goal is azeotropic neutral spirits. This seems to me the most versatile as from there I'd like to flavor/dilute it as necessary. The scientist in me loves to tinker, so I'll probably do at least one ru...
by akcom
Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:16 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hi from Maryland
Replies: 4
Views: 638

Hi from Maryland

Hi All, I'm a medicinal chemist and pharmacist by trade so I'm very familiar with chemical distillation, both in theory and in practice. Liebig condensers, theoretical plates, fractioning columns is all old hat. On the other hand, I don't know the first thing about turning sugar into shine or buildi...