Funky smell on my copper mesh. UPDATED IN 3/21/06 POST

[Rocky_Creek]

New stainless column, new copper mesh, doing a second distillation on a week sugar wash with 2 gallons of molasses in a 35 gallon wort. No smell came through with the alcohol but I took the mesh out because I think I have it packed too tight and discovered this metalic/funky smell on the copper. Being a second distillation I was supprised to get this. Anyone have a clue as to why.

[Rocky_Creek]

OK, I'm thinking the copper mesh had oil of some nature on it. I washed the column but not the copper.

[Tater]

I get that sometimes with molasses figure it the copper reacting to the vapor.And maybe a little of where wash foamed while distillin.

[Harry]

Reaction with copper removes sulphides from your distillate by forming copper sulphates and sulphites. The mesh will contain these products, as well as some oxides (the black colouring). If you remove stink from distillate, its gotta go somewhere. Most of it finishes up in the packing as that's where the reactions occur. Clean your packing after each run with a good soak in vinegar & salt, then a rinse in bicarb solution, then flush with clean hot water and allow to dry. Good as new.

[Fourway]

bicarb solution

is bicarb solution the same thing as lye water?
if so.... how strong?
are we talking clean grizzled junk off the deep fryer strength or wash your hands for a date with the captain's daughter strength?

[Harry]

is bicarb solution the same thing as lye water?
if so.... how strong?
are we talking clean grizzled junk off the deep fryer strength or wash your hands for a date with the captain's daughter strength?

Bicarb is Sodium Bicarbonate, aka carb soda baking soda. Slightly alkaline buffer solution (pH 8.6).

Lye is Sodium Hydroxide aka Caustic soda. Highly alkaline chemical pH 14 (think Drano). Dangerous stuff that burns skin. Also rapidly eats aluminium.

Go with the bicarb 5% w/w in water.

[Rocky_Creek]

I might expect what you are saying on a first run but this was a second and I didn't smell anything wrong with the liquid in the first. I used a different column and still on the first. Guess I'll go sniff it and know more. Remember also only 2 gallons molasses out of 35 gallon initial wash. If I don't smell it on the first column I'm thinking something like cutting oil. I rechecked the distillate and no smell in the first part but it is in there toward the tails.

After smelling around today.

OK additional information. I have soaked the mesh in Dawn Ulta ( a strong dish washing detergent, known for removing oil) for two days. I rinsed some off and no smell. No smell in the packing where the first run was done. No smell in the liquid in the second run still, I haven't had time to clean up. And now I can't detect the smell or taste in the distillate although it is early in the morning here and I didn't do extensive testing. Strange case of the dissapearing funk?

The copper was from the Amphoria Society, never had any problem with their stuff before.

Received this from Ian Smiley,

"Hello

The mesh is completely cleaned upon packaging. The mesh is actually laboratory-grade
fractionating column packing.

We`ve never seen a problem with this. Even if there was something on the mesh, it`s
unlikely it would pervade through the vapourization and condensation process.

However, some people have contended that it takes a run or two to season a new column.

I hope this helps.

Cheers

Ian"