Using Alum to floc the mash

[Dinodog]

Hi Forumites

Any ideas about using Alum to floc my wash.

I use a turbo yeast with caster sugar or dextrose.

Just wondering if using Alum is a good idea or whether I should just wait. If it is good to use, how much should I use for a 37 litre or 8 gal wash.

Cheers

Dinodog

[Hawke]

A proper ferment will have a Ph of around 5. This is pretty acidic to be using with aluminum.

[Dnderhead]

I havent heard of it being used, most just leave wash sit, cold helps, some use bentonite,Gelatin,isinglass but most don't use any thing
just time and cold if you have it.also stiring to remove co2 helps. it does not have to perfictly clear, just as long as yeast drop out
witch can give off flavors.

[scarecrow]

Aluminium sulphate is used as a flocculant in industry.

We used to use it to separate water from sludge.

You need to get the pH to over 8.0, add the alum and stir for a few minutes. Below this the alum will not go into solution well. You will be left with a gritty residue.
A polyelectrolyte is added to coagulate everything and the pH is dropped to about 3.0.
Everything then falls out of solution and you end up with a layer of clear water and a layer of sludge. This sludge was drained off and dumped and the water was pumped into the sewers.

Do you really want to do that with your wash?

Just leave it for a week. It will settle nicely.

scarecrow

[Dinodog]

Thanks fellas for the replies.

I have been distilling for quite some years and so do know that leaving the wash is best. I haven't ever fined my product but now would like to and just want to know if there is any positive proof of poison/any danger in using Alum as a fining agent.

I can use Turbo clear etc but have a heap of Alum already and use it quite confidently in drinking and dam water. My only concern is my alcoholic wash and whether Alum would cause some distasteful reaction.

Kindest Regards and thanks in advance

Dinodog

[Nightforce]

I find of the clearing agents that I've used, Sparkloid to be one of the best. Still takes about 3-5 days but the end result is much clearer than if you just wait it out a week.

[Dnderhead]

iv never heard of it being used for alcohol,, why don't you try a sampole and see if it drops out as it should or not?
with beer/wine diferant clearing agents work on diferant turbidity , with what Iv done plain old gelatin seem to do wonders.

[Husker]

The 3 methods I have tried (which work good), are, gelatin, egg whites, or simply a little stirring some cool temp and time.

Those are the 3 tried and true ways I have cleared. Mostly now, I do not spend the time to clear much. Not worth it. Simply make sure the solids are out, and drop 'most' of the yeast out, and run it. You should not be trying for a secondary ferment, and crystal clear wash. Most of my distills are done as a 2 step distill anyway, so time spent clearing 'too' much was pretty much wasted, since the first stripping run, clears it 100% every time. (So I guess, stripping run is a 4th method I use).

H.

[rad14701]

+1 on what Husker said...

[scarecrow]

any positive proof of poison/any danger in using Alum as a fining agent.

........... and use it quite confidently in drinking and dam water

Any answer received would appear to be moot after that.

Can you remember writing that? JK Aluminium could possibly be linked to alzheimers. That's why they took it out of deodorants.

scarecrow

[blanikdog]

Alum is - or used to be - used for clearing dams here. I guess it still is, but I wouldn't use it for alcohol. I do as Husker has said, just leave it settle.

blanik