5 days and still bubbles

[secured-nor1]

Hi

I just give Dr Oetker Dry Yeast a try and it takes 5 days to produce %7 of alcohol. Would temperature and PH effects that much? I had measured PH at 7.5 and wash tempreture was 24.5 celcius.

Here is my formula
wash: 19.0 Liters
molasses 5.2 LT
water: 13.8 LT
sugar content: 2.6 KG
expected alcohol content: 2.5 liter

I will try wet yeasts tomorrow any inputs are wellcome.
Btw, my aim is to get %13-14 alchol in 3 days.

[Kifi]

I assume you're making rum, correct? Fleishman's is a good yeast for rum, but leave your wash at 7 to 10% - never more. You'll get too many nasties as the yeast get stressed. If you want to go hard core on the yeast, order some Danstil 493 - a few guys are selling small packs on this forum and it's pretty much the perfect rum yeast. Your pH is WAY too high - try adding juice from a lemon and get it down to 4.9 or so. Your temp is good.

If you're going for 13% in three days with a neutral, you'll probably be using Turbos and getting alot of nasties in the final wash with it. Dont go there. When I shoot for 13%, I do all sugar, and add Vitamin B tabs, a few spoons of DAP, a spoon of epsom salts, citric acid, and I have to wait a few weeks using a clean yeast like (dry) EC1118. It's well worth the wait.

[secured-nor1]

Ahh sorry. I am making ethanol for fuel.
For now I am working on 19 liters carboys just to experiment.
I have 1000 liter and 220 liter tanks.
So if I come up with good results the carboys I will do my first batch in 220 liter.
I am trying to use the yeast that I can buy from the local markets.

I just copied the formula from here ( [url]http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/id21.html[/url] )
This wash includes %27.27 molasses and %13.6 of sugar in molasses.
What ratio would you suggest for 220 liter of wash?
I do not want to use additives actually.

cheers

[rad14701]

Something doesn't add up here... Using molasses to make fuel sounds rather expensive... Not allowing the wash to fully ferment sounds wasteful... Not wanting to use additional ingredients to get a faster and more efficient fermentation raises the question as to the real intended use of the distilled spirits...

Whether you're after potable spirits or fuel the basic theories behind fermentation and distillation remain the same... You'll need to do plenty of research if you think you are going to be able to manufacture enough of your own fuel to make it worth your time and effort or less expensively than purchasing fuel... It might end up being a full time job just making enough fuel to drive into town for more ingredients and supplies...

Think long and hard before venturing down the road you are considering... Do all of the math and get all the information you need, including how to dispose of the amount of byproducts remaining after the "fuel" has been extracted... That means checking with the EPA and DEC along with the other agencies you'll need to work with in order to be legal... One fine could offset a lifetimes worth of theoretical savings...

Good luck because I think you're gonna need it...

[secured-nor1]

I dont need luck. I need more information and your post does not include that.

[rad14701]

I dont need luck. I need more information and your post does not include that.

There is a whole site here as well as an entire internet for you to research... Without information and a plan you are merely taking a wild stab in the dark... What's your plan...???

I'll be moving this topic to a more appropriate forum as it has nothing to do with Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients... Just need to pick the best new home for it...

Edit: Moved...

[secured-nor1]

There is a whole site here as well as an entire internet for you to research... Without information and a plan you are merely taking a wild stab in the dark... What's your plan...???
Edit: Moved...

So thats why I am here..
I just asked asked about fermenting and Kifi answered that.
I have already done my distiller. What type of plan are you talking about?
I am just trying to improve the efficiency x time x work and you are wishing me luck.
Thank you i dont need it.

[rad14701]

There is a whole site here as well as an entire internet for you to research... Without information and a plan you are merely taking a wild stab in the dark... What's your plan...???
Edit: Moved...

So thats why I am here..
I just asked asked about fermenting and Kifi answered that.
I have already done my distiller. What type of plan are you talking about?
I am just trying to improve the efficiency x time x work and you are wishing me luck.
Thank you i dont need it.

What are your goals here...??? Elaborate on what YOU want to get out of your efforts... Perhaps we can better point you in the right direction to do research if we know... Or just read everything like some do... Not being a wise ass... Simply wanting to know what you know and what you think want to know...

[secured-nor1]

OK,
This is my first still and its like a prototype.
I am just experimenting and learning and this is the way how I learn.
I dont like reading tones of books and doing nothing.

You have mentioned about my goals.
My aim is to produce enough fuel with little work.
I don't have time for a full job ethanol production.
So thats why i said I don't want to use additives and such things.
I am trying to make it very simple.
I know best result for 4.5 PH but its another effort for me.
For the 5 days I get %7 Alcohol from my wash.
so this is a real world result for me and not the good one also.
may be i can use a different yeast or lower the molasses content? i dont know and and asking such things.
I need to improve that to get a calculation if it is really worth make an effort to produce my own fuel.people do that.

and yes I have big plan(CNG) also but this needs to be a good start. btw, 1 liter of fuel is 3 USD here.

[Prairiepiss]

If I remember correctly you are able to get the molasses cheaper then anything else. That's why you are going with it. Correct? Well you will be better off reading up on threads about rum making. They will give you the most information about using molasses. This is a good one to start with.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 40&t=18108

Here are a couple recipe threads in the tried and true area that are easy to find.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 14&t=12504
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =14&t=5994
Yes they are long reads. But if you don't read it all you won't get all the finer details. And since you are going for fuel not drink the favoring parts can be looked past.

I am no expert. But from what I have read there are a few things that stuck in the back of my mind. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

1 molasses washes don't do well when going for a high ABV. They ferment slow and or stall.

2 molasses will do better faster with amendments. Added nutrients. Simply adding a little of this and a little of that is not added work. Especially if it saves you time in the long run. And maybe get a little more out of it.

3 molasses is slow fermenting to begin with.

You posted a few pics of your still before. But I don't think we really ever got a good view of it and explanation on how it works. This would help us (HD) out tremendous in helping you out.

[Dnderhead]

24c is a bit low but any way your not going to git 13-14 % in 3 days even with nutrients.
more like 7 days or more.its not the PH,yeast will work a low of 3.5 to a high 0f 7.
it can be something in the molasses like sulphates.or lack of nutrients.the main
things molasses lack is nitrogen and vitamin B.

[Kifi]

Try using 'Still Spirits' Power Yeast - you can buy it online here: http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/pro ... ower-yeast" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . It can do 23% if you take care with it (I used it once and got 19%), and while it tastes like hell, it will work well for fuel. And use corn sugar (Dextrose) rather than sugar for max ABV. This will take all the guesswork out of it for you. Just follow the directions and you'll get what you need. Good luck. Will probably take a week or so to ferment.

[rad14701]

I am just experimenting and learning and this is the way how I learn.
I dont like reading tones of books and doing nothing.

Just so you know, and I won't repeat this again, we don't spoonfeed members here... You are expected to read and do your own research... Get used to it... If you really want to make fuel you need to figure out how... We are willing to help those who are willing to help themselves... We fill in the blanks but we don't hold peoples hand and lead them down the garden path... If all you are expecting to do is ask questions then perhaps this isn't the hobby for you...

Also remember that you're going to be married to this endeavor if you expect to save money by producing your own fuel... It's a go big or go home venture which is why you will see so few people here making fuel... Feel free to check out other ethanol fuel forums and you'll discover the same is true there...

If it sounds like I'm coming down hard on you, well perhaps I am... But it's to make sure you truly understand what you are getting into and have the desire to invest the money, time, and effort required... We sure don't want to be wasting our time answering a bunch of questions only to have you decide to ditch the idea and take up scrapbooking...

I mentioned your plan and you are playing it off like I don't know what I'm talking about... Well, I do... I've done the research...

Let's review...

How many liters of ethanol do you want to use in your vehicle per week...???

How many hours per week do you want to operate your still without leaving it unattended...???

How many hours per week do you want to spend preparing the next wash...???

What is your time worth...???

What it the energy expense to prepare the wash and distill it...???

How much do the ingredients cost per liter of wash...???

Can you conceal this size of operation without going legal...???

What will you do with the waste byproducts...???

Can your still consistently produce 95% ABV spirits...???

Do you know what to do if your wash starts to stall on you...???

Are you prepared for expensive repair costs should you attempt running "dirty" ethanol in your vehicle...???

I'm sure there are more questions you need to consider but that list is a good start...

Now, consider the fact that 10 liters of 10% wash will yield less than 1 liter of 95% ethanol when all is said and done and most vehicles get roughly 10 kilometers per liter, plus or minus, and go from there... So if you want to drive 100 kilometers per week you need to ferment and distill 100 liters of wash per week... It will take at least one full day of labor out of every week to complete the process... And we haven't considered the possibility of a stalled wash, being too busy to prepare a wash or run a wash through the still... Or perhaps you have to stop midway through a run... And somewhere along the way you need to total up expenses, complete with factoring in your time which has to have at least some value...

Starting to see how involved all of this is...??? Are you still as eager to make a go of this as you thought up to this point...??? Have you invested nearly as much time into "your plan" as I have pointing out the overall complexities off the top of my head...???

When I say "do your research" I am saying it with "your" best interests in mind, not just those of the membership here... Think long and hard and if you are still serious about going forward, then get serious...

NUFF SAID...

Note: Might be worth working something up for a Sticky with realistic planning considerations...

[secured-nor1]

Thanks for your time and the great responses.
Of course I am researching and reading articles.I do not deny this. I just wanted to say I love to experiment while learning.
Now I have 10 custom 330 ml washes fermenting on my balcony with different settings. Not reading but experimenting.

According to this article(Abstract page 6) adding 10gr/liter neutral zeolite KLN will shorten the fermenting 32 hours to 18 hours(%50) and according to this article adding 63 gr/liter soybean flour(or %3) will increase the alcohol content %12.1. Most probably Turbo yeasts includes some types of substances like that you have already now.
So the ten custom 330 ml washes includes that type of additives for testing purposes.

While building my distillation tank and column I was expecting one full day job per week and able to produce 60 liters.
This still is not working unattended right now but I may easily convert it if i get good efficiency from it.
I am moving to a new house the big plan may be full automated central heating boiler running compressed natural gas. This would be very small plant able to produce 200-300 liter per week. But this just and idea not plan yet. and of course it is illegal. I don't think any goverment would let it.

Regarding for the ethanol. I was running ethanol before attempting to produce it. It is the best fuel I have used so far. I may easily boost my car up to 2 bar and advance ignition over 13-14 degrees with very cool exhaust gas temperatures. 340 HP with pump fuel and 410 hp with ethanol aggressive tuning. Yes it requires more energy but I am also making secondary fuel cell Moreover I may easily switch between different types of fuels by just turning the button so running a different fuel is not hassle for me. It is been 9 years since I have switched to standalone aftermarket ECU and tuning the car myself. I have been threatened a lot not do it myself but the engine now is over 200.000 km(it was 40K) with the stock internals running %60 more power over what it is designed to.

and moreover all these efforts are just hobby for me. Otherwise I wont really do that.

Thanks again.