Distillation using Rotavap

[Rotavap]

So, I have been a long time beer and wine distiller, now thinking about putting my Rotavap (used only for cullinary applications) to a bit more fitting use. I will not be doing large batches, as I can only process 3 liters at a time in my evaporation vessel, but still it will be fun I have precise control, to 5/10 mbar of pressure and control of the bath to .1C, so it is pretty precise. Condenser is chilled Glycol/h20.

I was thinking about the heads and tails. Since I can precisely control ambient pressure and bath temperature, this is what I was thinking.

1) Distill off heads by remaining barely under pressure/temp that ethanol will evaporate at, empty collection flask
2) Distill the heart, not allowing pressure/temp to raise to the upper alcohols. This should produce only hearts and not get into the tails.

This sounds really simple so I am almost sure I am missing something important. I intend to make several gallons of mash and batch it out. I really can't add product during a session and not boil off the heads again, so it will be a rinse and repeat type operation.

[Richard7]

When they make a 20 gallon evaporation vessel it will peak my interest! Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

[junkyard dawg]

I'd like to hear about the rotavap culinary uses.

and I don't know what advantage you would have using that machine. A reflux still is better at getting to clean hearts... its the industry standard. That said, it would be fun to play with...

[Rotavap]

Fun culinary tricks:

Distill all of the flavor out of peppers (habinaro's work great) and leave the capsaicin behind
Make clear mohitos
Turn apple cider into apple distillate and apple butter
Make brandy
De oak / re oak liquor (You can take a bottle of old whiskey, separate the oak/age from it, then recombine... just a neat party trick really)
Extract the volatile compounds from herbs and spices without using heat to cook (vacuum lowers boiling point, so heat break down is not a factor)

I do want to get a big still, but I have a lot of other "fun" hobbies such as legal class III firearms, so I just don't want a obvious still in the barn... I do 20-40 gallon all grain home brew days with friends, and I am sure I could find a good use for a 10g reflux setup. I am sure I will do that someday, but for now I think it would be fun to do 3L runs at a time.

I am trying to figure out a way to proof it, although I am betting its going to be 190ish as it should be a complete distillation with no contamination if I do it right. However, I am afraid I will loose most "flavor" compounds from the host wort and it will all just taste like PGA.

[Richard7]

Does it take all the heat out of the peppers? On the other hand can you collect just the heat? Capsaicin is the hot part right?

[Rotavap]

The distillate from the peppers just has the flavor. The puree of the peppers left behind would be quite a powerful substance indeed.

[junkyard dawg]

That sounds like a ton of fun to me...

Happy experimenting.... Be sure to keep us updated on what you try.

How much is a used rotavap I wonder....

[Rotavap]

You could probably ebay a basic setup for a few thousand, less if you find a chiller and vac pump on a good sell. I would want new glass though. I'll post some regular pics here.

I'm near Nashville TN if anyone wants to check it out or brew beer. I would love a traditional stilling coach, happy to pay for your time.