Hydroton as packing

[Tōtōchtin]

When I lift 5' of 3" "M" copper pipe I can't imagine what it would be like filled with marbles or lava. Hydroton is very light and porous inert material. I believe it was made as a foundation in road building in Europe if I remember right. Hydroponic industry on a small scale took right to it. Easy to clean between runs. I have some old welders cable somewhere on the ranch I might try first. I'll have to see what it weighs once stripped. If it's as heavy as I remember I'll be buying a suitcase for my next trip to the States as Hydroton 3x the money down here.
Tōtō

[Deplorable]

How does it perform in high temperature ethanol?

[Tōtōchtin]

Well as I have never ran it, I truthfully couldn't say. The care needed to run this is just rinse well with water to remove dust created during manufacturing,shipping ect. I also presoaked in a 5.5 pH water before using in greenhouse to stop a pH rise. I see no problem with the pH as the low wines will be in that range. I added some MSDS sheet below. Since the material is known I feel it safer then lava, much more uniform in size so it can be packed more densely. They float so easier to clean afterwards.

mother-earth-74114-msds.pdf

(189.52 KiB) Downloaded 60 times

Hydrotone (1).pdf

(279.32 KiB) Downloaded 53 times

Disclaimer: I do not own any stocks nor receive payments from these companies.
Tōtō

[shadylane]

Kilned, clay balls. Sounds safe enough to me.
Since the product is light in weight, make sure it stays in place and doesn't float up during a puke and plug something up.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mother-Earth ... d106457cad

[NZChris]

My search of the forum for this seems to have found more info than you are aware of. Maybe you need to hone your search skills?

[Demy]

Here in Italy we simply call it expanded clay... it is used in construction as a light inert material and is used in various sectors including growing flowers in pots. I think it was discussed on the forum, I personally haven't tried it but I'm curious (I use scrubbers)

[Tōtōchtin]

My search of the forum for this seems to have found more info than you are aware of. Maybe you need to hone your search skills?

What did you find you feel the need to keep mysterious?
Tōtō

[Salt Must Flow]

If you're shopping around for Hydroton, I'd be sure to know what size they are. Too big and it will likely be less effective. Too small and the column can flood. I use Lava Rock and that Hydroton appears to be significantly larger. Below is a pic of the size I use inside of a wide mouth quart jar.

[Tōtōchtin]

There are different manufacturers,some making round balls about 3/8-7/16. Others looks more like slag. Being a non Stiller I'm guessing here but the round Hydroton I've used packs well which I feel would allow the hot vapor to freely flow thru evaporating the reflux quickly. Also if you wanted smaller pieces they could be hit with a board to make smaller pieces exposing the porous inside. This could be done quicker then screening lava. Tōtō

[Wildcats]

Sounds like you are going to give it a try. I look forward to hearing back from you about how they do in a run.

[NZChris]

My search of the forum for this seems to have found more info than you are aware of. Maybe you need to hone your search skills?

What did you find you feel the need to keep mysterious?
Tōtō

Nothing that anybody else can't find with a Google search. https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A ... nt=gws-wiz

[shadylane]

Sounds like you are going to give it a try. I look forward to hearing back from you about how they do in a run.

+1

[Tōtōchtin]

I went to that link NZChris posted, a few people say they use it and wonder why others don't. No mention on outputs compared to other packing.One believes he heard it turns to mush,which I seriously doubt using it for years. But ethanol is a strong solvent.That persons linked a 20 page thread ,I couldn't find one reference to this product.
I would think with the surface area, porosity,and shape you would get some vapor speeds that could give you more product quicker.
They are quick to clean and sterilize but that's not as important with distilling. For me the weakest link is it might hold onto flavors,running neutrals should be much flavor to hold onto though. But that would be the same with lava or pumice rock.
I have 2 20' welder leads on the ranch I want to track down and see how that cleans up,and fluffs out. If I can lift a 5' section and install it I'll more then likely use that as I'm broke and have zero Hydroton here.
For those in a large city and feel like trying it ,the hydroponic store usually have small bags as free samples. Put those in a jar of 95% and shake the crap out of it. Like I've said before I've never ran my own still but I have run extractor tubes,watched solvents flow and work. I'd bet a puro it would work well,but then again I might have lost a bet in my lifetime.
Tōtō

[elbono]

I have 2 20' welder leads on the ranch I want to track down and see how that cleans up,and fluffs out.

I assume you have already seen this but just in case you haven't:
viewtopic.php?t=47650

[Tōtōchtin]

I thank you you that, I did stumble across that thread about 10 days ago. I have gone from searching for copper rivits/washers ,to thinking about winding up some copper #14.

[elbono]

That one is about stuff similar to your welding cables.

Here's one about all kinds of packing, it's an oldie but a goodie.
viewtopic.php?t=30727

[Tōtōchtin]

I read that last night looking for hydroton references. 20 pages full of ideas but no real comparisons as to what works best. Well l guess maybe spp in a 2"column works well by people's comments. Dixon rings look interesting also but you don't see people using them.
Tōtō

[NZChris]

I read that last night looking for hydroton references. 20 pages full of ideas but no real comparisons as to what works best. Well l guess maybe spp in a 2"column works well by people's comments. Dixon rings look interesting also but you don't see people using them.
Tōtō

Sometimes .... you have to be the first.

Try it, keep good records. The worst that can happen is that the trial might not get you the result that you hoped for and you have to run it again.

I'm not going to do it for you because the marbles that I'm using are already doing a stellar job and only need boiling water poured through them at the end of the run to clean them for the next run.

[Tōtōchtin]

NZChris, I might have to try the hydroton,as we looked fairly well yesterday around the ranch. Seems 40' of cable wondered off. I should have grabbed those copper rivets while I had the chance. I feel using an unknown factor as a unskilled Stiller is a bad way to start. I have nothing to compare it against. I've only helped a few times making raicilla in a wooden/agave still. As a electrician/lighting guy I wanted to use the cables if I could have lifted and installed the column. Time will tell...
Tōtō

[elbono]

I feel using an unknown factor as a unskilled Stiller is a bad way to start.
Tōtō

Definitely, I started with SS scrubbies since they're cheap, easy to get and a known factor. Still needed to learn how to drive the still. My 2" column is very short so I couldn't make azeo, not a surprise. Moved to SPP and it definitely works very well even in a short column but it is expensive.

I have other things I want to try but haven't had time yet.