polishing

[rangaz]

whats the minimum time for carbon polishing on a vodka? Its about 45% and smells only a little. It doesnt need to be perfect at the moment its about on par with commercial vodka taste wise

[Stillhead]

I think that it depends upon the amount of contamination. I have found that if the vodka is drinkable, but still has a detectable smell, then the time of contact and amount needed is minimal. I suppose if it's worse, then it should just be distilled again.

Try a couple of hundred grams packed into a pipe with a couple (maybe 3) coffee filters tied onto the end of the tube to slow the flow rate and increase contact time.

Generally activated carbon is indeed very active, and a small amount can remove the smell from a large amount of vodka and still have room for more impurity adsorption.

The trick is contact time, and this can be minimized with the use of a column.

If you want to learn more about it, check out this online book by Gert Strand. Its pretty good, but he confuses absorption with adsorption:

http://partyman.se/free_ebook.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Good luck,

Bryan.

p.s. It may get messy.