Aluminium problem.

[CuWhistle]

What are the suggestions of the gurus?

I have negligently exposed a not insignificant quantity of stripped UJ to a very small amount of aluminium. Here's how it happened.

I have an old style 18 gallon Stainless Steel beer keg that has a copper pipe silver soldered into the bottom so that when the barrel is on it's side it self drains via a ball valve. It had previously been used as a fresh water tank on a boat. I started filling it up with stripped UJ as I 'd run out of glass. The other day I noticed a wet patch on the floor so immediately investigated. What has happened is that once I reached half full and over, the spirit came into contact with a screw in bung, in what would be the top of the keg. I had failed to inspect it before starting to fill and have now found that it is in fact an aluminium alloy bung.

If you ever wondered why aluminium isn't recommended you should see this bung. It has been partially dissolved as if it where exposed to acid. So I have nearly 15 gallons of 40% stripped UJ that has been exposed to a small aluminium keg bung.

The concentration of any contamination would be minimal since it is a fair volume of spirits and a tiny amount of aluminium contact, BUT Is it now garbage?
I'm thinking that since I have plenty of stock, I'll just ditch it, but boy what a waste. Lesson learnt the hard way maybe.

[heartcut]

I hate to hear that. I'd think you could be able to rerun it without the aluminum carrying over.

[CuWhistle]

I'm thinking of giving it a try, but I thought there may be somebody here with a PhD in analytical chemistry who has done their thesis on "Aluminium contamination of ethanol and the efficiency of cleaning by distillation", or something remotely similar.

As I say the volumes involved are leading me to think that it isn't a major problem, but I've learnt a lesson anyway. I'm not really worried about losing it if I have to, in dollar terms, and I've got plenty to drink for quite a while to come already, but it was a lot of work to ferment and strip all that.

[drinkingdog]

I think you have made the right decision to dump it. It may or may not be a problem. Why take a chance. I know in your case it was an oversight but it just goes to show the importance of only using approved materials.

[Prairiepiss]

The is no reason to dump it. And there are no real concerns of aluminium being bad. You have just seen first hand why we do not recommend it. The fact that it does not hold up. That's a structural issue. Not a health issue.

Re run it if it will make you feel better. But think about this. If you take antacids. You are ingesting more aluminum then is in your spirits.

[CuWhistle]

Thanks PP. I didn't think it was a real problem but was not too sure. I was amazed at how readily the strip ate away the bung. I had always intended to rerun it in a spirits run anyway.