Problems Removing activated carbon

NWShineNoob · Post by **NWShineNoob** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:41 pm

So I made a noob mistake and didn't wash activated carbon before adding it to spirit. The I added carbon straight to jugs and I am having problems removing some of the smaller particles. Filtering thorough coffee paper gets the larger stuff, but the smaller fine bits are still in there giving the spitir a dark gray color. Is there a simple fix to this besides re-distilling?

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:37 pm

let it sit for a week or more, and it will all sink to the bottom, then siphon it off.
if it's not good after a week, wait longer, it will eventually sink

Jameson Beam · Post by **Jameson Beam** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:15 am

stoker wrote:let it sit for a week or more, and it will all sink to the bottom, then siphon it off.
if it's not good after a week, wait longer, it will eventually sink

Or take large funnel - put 2 layers of filter paper in, then add soaked activated charcol and strain. If what Stoker said dont work, then just water it down a bit and re-distill if its neutral spirits which is what i assume your making...

Otherwise, I would question why you added activated charcoal to a corn whiskey - unless your trying to duplicate the Lincoln County Process:
"in which the whiskey is filtered through a thick layer of maple charcoal before it is put into casks for aging." Which is what they do for Tennessee Whiskeys...

Filtering corn whiskey in activated charcoal does nothing but remove flavors but the maple charcoal adds flavors

.

Vino es Veritas,
Jim.

Still_Crazy · Post by **Still_Crazy** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:00 am

Just a reminder for new carbon:
Boil water in separate container then pour/stir over carbon in glass or SS container. Pour off floating scum and dirty water, then repeat until clean, usually 4 or 6 times for a pound of carbon.

Filter neutral alcohol product by soaking on carbon and or carbon tube etc.

To remove the carbon I've used 1, 2, and 3 coffee filters together OR 3 cotton balls stuffed in a funnel neck.... and even used, yes rolled toilet paper stuffed in the funnel (unscented). Find what works best for you.

Waiting to settle and decanting/siphoning is always good.
I found that using a laser pointer and looking back at the beam through the jar, say a pint or gallon even, that you still see some particles when only using coffee filters or cotton etc. Compared to house tap water you could tell the difference. I eventually bought a filter pump and filter only the neutral 'vodka' product so I don't have to wait for it to settle... and I run it all through the filter not losing any.

Boil the used carbon and smell some of the nasties that come from the steam. Then bake the carbon in the oven at 400f if you can without starting any fights

on a foil-lined cookie sheet or similar. You could just lay it out in the sun too.

Happy New Year!

zymos · Post by **zymos** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:43 am

It is common to wash it in some dilute citric acid to "sweeten" it up too.
Same goes for paper filter sheets/pads, to remove the cardboard taste.

Pikluk · Post by **Pikluk** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:12 pm

filter paper like this

http://xinhua.vip.tootoo.com/viewitems/ ... lter-paper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

will remove all carbon and even some fusel oil.

will take a few hours to get a gallon trough"unless you use a vacuum pump/aspirator,filter flask and a Buchner Funnel" but it works great.

example of filter flask and funnel
http://www.crscientific.com/filterflasks.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

terryt · Post by **terryt** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:28 pm

I've heard that an easy way of filtering out carbon is by using a few layers of paper towels inside a funnel.