 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/6/2009(UTC)
Posts: 3
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Well, cleaned charcoal anyhow. Here is the story.
1) Ran batch through filter unit (.4-1.4mm stone charcoal) end of batch was definitely not clean like beginning.
2) Boiled charcoal 3 times with tap water (local water pretty good) till smelled clean, roasted charcoal in oven at 300C for a couple hours to blow off impurities.
3) Cooled, re-wetted charcoal with reverse osmosis water for at least 24 hours.
4) Repacked filter column and let rest under water for another 12 hours to settle and let any air bubbles out.
5) Started running batch through beginning with the tail of previous run and moving forward.
** Begin problem **
6) Exothermic response at bottom of filter, quite warm actually.
7) Product coming out has a definite "plasticy" taste. Still there on 5th liter (batch is about 24-28 L at 45-50%)
I was planning to re-distill this stuff to make storage a bit easier and polish up some more but I am quite concerned with the taste and heat response. First filtration run the first bottle came off brilliant and near tasteless, so I am wondering if I did something wrong somewhere or what else might be going on. **Addition ** Going back and tasting I may have to change "plasticy" to "slightly acidic where it wasn't before and a new somewhat plastic taste." Did I free a bunch of hydrogen ions with something I did? Hmmmm.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/6/2009(UTC)
Posts: 3
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Ok, in case anyone is reading..
1) The heat is normal reaction when alcohol hits the freshly "cleaned" carbon. Alcohol wetting is exothermic. To avoid the heat build-up I splashed a bit of a previously cleaned run into my carbon soak, let it heat up and cool again, then packed the filter column.
2) Bloody plasticy taste is still there after another run through the carbon. I'm not sure if I fouled the carbon somehow (I realised that my volumes through the carbon were too high). I'm going to pull back to 4L max of 50% per batch, run it much more slowly and hopefully that will help. I have the filter column from brewhaus and am considering finding some surplus stainless pipe to replace the plastic tubing, mostly cause I like the look of the stainless.
3) I may just put this batch back through another distillation with soda and salt and run it as clean as I can get. I am totally sold on moving away from the turbo yeasts, just too much "flavor" to get rid of in the still and will also try a larger volume boiler with 10% washes going in rather than 18-20%. I have enough in the larder that I am certainly in no hurry, I can take time and really experiment.
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 Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/29/2008(UTC) Posts: 15 
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"Glad to see you found some of the problems. One question; why do you re-activate the carbon? Why not just buy new carbon?
I have heard of others having problems like you did when trying to salvage the carbon."
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/2/2009(UTC)
Posts: 1
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Is is better to use Copper or Stainless steel pipe. I have both in many sizes in stock since i happen to be an Mechanical contractor. Or would that produce off flavors or react badly to the carbon?
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/13/2009(UTC)
Posts: 22
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"Stainless is OK for a kettle but copper is best for your lyne arm and condenser. The reasons are that copper has a high thermal conductivity and more importantly it removes sulphides.
Alternatively, some copper pieces in the kettle will help and the rattle helps to make you aware of what's happening in there.
blanik"
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/27/2009(UTC)
Posts: 52
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I've had heating tanking place from just duliting with spring and distilled water.
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Rank: Junior Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/13/2009(UTC)
Posts: 22
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" Originally Posted by: Keith13b  Glad to see you found some of the problems. One question; why do you re-activate the carbon? Why not just buy new carbon?
I have heard of others having problems like you did when trying to salvage the carbon. Activated carbon can be re-used as shok has outlined and it's less expensive than new carbon. I used to use carbon but as I mainly make flavoured spirits these day I don't bother with it. However, while I was using it I didn't notice anything unusual about it. blanik"
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