Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I ordered some of this today 3 kg for $6 but $12.50 postage i hope this what u guys have been using to adjust ph

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 96&alt=web

Just wondering whether you could have used PH buffer sold at bunnings which is designed to raise alkalinity and ph levels. I have used it in in the past to balance water in the pool.

Ben appears that calcium carbonate is the go for ph adjustment. See below post

Re: Rum Recipe Discussion
Postby andybear » Thu Apr 16, 2015 2:26 pm

Hi Cols, were you using bi-carb to correct for ph?
I copied this from : Re: My bourbon whiskey knock off recipe
No bicarb! bad man! bad! :law-policered:

Calcium Carbonate is what you want.

I ruined three washes at once using bicarb on someone's bad advice. only tried distilling one, and the distillate tasted like industrial cleaner.

Also if there's any excess nitrogen available in the wash you'll get ammonia compounds. They dissolve/react with copper in your still to make lovely toxic blue/green distillate.

Cheers

Blue distillate is from an alkaline wash (high PH) not from too much nitrogen ;-)

Sam. wrote:Blue distillate is from an alkaline wash (high PH) not from too much nitrogen ;-)

Sure its not Copper sulphate?

Not many blue liquids.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper%28II%29_sulfate

Needs some sort of Acid and copper to make it.


shudder. :text-offtopic:

Never heard of bicarb giving blue distillate think someone has there wires crossed some people used sodium carbonate aka soda ash (NOT the same as bicarb much more alkaline than sodium bicarbonate) to incresse alcohol yields in neutrals if you add it to a none stripped wash it causes blue distillate its all on the original HD page from years ago

As I said in another thread the one time I have seen it was out of a mates little HBS reflux and it was fluoro blue.

Pretty sure that still had zero copper in it. Would be interesting to make a real alkaline wash and see what happens.....

I have had a slight tinge of blue from running the bubbler filthy but it was nothin like what I had seen which was like after you have soaked copper mesh in acid for a few days.

Sam. wrote:Pretty sure that still had zero copper in it. Would be interesting to make a real alkaline wash and see what happens.....

Agreed. :text-+1:

How would a straight sugar wash with a PH of 8-9 go no TP 2-3kg sugar...

Would the yeast fire up?

Should be able to get it there with Ground Limestone or Baking soda.. the later would be quicker former should be a slower release.

with a Chemical fish tank test the water here is 7.2 to start with Strips say 6.5.

curiosity kills cats.

Nother question is should this be done on here or off it?

Its more of a chemistry test..maybe another thread it may or may not do anything...

For a test I would try to do a normal TPW then raise the PH after, I wouldn't be drinking the outcome though :?

Easiest and most available source is egg shells. They are calcium carbonate. I dry them in the oven for 10 mins then powder them.

Teddysad sea shells should be similar to egg shells as well..

Sam will get it set in the next couple days...

Sam. wrote: I wouldn't be drinking the outcome though

Drinking isn't the aim here. :D

I'm more thinking i may have to strip it down to get this stuff out... would be a good excuse to make another alteration, a fitting needs removing..

Only copper in it is the cap and the saddles in it.

I hope its nice and clear.

had my first TP with a neutral PH it was fine i used powdered lime stone thinking the PH was too low. so 7 issnt high enough......

sodium hydroxide shouldnt be created by a high PH or does it?

bit of reading it would create this blue liquid and is alkaline.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide






benpandaae86
Egg shells
sea shells
Lime.


Are all forms of Calcium Carbonate. i thought harmless and should be.

Baking soda Side says Bicarb. bottom says Sodium bicarbonate.

whiskeyshiner wrote:NOT the same as bicarb much more alkaline than sodium bicarbonate) to incresse alcohol yields in neutrals if you add it to a none stripped wash it causes blue distillate its all on the original HD page from years ago

Question...

If Calcium carbonate is used to raise the PH aca some form of shell or Lime would that get the blue distillate?

I was thinking using lime.

whiskeyshiner wrote:some people used sodium carbonate aka soda ash

This goes with the HD forum...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate

<snip>

it is sometimes used in place of sodium hydroxide for lyeing, especially with German pretzels and lye rolls.

Is baking soda safe being sodium bicarbonate?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate

Is there a link to the HD thread?