Oxygen - Just how is important is it

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Oxygen - Just how is important is it

Postby flamehawk » Tue Sep 09, 2014 1:35 pm

So, finished another run in the new bubbler and phuck me did it make a difference to the product coming out the money maker. Had to pull a mate away from the spout :laughing-rolling:

Poured the wash back into the tub. Allowed to cool add yeast and nothing. it dawned on me that i added the whole lot back in and i don't normally do that. Be that a lesson in operating a still and sampling your previous work with friends.

There is no action. I presume that oxygen is the cause here.

If so, just how important is getting the wash fully oxygenated prior to adding yeast and how does that effect yeast growth and alcohol production.
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Re: Oxygen - Just how is important is it

Postby sp0rk » Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:28 pm

Have a good read of this, straight from the source
https://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_oxygenation.cfm

John Palmer's explanation is pretty good too (I know it's beer related, but it's relevant)
http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter6-9.html
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Re: Oxygen - Just how is important is it

Postby Sam. » Tue Sep 09, 2014 8:52 pm

What recipe were you running?

Also I assume when you say you added the wash to the tub you are talking about the backset/dunder from the run? If so your ph may be too low for the yeast.

Boiling does remove all it's oxygen and you definitely need oxygen in the wash for the yeast to reproduce during its initial stages :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Oxygen - Just how is important is it

Postby Brendan » Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:48 am

Exactly as Sam said with the low pH. Backset (the left over stillage in the still after your run) is added back to washes for flavour, but mainly to control the pH. The backset is highly acidic and only requires small amounts to lower the pH of a large quantity of wash to an ideal level for the yeast...too low and they can't survive in the environment. For example, I'm usually adding about 2L backset to 30L rum wash, or 2.5-3L backset to a 40L Bourbon mash.

With oxygen, sometimes people tend to think if I throw enough yeast in, I'm not too worried about the reproductive phase for the yeast (where they consume oxygen and multiply). However, this stage is crucial to the health of the yeast. Considering that they are dormant as dried yeast, it is important that they go through this process in order to not only hydrate but also go through the motions of consuming oxygen and reproducing for optimum performance in your wash :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Oxygen - Just how is important is it

Postby MacStill » Wed Sep 10, 2014 3:06 pm

Oxygen is very important, just a shame an influx of trolls have arrived who are thieving it :laughing-rolling:
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