Foreshot Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 As we scale up to full production I'm finding it hard to raise the pH of stillage before we dump it. I dumped more than a pound of calcium hydroxide in a 50g barrel of stillage and I barely raised the pH 0.2. I'm assuming that calcium hydroxide is probably the best wait to raise pH. Is there anything I'm missing? Cause it seems pretty expensive to raise the pH to where it needs to be before I can dump it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDistillation Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 What do you want your pH to be and why? You talking about bottling pH correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustAndy Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 We use soda ash (Sodium carbonate) which works well enough at a smallish scale and is relatively easy to source and safeish to handle. It depends on the stillage, but it's about 2 - 3 lb to bring 900 L of whiskey stillage up to 5 pH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteB Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 22 hours ago, Foreshot said: ………………………. to raise the pH of stillage before we dump it. ……………………….. 19 hours ago, DrDistillation said: ……………………….………….. You talking about bottling pH correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDistillation Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Don't know how I read that wrong. It was clear as day. LOL But thanks for answering a dumb question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foreshot Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 Thanks for the replies. And so down the rabbit hole I go. Below is a really good article on Soda Carbonate vs Soda Ash for pH and total alkalinity. The total alkalinity isn't relevant as that's not a part of my local water co's requirements. https://www.poolspanews.com/how-to/maintenance/soda-ash-vs-baking-soda_o And Soda Carbonate vs sodium hydroxide: https://www.quora.com/Why-is-sodium-carbonate-more-frequently-used-in-neutralising-acid-compared-to-sodium-hydroxide-despite-being-a-weaker-base pH level: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/bases-ph-d_402.html Calcium carbonate pH 9.4 Calcium hydroxide pH 12.4 So it looks like Calcium hydroxide is the correct route to follow to raise the pH the most, but it seems not to be working for me - maybe because my stillage is too acidic? (total acidity vs pH) This really is not a fun way to spend time since it's a waste product... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustAndy Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 I dont see anything in your links that suggest using calcium hydroxide instead of sodium carbonate. I would look at the solubility, a quick google suggests that calcium hydroxide is "is only slightly soluble in water (0.16g Ca(OH)2/100g water at 20°C) forming a basic solution called lime water. The solubility decreases with increasing temperature. "The solubility decreases with increasing temperature. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foreshot Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_hydroxide https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate Yeah, I did not really present anything that meaningful other than the difference in pH. I don't think solubility matters if you mix the solution well, does it? It just has to be present. A base and acid interact in close proximity regardless of carrier solution, yes? Eventually the calcium hydroxide would flocculate where the calcium carbonate would stay in solution. So after time C. Carbonate would do a better job even though it's a lower pH? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustAndy Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 I can tell you we use sodium carbonate, which definitely works, why what you're doing isn't working is beyond my scope. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foreshot Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 Thanks - I appreciate the input. I'll give that a try next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now