Carbon filtering - best suppliers and techniques

[CalwiseSpirits]

What set up are you using for your carbon filtering? I'm trying to improve my carbon filtering protocol for my white rum and vodka. So far I've used two different methods:

1. a carbon fiber filter from TCW - it works, but doesn't remove as much flavor as I'd like. I think it works best for "light cleaning"

2. I mix a powder called Geosorb from Laffort into the spirit and wait a month for it to settle out. Then I filter it through several steps of cartridge filters all the way down to a .2 micron absolute filter to get all the carbon out. It's super time consuming and expensive and ruins my filters. 

Option #1 is easy but doesn't give me the results I want. Option #2 gives me the flavor results I want but isn't practical.

I want to be able to filter 1,000 gallons of spirit at a time. In my research it appears people are building their own carbon filters by filling a triclamp spool with granulated carbon and pumping the spirit through it.

I'm thinking of getting a 4"x48" spool, fitting it with #100 mesh gaskets, and filling it with 12x40 carbon like this. It sounds like with this set up I will still have to filter because there will be some dust that comes off of the granulated carbon but I imagine it won't be as bad as filtering out pure powder (with a cartridge filter? Would it be easier with a plate and frame or something else?)

Is this a good route to go? Would you recommend a different method? Are there any activated carbon suppliers that you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Kindred Spirits]

What type of carbon do you use? I know I have found some to be better than others for use with spirits. 

What proof are you filtering at?

[CalwiseSpirits]

16 hours ago, Kindred Spirits said:

What type of carbon do you use? I know I have found some to be better than others for use with spirits. 

What proof are you filtering at?

I've used Geosorb and a carbon cartridge filter. I filter at 45-50% alc. 

[richard1]

I built a carbon tower about 3 weeks back.  The vertical tower is 1,700mm tall and has a packed carbon section of diameter 100mm x 1,500 long.  Only gripe I have is having to lift the product container +2m above floor.  But this I will overcome.

 

Important is to extensively flush the carbon with water prior to use so as to get the carbon dust out.

[jocko]

How do you feed the spirit into the filter?  Gravity? Pump?   

[Kindred Spirits]

I always like to use gravity. It allows for a nice slow process, and you don't have added expenses for pumps, especially if you already have a forklift.

[richard1]

Ultimately via an inlet needle valve for fine metering control.  The slower the better for max contact time.

 

Inlet is at the top and from the bottom of the column you rise back to just below the inlet point.  Here you exit and have an anti-siphon tube.  In this manner you are always flooded.

[TwentySevenBrewing]

On 4/30/2023 at 7:12 PM, CalwiseSpirits said:

What set up are you using for your carbon filtering? I'm trying to improve my carbon filtering protocol for my white rum and vodka. So far I've used two different methods:

1. a carbon fiber filter from TCW - it works, but doesn't remove as much flavor as I'd like. I think it works best for "light cleaning"

2. I mix a powder called Geosorb from Laffort into the spirit and wait a month for it to settle out. Then I filter it through several steps of cartridge filters all the way down to a .2 micron absolute filter to get all the carbon out. It's super time consuming and expensive and ruins my filters. 

Option #1 is easy but doesn't give me the results I want. Option #2 gives me the flavor results I want but isn't practical.

I want to be able to filter 1,000 gallons of spirit at a time. In my research it appears people are building their own carbon filters by filling a triclamp spool with granulated carbon and pumping the spirit through it.

I'm thinking of getting a 4"x48" spool, fitting it with #100 mesh gaskets, and filling it with 12x40 carbon like this. It sounds like with this set up I will still have to filter because there will be some dust that comes off of the granulated carbon but I imagine it won't be as bad as filtering out pure powder (with a cartridge filter? Would it be easier with a plate and frame or something else?)

Is this a good route to go? Would you recommend a different method? Are there any activated carbon suppliers that you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

I have built a similar system for a smaller home scale, and will be interested in how this works for you at a commercial scale.

Cheers

Chris

[TwentySevenBrewing]

On 5/1/2023 at 3:45 PM, richard1 said:

I built a carbon tower about 3 weeks back.  The vertical tower is 1,700mm tall and has a packed carbon section of diameter 100mm x 1,500 long.  Only gripe I have is having to lift the product container +2m above floor.  But this I will overcome.

 

Important is to extensively flush the carbon with water prior to use so as to get the carbon dust out.

I assume you are feeding spirit into the top and collecting from the bottom. How are feeding the unfiltered spirit into the column? Do you have a reservoir on top or are you pumping from tank into the column? If you are willing to share any photos, I would be very grateful.

Cheers,

Chris

[Kindred Spirits]

The way its typically done is the product to be filtered is either lifted or pumped to a higher elevation, then slowly released into the top of the carbon media.

This flow is controlled with a valve to limit the speed of entry.

The final product is collected into a tank at a lower elevation.

[richard1]

16 hours ago, TwentySevenBrewing said:

I assume you are feeding spirit into the top and collecting from the bottom. How are feeding the unfiltered spirit into the column? Do you have a reservoir on top or are you pumping from tank into the column? If you are willing to share any photos, I would be very grateful.

Cheers,

Chris

For info, this was the build.

carbon filter assy.pdf