Description
A granulated carbon used for removing distillation by-products.
Carbon alcohol filtering is a very critical stage in the alcohol manufacturing process, it helps to absorb any remaining impurities and by products left in the alcohol that was not refined out through distillation. It is cartridge is replaced with every batch being processed as the pore structure of the activated carbon is filled, absorbing unwanted impurities.
What is activated carbon and alcohol purification?
The Still Spirits Activated Carbon is processed in a special manner by which the carbon crystals become extremely porous and develop a very large surface area available for chemical absorption. Per 1 gram of activated carbon may have a range from 500 – 1500 square metres of surface area. Activated carbon has its basis ingredients from charcoal, for which it is chemically treated and heated to produce the final product. Applying this activated carbon to our alcohol, we can absorb many different chemical compounds that are found in the manufacturing process including those that cause unwanted flavours spirit. The absorption process is very complex and depending on certain variables, (concentrations, molecular weight etc) the properties of the activated carbon changes, but in the case of our application of alcoholic spirit the process works best when the alcohol concentration is <50%. It is highly recommended to adjust your alcohol level prior to purification.
What Are Mineral Salts and What to Do About Them
Mineral salts are present in the ingredients of the manufacturing process of activated carbon, before use of the cartridges it is recommended to submerge the cartridge in warm water for 10 minutes, then flush 1 litre of lukewarm water through the cartridge once locked onto the Still Spirits EZ Carbon Cartridge Filtering System. If these are not flushed out, they can be absorbed into the alcohol spirit, later these salts can become insoluble in the alcohol spirit, especially at lower temperatures and can form a fine sediment or suspended haze in your spirit. The mineral salts are not dangerous, but you do not want them in your spirit. If you do get mineral salt haze in your spirit, it will form as sediment over a few days and can be simply decanted off. Would be recommended to increase the soaking and flushing of the carbon on your next batch.
Commercial Distilleries Use Activated Carbon?
The Lincoln County Process is the process whereby distilleries in Tennessee producing whiskeys like Jack Daniels and George Dickel filter their whiskeys through a column of charcoal chips, it increases the quality of the spirit significantly, and is classified as whiskey rather than bourbon.
