Thread: FILTRATION??

From all the chemical compatability charts I've researched nylon and ptfe are the 2 common filters that are good for both benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate. If using any stronger solvents use ptfe only. Pvdf is not rated fully compatable for benzyl benzoate. I understand from reading here that some ppl do use pvdf but i stay away from that as im almost always using BB. PVDF is ok with BA. But when using BB or stronger solvents even though pvdf might seem ok id stick to ptfe to be safe.

Originally Posted by Kindlife

From all the chemical compatability charts I've researched nylon and ptfe are the 2 common filters that are good for both benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate. If using any stronger solvents use ptfe only. Pvdf is not rated fully compatable for benzyl benzoate. I understand from reading here that some ppl do use pvdf but i stay away from that as im almost always using BB. PVDF is ok with BA. But when using BB or stronger solvents even though pvdf might seem ok id stick to ptfe to be safe.

PVDF is compatible with both EO and BB... with that said, the actual filtration plastic "funnel" usually isn't. EO will also dissolve/melt some rubber stoppers.

If you only use BA and BB you can use any filter, just stay away from PES-filters

My advise would be dont take my advice or anyone elses advice on a forum when you can simply look it up on a chemical compatibility chart. I just looked at six different charts to be certain i was correct in my statement. None of them said pvdf was fully compatible with bb. Im not sayin ppl dont use them for it. My first brew ever i used pvdf and it was fine. I assume. But these days i try to do things as safe as i can considering all the risks we take doing this.

Some compatibility charts show that PVDF can't handle BB and/or EO. Usually it's the actual funnel that starts leaking plastic. Noticed that autofil uses polypropelene funnels (I think they are the only company that says what kind of material they use.)

Originally Posted by JTH

It’s an unnecessary step. I’m OCD and paranoid so I always filter my oil prior to brewing. It’s not necessary.

Moral ale of the story: don’t use PES filters; use only PVDF or PTFE. I studied filtration for 2 months prior to brewing. Filtration and sterility are the most important steps in home brewing

I don’t consider this unnecessary. If you are buying non-USP oils, prefiltering brings them to that standard prior to brewing. I have found it also removes quite a bit of the green from GSO. The most important part is that you remove all the particulates and contaminants PRIOR to brewing so when you do filter your products to “sterility”, the filter doesn’t have to deal with extra crap.
OCD? As most of the larger containers of liquids I buy come in plastic jugs, I filter down into proper brown glass med chemical grade bottles/jugs. I even keep oils refrigerated as I notice many of them go rancid fairly quickly after being exposed to oxygen. I have even considered laying down an argon blanket into opened bottles. How’s that for anal? Lol!

I see so much talk of compatibility regarding filters yet almost never a mention of stoppers. How many people are still using rubber? I have been using 100% silicon for years in spite of them costing as much as 4x the price.
Seems silly to worry about filter membrane comparability when the contact time is very limited yet your product stays in contact with butyl rubber up until the last drop comes from the vial.

Originally Posted by Enigma

I don’t consider this unnecessary. If you are buying non-USP oils, prefiltering brings them to that standard prior to brewing. I have found it also removes quite a bit of the green from GSO. The most important part is that you remove all the particulates and contaminants PRIOR to brewing so when you do filter your products to “sterility”, the filter doesn’t have to deal with extra crap.
OCD? As most of the larger containers of liquids I buy come in plastic jugs, I filter down into proper brown glass med chemical grade bottles/jugs. I even keep oils refrigerated as I notice many of them go rancid fairly quickly after being exposed to oxygen. I have even considered laying down an argon blanket into opened bottles. How’s that for anal? Lol!

I see so much talk of compatibility regarding filters yet almost never a mention of stoppers. How many people are still using rubber? I have been using 100% silicon for years in spite of them costing as much as 4x the price.
Seems silly to worry about filter membrane comparability when the contact time is very limited yet your product stays in contact with butyl rubber up until the last drop comes from the vial.

I filter my MCT down to .2 microns into a 1000ml Pyrex media bottle so it doesn’t clogged my last filtration of finished product.

I also windered about silicone vs. rubber. I considered using silicone but, iirc, a negative review on medlab turned me off. So, you’ve had no issue with silicone? Even multiple syringe punctures as a typical 10ml takes/receives?

By the way, I checked into the parastaltic pump (and head) along with the capsule filters. I’ll be going that route soon.

I don’t consider this unnecessary. If you are buying non-USP oils, prefiltering brings them to that standard prior to brewing.

There is no need at all to filter oil more than once. It may help if you're getting GSO from grocery-store, but it really don't make that much of a difference at all TBH. Remember that the more you play around/handle your materials that you're gonna brew, the greater chance of getting it contaminated with bacteria and spores.
But you do what you want with your gear.

I see so much talk of compatibility regarding filters yet almost never a mention of stoppers. How many people are still using rubber? I have been using 100% silicon for years in spite of them costing as much as 4x the price.
Seems silly to worry about filter membrane comparability when the contact time is very limited yet your product stays in contact with butyl rubber up until the last drop comes from the vial.

I see that you haven't been doing this for that long. It's very important what the plastic funnel and the filter can handle. If the materials on the filtration system isn't compatible with the chemicals you're using you'll end up with a batch of gear full of dissolved filter material and plastic from the funnel

Silicone or butyl don't matter if you got dissolved filter-material, melted plastic and bacteria that got through because you don't care about filter compatibility.

Stop overcomplicating things.

Originally Posted by THX

I see that you haven't been doing this for that long. It's very important what the plastic funnel and the filter can handle. If the materials on the filtration system isn't compatible with the chemicals you're using you'll end up with a batch of gear full of dissolved filter material and plastic from the funnel

Silicone or butyl don't matter if you got dissolved filter-material, melted plastic and bacteria that got through because you don't care about filter compatibility.

Stop overcomplicating things.

Please explain your statement in the first sentence.
This is the second time you have quoted me in some sort of snide castigation.

Have I given any incorrect information in any of my posts?

I thought there was no drama here, supposedly?

I use Whatman .22 syringe filters. I have tried cheaper brands, but they always start leaking as the pushing gets harder.

Originally Posted by Enigma

Please explain your statement in the first sentence.
This is the second time you have quoted me in some sort of snide castigation.

Have I given any incorrect information in any of my posts?

I thought there was no drama here, supposedly?

As I told you in my last post, you do whatever you want with your own personal gear. But saying that "I see so much talk of compatibility regarding filters yet almost never a mention of stoppers." is not ok.
I've mentioned why in my last post. An experienced brewer would never write this.

About the stoppers. I usually don't advice people to use EO, that's the only solvent that won't work with butyl stoppers.
And as someone else mentioned, silicone stoppers have some bad reviews.