Thread: Oil-USP, “Pharma grade� and double filtering.

Originally Posted by Enigma

Have seen quite a few comments of late about “double filtering”. There was even a thread asking if it was necessary.
Here’s what I do:
I buy oils (MCT, GSO, etc) in large containers. I suspect that these are filled from even larger containers, which means that, even though they are sealed, they have been exposed to oxygen, which means oxidation and future rancidity. I don’t buy “pharma grade”, which I assume means USP, because USP standard is filtered down to .22 microns, which I will be doing at the final step between brewing and packaging.
What I do is, filter these oils while transferring them after I receive the oils. They usually come in plastic jugs. I transfer the oils to brown, lab/medical grade bottles which have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. My transfer process includes passing the oil through a .45 micron filter to remove gross impurities. I do this simply to extend the life of my .22 micron filters in final filtering. The less the smaller filters have to work, the better.
When each smaller bottle is filled, I lay down a blanket of argon into each bottle. Those bottles are then refrigerated until use. This filtering process is one of only a few things done in the lab which is not under laminar flow. Can’t do that with the slow argon bottle filling.
This is all TOTALLY overkill for the home brewer but I was using argon even back when I was brewing in my kitchen 20 years ago.
I certainly doesn’t hurt. Laying down argon on vials that may sit for long periods of time (years) certainly wouldn’t hurt either.
Here’s a way homebrewers can get an argon or nitrogen rig:
Keeper Wine Dispensing System | Argon & Nitrogen | WineKeeper

There are even cheap cans available, but they don’t last long.

I tell people to save their money and not buy USP oils. Just add a filter step, which saves a lot of money in the long run.

Argon... never considered that but it does make total sense.

I, too, filter my oil using .45 then .22 then store in a fridge.

Great, great insight. Thank you for sharing some of your tips!!