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I've been through most of the threads here and have a question about filtering after winterizing. The waxes/lipids are not being removed with a coffee filter as outlined below. They just re-dissolve.
I have also tried using a separation funnel, and the waxes/lipids quickly plugged it and I was forced to siphon off the liquid instead. I now question if a syringe filter works that well either. I haven't tried one yet because they seem really expensive.
Graywolf was saying:
"As far as filtering, I prefer a 0.45 micron or a 0.2 micron syringe filter, but got good results with a coffee filter until Joe turned us on to syringe filters. We have picked both the syringes and filters up off of E-bay, as well as from our local scientific supply store.
I heat 190 proof ethanol to boiling and pour it in the oil, stirring vigorously until it is fully dissolved. I pour that through a coffee filter into a container like a fruit jar or bottle, and place in the freezer for a minimum of two days.
You will notice a light colored material starting to coagulate and precipitate out. If you leave it long enough, it will sink to the bottom of the container.
I then pour that mixture through a coffee filter, and the light beige waxes are left behind on the filter."
What I have discovered is this: after two days of winterizing at 0 degrees F as specified I decant most of the liquid and run it through a coffee filter. For the remaining bit of liquid and all of the sediment I use a fresh coffee filter. And the waxes/lipids etcetera simply re-dissolve and pass right through the coffee filter into the batch. They aren't left behind on the coffee filter at all. Note that I've run at least 8 varieties through this process now; none of them filter.
I verified that this is what actually happens by then re-freezing the 'filtered' solution again; the solids are all still there.
This is driving me insane at this point. I need an effective way of getting ONLY the solution and leaving behind the waxes/lipids. I had hoped the sep funnel was the answer, but it plugs up every time.
Any advice appreciated. How fine would a filter have to be if this stuff is still easily passing through a 1/2 micron coffee filter?
I have also tried using a separation funnel, and the waxes/lipids quickly plugged it and I was forced to siphon off the liquid instead. I now question if a syringe filter works that well either. I haven't tried one yet because they seem really expensive.
Graywolf was saying:
"As far as filtering, I prefer a 0.45 micron or a 0.2 micron syringe filter, but got good results with a coffee filter until Joe turned us on to syringe filters. We have picked both the syringes and filters up off of E-bay, as well as from our local scientific supply store.
I heat 190 proof ethanol to boiling and pour it in the oil, stirring vigorously until it is fully dissolved. I pour that through a coffee filter into a container like a fruit jar or bottle, and place in the freezer for a minimum of two days.
You will notice a light colored material starting to coagulate and precipitate out. If you leave it long enough, it will sink to the bottom of the container.
I then pour that mixture through a coffee filter, and the light beige waxes are left behind on the filter."
What I have discovered is this: after two days of winterizing at 0 degrees F as specified I decant most of the liquid and run it through a coffee filter. For the remaining bit of liquid and all of the sediment I use a fresh coffee filter. And the waxes/lipids etcetera simply re-dissolve and pass right through the coffee filter into the batch. They aren't left behind on the coffee filter at all. Note that I've run at least 8 varieties through this process now; none of them filter.
I verified that this is what actually happens by then re-freezing the 'filtered' solution again; the solids are all still there.
This is driving me insane at this point. I need an effective way of getting ONLY the solution and leaving behind the waxes/lipids. I had hoped the sep funnel was the answer, but it plugs up every time.
Any advice appreciated. How fine would a filter have to be if this stuff is still easily passing through a 1/2 micron coffee filter?