E
endora
- 67
- 18
Any chance you could chill the filter?And the waxes/lipids etcetera simply re-dissolve and pass right through the coffee filter into the batch.
Hey, thanks anyway. Any input helps. I'm just doing small batches of cartridges for my patients. Pen vapes are a game changer for them.
Part of me wonders if anyone else has ever re-winterized to see just how effective their filtration process actually works...? but honestly I bet a syringe filter will solve the problem for me. I would love to have a .25 micron stainless filter mesh, though: get that frozen and you'd be good to go for sure.
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?
Hi guys.
I saw a milky-ish flow in the filtered liquid so I suspected that the waxes/lipids were going back into the liquid through the filter. Possibly due to it warming, but I do it right out of the freezer, so... When I re-winterized the already-winterized and then filtered ethanol, there those same solids are at the bottom again. Some of them do end up staying on the filter; but not nearly all of them.
A vac-assist is just gonna pull them through more effectively, but maybe with a lab-grade filter. I'll look into that. Icultivate: I can't post pictures of something that isn't there. When I re-winterize? There it is. It looks just like after the first winterizing. Nothing confusing about it.
I am converting this into oil for cartridges so this step is critical. My first couple batches where I didn't worry about the filter problem ended up eventually congealing and the cartridges failed. My later batches where I siphoned off from the top and filtered that have all worked great and re-winterizing shows no remaining waxes etc.
I've decided a few things since my first post. Syringe filters seem like a worthy investment; I'll go for the .22 micron ones. I guess I could also try a different brand of coffee filters. I am also going to check the actual temp of my freezer; maybe it's not fully down to zero. I doubt that 10 degrees is much worse than 0 degrees but maybe so?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?