26 Jan '15 22:35>
does bleach really act as a sanitiser or not?
Originally posted by googlefudgeHi, googlefudge, I'd wondered where you'd been, I hope you're well.
Well it's toxic/poison to most life forms, so yes, it acts as a sanitiser.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtI am currently well thank you... although that's coming off of 2 weeks off with the worst flu-like
Hi, googlefudge, I'd wondered where you'd been, I hope you're well.
Yes, bleach is normally hypochlorous acid which will act as a good disinfectant. However I wouldn't recommend it as a sanitizer, certainly not for hands, the requirement is that they both clean and disinfect. So some surfactant would need to be added by the manufacturer and if it's ...[text shortened]... Robbie is to read the instructions on the bottle, they should say what it can safely be used on.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtI am a brewer, I turn starches in grains into sugars and then ferment them with yeast. The process however is heavily dependent upon sanitation, any stray yeast strains or other microbes could potentially leave off flavours or turn a batch of beer 'sour'. It has been recommended in the past that one can sanitise with bleach, but i recently heard from a source that bleach does not in fact sanitise. Its PH value is not high enough to be considered good enough to act as a sanitiser. If however you add vinegar to a bleach and water solution, this raises the PH making it a good sanitiser. I just wanted to check this because I have no way of knowing whether its sound or not.
Hi, googlefudge, I'd wondered where you'd been, I hope you're well.
Yes, bleach is normally hypochlorous acid which will act as a good disinfectant. However I wouldn't recommend it as a sanitizer, certainly not for hands, the requirement is that they both clean and disinfect. So some surfactant would need to be added by the manufacturer and if it's ...[text shortened]... Robbie is to read the instructions on the bottle, they should say what it can safely be used on.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieI distrust your source, but I'm not a chemist. Is this a professional set-up? Hypochlorous acid is effective, but it depends on how much you dilute the bleach. I'd recommend against adding vinegar or anything else unless you've taken advice from a chemist as you don't want to find yourself breathing chlorine. I think you should find a professional to ask. I'm a physicist turned programmer and just don't know enough about the chemistry.
I am a brewer, I turn starches in grains into sugars and then ferment them with yeast. The process however is heavily dependent upon sanitation, any stray yeast strains or other microbes could potentially leave off flavours or turn a batch of beer 'sour'. It has been recommended in the past that one can sanitise with bleach, but i recently heard fr ...[text shortened]... nitiser. I just wanted to check this because I have no way of knowing whether its sound or not.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraOne always rinses, although there are no rinse sanitisers. Personally I prefer heat, it kills just about everything and has no chemicals other than water.
I would recommend cleaning your brewing apparatus thoroughly with water and soap. You don't want toxic substances ending up in your brews.
Originally posted by twhiteheadFor healthy humans, that is. For humans in intensive care, it's definitely necessary. But even then, it's better for them if they've been exposed to a varied set of microbes et al. before they needed to be there.
Also keep in mind that excessive sanitation is bad for humans.
Originally posted by Shallow BlueStar San was developed by a chemist, many people use it in brewing, its even considered to be a yeast nutrient. Its a no rinse sanitiser.
Or at least a cleaning fluid certified as safe for human consumption in post-rinse amounts.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieCan you use steam on the kettles? That would certainly sanitize, that is how they sanitize, sterilize hospital equipment.
Star San was developed by a chemist, many people use it in brewing, its even considered to be a yeast nutrient. Its a no rinse sanitiser.
Its a blend of phosphoric acid and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid. This synergistic blend provides a unique killing system that is unaffected by excessive organic soils.
http://www.fivestarchemicals.com/wp-content/uploads/StarSanTech-HB2.pdf
Originally posted by sonhouseyes you can use steam. Kettles are converted stainless steel beer kegs with heating elements fitted. My small one has two elements that I ripped from two smaller kettles used for making tea and the larger one, elements ripped from a washing machine. They hold roughly about 60-80 litres. Commercial ones are much, much, much bigger. Personally I favour steam because its lack of chemicals and as far as I am aware its a two stage process making it very effective. First you have the heat from the steam itself and then you have another action when the steam condenses. The later stage of the brewing process itself kills just about everything because its carried out at a boil and the hop additions act as an antibacterial although there function is to provide aroma and bitterness. It only when you transfer your 'wort', (unfermented beer) to a fermentation vessel that you need to be careful.
Can you use steam on the kettles? That would certainly sanitize, that is how they sanitize, sterilize hospital equipment.
How large are the kettles? Can you put them in something larger and just boil them?
If they are large, one thing that works is ultraviolet light. A strong UV light kills bacteria and viruses, it knocks them out of the ball park. It only takes a few minutes also.