Submersible UV Light Sterilizer Lamp for

[drpausch]

Wondering if anyone has used or considered a Submersible UV Light Sterilizer Lamp, (the type for Aquariums). Would it be a good thing to hang in the sap storage tank?

[Bucket Head]

Unfortunately, it will not treat the sap like your thinking it will. It will only treat the sap that is in close to it, meaning the rest of the sap in the tank will just continue to degrade, and will nix what little the light was able to do. Maple sap, even though it looks like water and is made up of mostly water, is not water. The sugar molecules alter the UV light trying to pass through it, basically. There are UV light fixtures out there that will do a better job. All the sap is forced to go through it, close to the light, for better treatment. However, they are limited too. Most do not achieve a 100% "kill" of all the bacteria.
Steve

[DrTimPerkins]

As already said, won't help much. UV penetration of sap is very low (fraction of an inch at best). Would probably do more harm than good by adding heat to the sap.

[Zucker Lager]

As already said, won't help much. UV penetration of sap is very low (fraction of an inch at best). Would probably do more harm than good by adding heat to the sap.

Hey Dr. Tim what about pumping the sap from the tank past the UV light, the light being mounted inside a cylinder with only that fraction of an inch clearance around it, then back into the tank?................Jay

[Bucket Head]

That is how it would have to be done in order for it to achieve any real treatment. The liquid needs to be very close to the light and it can not be very deep. Much like the UV sterilizers that are used to treat apple cider. They have the liquid travel between two pieces of glass (think a thin column) and it's exposed to the light.

[DrTimPerkins]

That is how it would have to be done in order for it to achieve any real treatment. The liquid needs to be very close to the light and it can not be very deep. Much like the UV sterilizers that are used to treat apple cider. They have the liquid travel between two pieces of glass (think a thin column) and it's exposed to the light.

Yup. Flow rate is pretty important as well in order to get microbial kill low enough. Units designed for household use aren't very effective for maple sap....too much stuff in sap and the thickness of the liquid is too high to achieve adequate kill rates. More info on UV filtering at http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/pubs/SapSteadyUVUnit.pdf