+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Still have niter after filtering

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Hudson NH
    Posts
    27

    Default Still have niter after filtering

    We're small time producers, just under 100 taps. We don't sell. That out of the way, I run the syrup through a Leader prefilter coming out of our home made evaporator into a stainless pot. After heating up to around 190 I pour it through 3-4 prefilters and a synthetic filter under those. All filters have been rinsed in warm water and gently squeezed (not wrung) to get rid of excess water. I then heat to 211 and check density. If ok, I bottle. Always done this, always worked. This year however, I get cloudiness in the syrup that I was thinking was nitre. After the bottles sit for a number of hours the cloudiness settles to the bottom 1/2 inch. I just rinsed a prefilter with water at the sink, and squeezed out the excess water into a glass and it is VERY cloudy. Any ideas?
    2008-1st Year= Gas grill+CampStove, 4 trees= 2+1/2 qts syrup
    2009-2nd Year=25x11 wood stove+ SS pan+ Camp stove for finishing+ 2 turkey fryers, 19 or so trees= 3gals
    2013-now @Lavoie's Sugar Shack (Backyard Sugaring on MTrader) ,evaporator and RO Lee built, sink with running hot/cold water,stainless table, a new filtering/bottling setup, a newly poured concrete floor....all the luxuries!!
    Now we have over 100 taps and in 2015 made over 30 gallons!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Greenwood, Maine
    Posts
    466

    Default

    1st you can't bring it back up over 190 -200 or it will start bringing out the sugar sands again you were lucky in the past.
    Brian
    Velvet Hollow Sugarworks
    Greenwood, Maine
    900 taps
    CDL 2X6, leader RO

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    589

    Default

    You are filtering and then reheating to 211? If so, that's what's causing the problem. Filtered syrup should not be heated past 190 (?). Here is an alternate procedure:

    1. Evaporate to finished density (or close). Filter as it comes off the evaporator
    2. Check density and adjust.
    3. Reheat
    4. Filter
    5. Bottle immediately. Ensure that temp remains above 180 for bottling.
    60ish taps on buckets
    D&G Sportsman 18x63
    Turbo RB15 RO Bucket

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Westfield, NY
    Posts
    245

    Default

    Did you inadvertently flip the filters? Mark each one as top side and always run same side up.
    backyard hobbyist
    Mason 2x3 w/AUF
    2020 - added small vacuum and gravity 5/16 tubing and sap sacks
    N 42* 18' 31."
    W 79* 34' 15."
    https://www.saptapapps.com/map/31868...-aab748a6394e/

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Location
    Cayuga Ontario Canada
    Posts
    48

    Default

    you need a temperature compensation chart or Murphy cup so you dont have to get to 211 for the Hydrometer!
    THOR 20x68" + for 2022 Homebuilt 4-40 single post RO
    2022 180 buckets and 300 on 3/16 gravity 500L Syrup
    2021 305 Buckets and 95 on 3/16 gravity 423L Syrup
    2020 350 Buckets 375L Syrup
    2019 250 Buckets 270L Syrup

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Hudson NH
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Thanks for the answers guys.... I see what's happening....
    2008-1st Year= Gas grill+CampStove, 4 trees= 2+1/2 qts syrup
    2009-2nd Year=25x11 wood stove+ SS pan+ Camp stove for finishing+ 2 turkey fryers, 19 or so trees= 3gals
    2013-now @Lavoie's Sugar Shack (Backyard Sugaring on MTrader) ,evaporator and RO Lee built, sink with running hot/cold water,stainless table, a new filtering/bottling setup, a newly poured concrete floor....all the luxuries!!
    Now we have over 100 taps and in 2015 made over 30 gallons!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Albany ny
    Posts
    1

    Default

    I'm getting sand in my filtered syrup. I use a hydrometer to test density, then cool to 190 and filter through pre-filters and a synthetic cone filter. I then heat back up to 185 on the stove top and bottle into mason jars i heat in the oven to 185. What am I doing wrong?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    North Grenville, Ontario
    Posts
    971

    Default

    I’ve found in the past that using direct heat like a stove top to heat syrup will bring nitre back. You could try slowly bringing the syrup to temp on a really low setting. That might cut down the nitre. On my water jacketed bottler it takes over 2 hours to heat up a full batch ( 10 gallons) to 180-185 F. I could possibly turn it up higher. But I like to be safe.
    600 taps on vacuum
    Lapierre mechanical Releaser
    CDL electric releaser
    2.5 x 10 CDL Venturi ( new for the 2024 season )
    Home made modulating auto draw off
    Homemade RO 2 x 4" membranes
    CDL 16 x 16 bottler
    Wesfab 7" filter press
    Delaval 73 vacuum pumps

    12 hives of bees

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts