3. Pour in alcohol as the last drops of water drain from the funnel. Taste the filtered water/alcohol, and as soon as the alcohol emerges, let it run into a container.Cover the funnel with a lid to avoid vaporization of the alcohol.
4. When the last drops of alcohol leave the funnel, pour in a liter of water to ensure that all alcohol is filtered through. Again, taste the filtered alcohol/water, and discard the water.
5. This way, the carbon is started, and all air in the tube is expelled. It also eliminates the bypass “channels” formed when using dry carbon, and prevents changes in the pH-value (from 7 to 10) that normally occur when the soluble substances in the carbon are dissolved in water or alcohol.
Once the carbon has been heated and soaked, and when all air is expelled from the tube, the alcohol will flow through the channels in the carbon, and not escape unfiltered. Effectiveness is increased by at least 100%, giving a cleaner alcohol, and it is possible to filter twice the volume much faster.
The diameter of the tube should not be less than 38 mm. If it is, too much alcohol escapes unfiltered along the inner wall (wall effect).
© Gert Strand AB, Box 50221, S-202 12 Malmo, Sweden
