National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Grains/Sugars/Adjuncts Board => Topic started by: oblivious on October 06, 2015, 04:48:35 PM

Title: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 06, 2015, 04:48:35 PM
Hi all


Does any know of a source of food grade sodium hydroxide (lye) ?
Title: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Leann ull on October 06, 2015, 05:25:43 PM
Nasty nasty stuff and almost impossible to get hold of food grade for home use, consider Sodium Carbonate?
And of course my obvious question, why,
Pretzels? ;)
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Pheeel on October 06, 2015, 05:56:49 PM
Tyler, is that you?
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: johnrm on October 06, 2015, 11:45:26 PM
Are you making candi sugar?
You can get it on eBay
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Eoin on October 07, 2015, 12:49:01 AM
Isn't acid good enough for candi sugar? You don't need reducing agent from what I know.
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 07, 2015, 08:24:44 AM
Quote from: CH on October 06, 2015, 05:25:43 PM
Nasty nasty stuff and almost impossible to get hold of food grade for home use, consider Sodium Carbonate?
And of course my obvious question, why,
Pretzels? ;)

Don't think it would be a strong enough base.

Pretzels? Candy syrup :)
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 07, 2015, 08:26:33 AM
Quote from: johnrm on October 06, 2015, 11:45:26 PM
Are you making candi sugar?
You can get it on eBay

I must have a look :)
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 07, 2015, 08:38:20 AM
Quote from: Eoin on October 07, 2015, 12:49:01 AM
Isn't acid good enough for candi sugar? You don't need reducing agent from what I know.

High pH will protect the -OH group on the sugar,  preventing burning and allowing maillard reactions (flavour) with the sugar and amino acid in the yeast nutation 
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Damien M on October 07, 2015, 08:55:52 AM
Quote from: oblivious on October 07, 2015, 08:38:20 AM
Quote from: Eoin on October 07, 2015, 12:49:01 AM
Isn't acid good enough for candi sugar? You don't need reducing agent from what I know.

High pH will protect the -OH group on the sugar,  preventing burning and allowing maillard reactions (flavour) with the sugar and amino acid in the yeast nutation

That there's a bit of science there. Look at it. Appreciate it! Consider it! Makes me want to be a better brewer!!!
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: johnrm on October 07, 2015, 09:27:40 AM
Did you search the forum?
There is a thread on this somewhere. I'll find it and post it here.
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: johnrm on October 07, 2015, 09:34:53 AM
I believe Calcium Hydroxide is safer and possibly easier to get. (I got some on eBay)

Here is the thread...
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,8782.msg109720.html#msg109720

Here is the science...
http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.ie/2013/09/making-belgian-candi-sugar.html?m=1

I love when his wife gets involved!

EDIT: I fixed the typo in the subject through the thread Sodium, not soduim - OCD alert!
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 07, 2015, 11:32:25 AM
Quote from: johnrm on October 07, 2015, 09:34:53 AM
I believe Calcium Hydroxide is safer and possibly easier to get. (I got some on eBay)

Here is the thread...
http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/index.php/topic,8782.msg109720.html#msg109720

Here is the science...
http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.ie/2013/09/making-belgian-candi-sugar.html?m=1

I love when his wife gets involved!


EDIT: I fixed the typo in the subject through the thread Sodium, not soduim - OCD alert!


Than you for that, yeah any strong base will do the job :) 

Interesting use of DME for the amino worth a try
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Greg2013 on October 07, 2015, 09:27:52 PM
Quote from: oblivious on October 06, 2015, 04:48:35 PM
Hi all


Does any know of a source of food grade sodium hydroxide (lye) ?

You looking for powder or liquid form ? O0
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 08, 2015, 01:51:12 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on October 07, 2015, 09:27:52 PM
Quote from: oblivious on October 06, 2015, 04:48:35 PM
Hi all


Does any know of a source of food grade sodium hydroxide (lye) ?

You looking for powder or liquid form ? O0

Power if possible 
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Greg2013 on October 08, 2015, 03:20:43 PM
Quote from: oblivious on October 08, 2015, 01:51:12 PM
Quote from: Greg2013 on October 07, 2015, 09:27:52 PM
Quote from: oblivious on October 06, 2015, 04:48:35 PM
Hi all


Does any know of a source of food grade sodium hydroxide (lye) ?

You looking for powder or liquid form ? O0

Power if possible



http://mistralni.co.uk/products/sodium-hydroxide-caustic-soda-naoh
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: oblivious on October 08, 2015, 08:47:53 PM
Thank you for that greg,
I work in a lab and have lots of access to chemicals. Just would prefer something that's labeled food grade. 
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: Greg2013 on October 08, 2015, 09:00:31 PM
Quote from: oblivious on October 08, 2015, 08:47:53 PM
Thank you for that greg,
I work in a lab and have lots of access to chemicals. Just would prefer something that's labeled food grade.

Fair enough but all food grade is really when it comes to this is pure as possible,and you cant get much more pure with this stuff than 99.9%,just saying. ;D
Title: Re: Food Grade sodium hydroxide
Post by: bizarro on October 13, 2015, 04:09:45 PM
doesn't Randy Mosher recommend baker's ammonia in one of his books?  I used it before to make caramel for a brew and it worked well for that