Sanitizing - Iodophor

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Jim Vondracek
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Sanitizing - Iodophor

At the brewhouse, we use the most popular sanitizing product for homebrewers - StarSan, produced by Five Star Chemicals.  Its great, easy and safe to use.   I noticed in our basement that I have quite a bit of another sanitizing product, the second most popular for homebrewers, called Iodophor.  

StarSan and Iodophor in the proper concentration are both no-rinse sanitizers, but they work on different principles.  StarSan is an acid-based sanitizer, made with phosphoric acid and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.  It kills wild yeast and bacteria by acidifying the surfaces on which it is used.  

Iodophor, like chlorine, is a halogen, essentially a poison to small cell organisms like wild yeast and bacteria.    It breaches the cell walls, denatures the proteins and the enzymes that make the cell work.  Iodophor is also the product used in the dairy industry for sanitation.  

Both products need to be in contact with the surface being sanitized for about a minute.  In other words, the surface needs to be wet for at least one minute.  

I know some homebrewers alternate between the two products, using one on one brew day, and the other on the next brew day, on the theory that what one doesn't kill the other will.  I'm going to bring my Iodophor to the brewhouse and begin to use it on some our equipment.  If anyone else wants some, just let me know, I'm happy to share it.  

 

JamesFaircloth
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I've been using SaniClean

I've been using SaniClean lately for pump applications since it doesnt foam like

StarSan.

--james

Jim Vondracek
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Interesting, James. I see

Interesting, James. I see its made by Five Star Chemucals also. Its described as a final rinse sanitizer rather than a no-rinse sanitizer, its not immediately apparent to me what that means. Seems like they are aiming it for use in beer lines and the such.

Kyle N
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It's basically Star-San

It's basically Star-San without the foaming agent. 

JamesFaircloth
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In applications where you're

In applications where you're using a pump all the StarSan foam can cavitate the pump.  My plan is to use SaniClean in recirc bottle sanitizer just before filling and also to sanitize Fermenters sitting on the keg washer before filling with wort.  After about 20min on a pump StarSan is just a foam bath.

--james

MarkWalters
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Idophor in addtion to being a

Idophor in addtion to being a great sanitizer is also a wonderful indicator to see if your mash is complete. Think back to middle and high school biology iodine can turns black in the presense of starch. I used idophor at home before I started brewing at CHAOS and I always took a drop of idophor before mash out to make sure all my startch was fully converted.

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Iodine_Test

Canuck
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SCIENCE WEDNESDAY!

SCIENCE WEDNESDAY!

The emperor is not as forgiving as i am