Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2015

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M. Eng.

Department

Chemical Engineering

Committee Chair

Watters, James C.

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Willing, Gerold

Committee Member

Brehob, Ellen

Subject

Filters and filtration--Industrial applications; Whiskey industry; Distillation--Technological innovations

Abstract

This thesis summarizes a feasibility study focused on filtering American whiskey, matured in new toasted and charred casks, at 25 ºF in order to remove haze which forms when product is diluted from cask strength (62% ABV) to bottling strength (40 – 50% ABV). Chill filtration is a process already implemented in the brown spirits industry in order to guarantee the stability of products at different ethyl alcohol concentrations. The filtration trials and cellulose-pad performance were evaluated in terms of economics, turbidity reduction, test time, throughput, color reduction, and shelf life stability. Those trials with satisfactory overall color and stability results were tested to determine the best performing filtration system. Chill filtration showed better product stability when compared with the current filtration system (consisting of carbon treatment and overnight hold).Two filtration pads were initially tested: a cellulose/diatomaceous earth (DE) pad and a cellulose-only pad. Although the cellulose/DE pad provided excellent stability results, it exhibited low product throughput and excessive color removal. The cellulose-only pads provided overall acceptable product stability, low color removal, and adequate throughput.

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