isopropyl alcohol?

[jesswah]

Has anyone used isopropyl alcohol to sanitize a fermenter? I know it's used in labs and hospitals as disinfectant, and it evaporates pretty quickly. But would it be sufficient, and would most of it evaporate so the yeast is not affected?

[Tweek]

never tried it, I would bet it would be VERY expensive.

[Wilson]

Dont hold me to this, but I think the isopropyl alcohol used in hospitals, et al, is more "pure" than the stuff we buy at super markets. I think the stuff the public can buy has a lot of other inert ingredients in it. Personally, I'd pass, unless you could find the really pure stuff - and even then the question is, do food/beverage makers use it?

Welcome to the boards!

[jesswah]

Cost isn't an issue. I work in a lab, and its an experiment for work, so I have access to it. I'm just wondering if it would work, or if I should get iodophor or star san.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Wilson
the question is, do food/beverage makers use it?

that's the question - is it safe for food/beverages?

[haaseg]

When I worked in the recording industry, we used the stuff to clean the heads on tape machines. Because it is 99.97% pure alcohol, it evaporates without leaving any residual crap on the heads.

You can buy it at some pharmacies, and from what I remember it's not that expensive. But make sure that you read the label, it should have the alcohol percentage right on it.

Note that this is NOT the same stuff as common "rubbing alcohol"... that is I think somewhere around 80-90% pure.

I personally wouldn't use it. Maybe if I had to wipe the mouth of the carboy off or something real quick... those times when people suggest wiping something with Vodka, I would use it. Other than that, it's fairly nasty stuff.

[fuji6100]

Personally I would not use it unless you were 100% sure that ALL of it evaporated. It is poison and extremely toxic to the liver. In small amounts, you might not show any symptoms right away, but over time it could lead to liver damage.

We have admitted patients to the ICU for drinking a mere 4 ounces at one sitting of 70% isopropyl alcohol. It gradually (permanantly) damages liver cells by producing a toxic byproduct as the liver breaks it down. People that have drank it but not saught medical attention have died of liver failure 2-4 days later.

There is a big difference between 4 ounces, and some residual left from sanitizing, but over years of brewing you could be weakening your liver gradually.

I could be over-reacting but after seeing what this stuff can do when ingested (I work in an ER for new folks that don't know) I'd be scared to use it.

[brewmonkey]

This is not something that I would suggest be done for sanitation purposes. There are a ton of tried and true methods out there and making yourself sick over saving a buck or two is not worth it.

[zoom6zoom]

Common rubbing alcohol is 70%. 91% is also usually available at retail.