re-using CO2?

[brewsoda]

Forgive me if this is a ridiculous question....

At the end of a bottling day, when my conditioning tank is empty of liquid and full of CO2....can I re-use the CO2 by pushing it from the empty grundy into a full one? Would flavors be able to transfer with the gas?

thanks!

[jrdamas]

It can (and has) been done. Its best to filter the co2 first before reusing but co2 purification systems are spendy. I have seen several micros just puch it over with no major problems as far as flavor profile etc.

[jrdamas]

oops...."push"

[gitchegumee]

As long as you just use the CO2 as cover gas, you should have no problem. Using this to carbonate is another question. The impurities make it a bad choice for carbonation. Good luck!

[gitchegumee]

Unless you're brewing sodas, that is! Soda CO2 is purer than that from fermentation.

[Dancing Camel]

How exactly would you "push" it without filling the conditioning tank with more CO2?

David

[brewsoda]

Thanks everybody. When I say "push" I really mean just bleeding the CO2 into another tank (pushing itself I guess)....and we are brewing soda, so this is great news!!