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maximum hydrogen proxide

Does anyone know the maximum amount of H2O2 that can be added to wine in order to reduce SO2? I know I need an SO2 meter but at this point I don't have one and haven't gotten around to ordering one over the net.

I have 5 gal of a Pinot Gris kit and I accidently added the potassium meta packet before it was dry. I've splashed racked 3 times and added 0.7 ml/gal 3% H2O2 on one occaision and have now added another 1.4 ml/gal with an addition of EC-1118. No joy. If I'm going to toss it I might as well go to the limit first. The SO2 has been lowered by 30 ppm with the above additions and perhaps another 20 by the splash racking. Another 1.4 ml/gal perhaps?

Don

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Don S
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Anyone?

Reply to
Don S

I'm not sure just how to answer your question Don.

In general, H2O2 reacts with SO2 and produces sulfuric acid. Excessive wine oxidation will occur if more H2O2 is added after all the SO2 is gone.

So, one answer might be.....measure the free SO2 and add enough H2O2 to oxidize the excess SO2. But, significant amounts of sulfuric acid will be produced if your wine contains large amounts of SO2, and you may not like the taste of sulfuric acid.

lum Del Mar, CA, USA

Reply to
Lum

Lum, It sounds then like splash racking ispreferable to using H2O2 then. How does SO2 break down in the presence of oxygen? I think one more dose of 1.7 ml/gal and a splash rack then... hmmmm, I always end up on that "why toss it" path.

I gotta buy that tester, I gotta buy that tester...

Don

Reply to
Don S

Don,

In wine, free SO2 is in three forms: as a dissolved gas (SO2), as bisulfite (HSO3-) and as sulfite (SO3--). At wine pH, most of the free SO2 is in the bisulfite form. Splash racking removes SO2 from the wine several ways. (1) Some of the dissolved SO2 gas comes out of solution and drifts away in the air. (2) Oxygen is introduced into the wine, and some of the alcohol is oxidized into acetaldehyde. Bisulfite then reacts with the acetaldehyde and becomes bound SO2. (3) Some of the sulfite reacts with oxygen and produces sulfate (sulfuric acid).

I would try (1) another dose of H2O2 plus lots of splashing. (2) Build a large starter using Prise de Mousse yeast. (3) Add very small quantities of wine to the starter (1/4 wine, 3/4 starter) until all of the wine is fermenting.

The renewed fermentation will blow off more SO2 gas and will reduce much of the acetaldehyde back into alcohol. But, much of the sulfate will remain in the wine.

Good luck, lum Del Mar, CA, USA

Reply to
Lum

Lum, Last questions (I think), is Prise de Mousse equivilent to EC-1118? I'm guessing it is or at least a close enough relative to use here. Doing kits I have alot of 1118 packets around.

Is the idea with the starter to slowly introduce the yeast to higher and higher quantities of SO2 and I take it if yes then that is preferable to rehydrating the yeast and adding it the entire 5 gals.

What can I make the starter out of - would sugar and water, perhaps inverted sugar be OK?

Don

Reply to
Don S

Yes. Prise de Mousse is the same as EC-1118

When SO2 is added to an active fermentation, the SO2 combines with acetaldehyde and becomes fixed SO2. There will be little SO2 from a small addition left in an active fermentation after a few hours. Also, there will be little free SO2 left in the intire batch if you can get it all into active fermentation.

I would use a half can of orange juice and a spoon of plain sugar (sucrose).

Reply to
Lum

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