PURIFICATION OF WATER-ALCOHOL MIXTURES BY MEANS OF NATURAL MATERIALS

The article presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies to improve the technology of purification of wateralcohol mixtures by means of modified natural minerals when manufacturing spirits. The methods and basic filter materials used in the technology of vodkas have been considered. A description is given of the methods that made it possible to determine the physicochemical parameters and cation-anion composition of the alcohol-water mixture, and to modify natural obsidian and a natural zeolite - clinoptilolite. It has been established that applying the modified minerals under study results in a decrease in the specific consumption of hydrochloric acid solution used to remove ash constituents and lime inclusions from the surface, of drinking water, and of prepared water to wash the material: by 1.3-1.9 times, 1.3-1.5 times, and 1.2-1.7 times respectively, compared with quartz sand. Besides, there is a 1.3 times decrease in consumption of the water-alcohol mixture before establishing the equilibrium value of alcohol strength to prevent dilution of the mixture. It has been shown how the modified natural materials effect on the physicochemical parameters and cation-anion content of the alcoholwater mixture prior to and after its purification with modified obsidian and clinoptilolite, in comparison with quartz sand. It has been proved that the technology of filtration with modified natural minerals allows improving the transparency of the water-alcohol mixture by 0.1-0.2 absorbance units, which has a positive effect. The expected stability of the alcohol-water mixture has been determined by the changes in its physicochemical parameters after its resting under critical conditions, as well as by the reference sample and by the array of the reserve of this parameter to the critical limit, and is equal to 26-28 months. It has been found that filtering the alcohol-water mixture with modified obsidian allows increasing the shelf life by two months, with modified clinoptilolite by four months. Modification of natural obsidian and clinoptilodite, with reduced specific consumption of hydrochloric acid and prepared water at the stage of preparation to the main cycle, increases the filtration effectiveness by 10-15% and allows obtaining vodka with improved microcomponent composition.