BottleTop filters pointless?

[Anonbbaas]

Getting the preliminaries out of the way, yes I am a new member and this is my first actual thread posted. I’ve lurked along time and decided to finally create an account when researching Homebrewing to view the shopping list thread.

My question being are bottletop filters basically pointless aside from brewing large quantities for efficiency purposes?
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I ask because to my understanding you’re still removing the top of the filter to pour the solution into, then the solution is exposed to air yet again when disconnecting the filter from the media bottle before the septa cap is put on.

If brewing smaller quantities (50ml’s and under) wouldn’t a syringe filter provide just as much sterilization? Given you’re using an Erlenmeyer flask that’s plugged (sterile stopper of course) after it’s been removed from the hot plate? At that point your only air exposure would be transferring from flask to media bottle then again while filtering into open sterile vials.
Apologies if this seems like a rather ignorant question, I’ve been searching through the forum but can’t seem to find opinions on this.

 

[Rival]

I’d say bottle tops are overkill if you’re looking to do under 100ml. Best done under a flow hood with proper filtration in a clean room if you go that route. Open bottles can get exposed to lots of crap floating in the air.

If you use a .22um or .2 syringe filter into a presealed sterile vial you’d mitigate a lot of the risk and works. I wouldn’t use a syringe filter into open top vials without what I mentioned above, only pre-sealed sterile.

I clean my graduated cylinders prior to them going on my hotplate & brewing because I like to be thorough. Your real point of concern to be completely sterile is anything that passes after the syringe filter through the needle and into a vial.

 

[Anonbbaas]

I’d say bottle tops are overkill if you’re looking to do under 100ml. Best done under a flow hood with proper filtration in a clean room if you go that route.

If you use a .22um or .2 syringe filter into a presealed sterile vial you’d mitigate a lot of the risk and works. I wouldn’t use a syringe filter into open top vials without what I mentioned above, only pre-sealed sterile.

I clean my graduated cylinders prior to them going on my hotplate & brewing because I like to be thorough. Your real point of concern to be completely sterile is anything that passes after the syringe filter through the needle and into a vial.

Is there a better way to mitigate the sterilization issue going into an open vial with a syringe filter? Hypothetically speaking if it weren’t just for personal use they’d have to be crimped with flip tops which is why I mention the open vials.

 

[Rival]

Is there a better way to mitigate the sterilization issue going into an open vial with a syringe filter? Hypothetically speaking if it weren’t just for personal use they’d have to be crimped with flip tops which is why I mention the open vials.

someone with more knowledgeable can chime in here, i’m new to this but have successfully brewed a few times and filter my own UGL gear (old stock I had before getting my own raws).

the best way to do what you’re describing unfortunately is throwing down some money and getting a proper laminar flow hood with filtration that meets certification standards in a medical field. Some people build their own “clean room boxes” but you still need a fan system to push the correct amount of air and a HEPA filter. They can be pretty costly and overkill if you’re only looking to do small quantities

 

[Anonbbaas]

someone with more knowledgeable can chime in here, i’m new to this but have successfully brewed a few times and filter my own UGL gear (old stock I had before getting my own raws).

the best way to do what you’re describing unfortunately is throwing down some money and getting a proper laminar flow hood with filtration that meets certification standards in a medical field. Some people build their own “clean room boxes” but you still need a fan system to push the correct amount of air and a HEPA filter. They can be pretty costly and overkill if you’re only looking to do small quantities

Thank you, I had no knowledge of what a laminar hood flow was prior of this. That’ll definitely be something to look into, still trying to get my hands on a countertop autoclave lol

 

[Rival]

Thank you, I had no knowledge of what a laminar hood flow was prior of this. That’ll definitely be something to look into, still trying to get my hands on a countertop autoclave lol

No prob. Post up an introduction in new member section, and do a lot of reading in the home brew section, there’s a lot of good info there.

I’d love to own my own autoclave one day but have no real purpose as I just do my own personal use. I would look into getting pre sealed sterile vials if you go with a syringe filter. You won’t have to worry about crimping and exposing open vials to air contaminants

 

[Anonbbaas]

No prob. Post up an introduction in new member section, and do a lot of reading in the home brew section, there’s a lot of good info there.

I’d love to own my own autoclave one day but have no real purpose as I just do my own personal use. I would look into getting pre sealed sterile vials if you go with a syringe filter. You won’t have to worry about crimping and exposing open vials to air contaminants

Will do, if you don’t mind me asking what method do you use for sterilizing? I’ve been reading up / lurking and seen pressure cookers, dry heat, etc.
The only problem I run into is dry heating rubber stoppers or any other piece not resistant to the the heat

 

[Rival]

Will do, if you don’t mind me asking what method do you use for sterilizing?

I don’t do any of my own sterilization for vials. I buy them online, already pre sealed and sterile from a reputable source.

 

[Ridethelightningbarefoot]

Sheeeeiit I did 180ml with a caulk gun and syringe filters. I think filtering directly into pre sterilized sealed vials is as clean as you can be without a flow hood or a legit clean room