Methods for reducing soluble metal ions in diatomaceous earth filter aids

摘要

A method for reducing the amount of beverage soluble metal ions in a diatomaceous earth filter aid is disclosed. The beverage soluble metal ions can be copper and/or iron. In the method, the diatomaceous earth filter aid is contacted with a hop compound selected from iso-alpha-acids, dihydroiso-alpha-acids, tetrahydroiso-alpha-acids, hexahydroiso-alpha-acids, alpha-acids, and beta-acids. The diatomaceous earth filter aid can also be contacted with and an acid other than the hop compound such as phosphoric acid. The iso-alpha-acids, dihydroiso-alpha-acids, tetrahydroiso-alpha-acids, hexahydroiso-alpha-acids, alpha-acids, or beta-acids bind the copper and iron metal ions and/or change the form of copper and iron in diatomaceous earth so the copper and iron are rendered substantially insoluble in a beverage such as beer. A method for filtering a beverage using the treated diatomaceous earth filter aid is also disclosed. A method for increasing the flavor stability of a malt beverage filtered with a diatomaceous earth filter aid is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method for reducing the amount of beverage soluble metal ions in a diatomaceous earth filter aid, the method comprising:
contacting the diatomaceous earth filter aid with a hop compound selected from iso-alpha-acids, dihydroiso-alpha-acids, tetrahydroiso-alpha-acids, hexahydroiso-alpha-acids, alpha-acids, and beta-acids, wherein the beverage soluble metal ions are selected from copper, iron and mixtures thereof, and wherein the diatomaceous earth filter aid is dispersed in a slurry, and the hop compound is added to the slurry at 0.1 to 20 percent by weight of the diatomaceous earth in the slurry, whereby the beverage soluble metal ions are confined on a matrix of the diatomaceous earth filter aid.