Chemistry 101?

Hi Prof

I am busy setting up the DIY yeast method of CO2 production. From my homebrew days I remember one of the limiting things on the yeast cells active period is O2 levels. So can I add an oxygenating Tab to the water a couple of hours before I add the sugar and yeast, or am I going to create some explosion or something? I see the Oxygenating tabs sold in stores are 98% Potassium Chlorate.

Also, can a biological filter system be too effective for plant growth, in other words can the anaerobic bacteria out compete the plants for usable N?

As always looking forward to your informative responses.
Regards
Christo

 

Hi Christo,

No, you have got it completely wrong here. Yeast produces CO2 when they are kept under anearobic conditions in other words purposely without oxygen, only then do they produce CO2 , if oxygen is present they don't make CO2. Don't know what your beer was like, but with oxygen, it must have been pretty weak as with oxygen yeast also does not produce ethanol!

The amount of nitrogen used by the bacteria is minimal, plants need and use a lot more, and the bacteria cannot outcompete the plants.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Oops, thats right, been quite a while. The high oxygen load was put into the wort to quickly multiply the yeast cells, so that the actual brewing could take place very quickly with a high load of yeast cells and not drag on over a prolonged period and give time for bad bacteria to tarnish the taste.
Suddenly I feel like brewing another batch again, another hobby that time just dont allow any more.