VA Instructions
Setup Be sure that the cordset is screwed tightly into the bottom of the still to prevent leaking. Mount the still and condenser on a secure stand. A large three-finger clamp or band clamp for the still, and a smaller three-finger clamp for the condenser work well. The ground glass joint connection between the two should be greased with stopcock grease. Secure the still first, connect the condenser, then secure the clamp to the condenser and stand, so that there is no torque applied between the components. A means of regulating the voltage to control the rate of boiling is important; a Variac rated at 10 A or better works well. A rolling boil, to distill 100 ml in ten minutes, is the target. |
Operation | |
Close the aspirator stopcock. Add the degassed wine sample to the sample chamber via the two way stopcock, through the inner arm, leaving the stopcock open. Place a clean 100 ml volumetric flask under the condenser to collect the distillate. Turn on the power to the heating coil. Leave the inner arm of the two way stopcock open to vent CO2 for about 20 seconds after the water starts boiling, then close it to start distillation of the sample. Collect the appropriate amount of distillate, generally 100 ml. Turn off power. Transfer the distillate to another flask to titrate. |
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Open the outer arm of the two way stopcock, to equilibrate the boiling chamber, and open the aspirator stopcock to extract the spent sample. Rinse the sample chamber: close the aspirator stopcock, add distilled water to the chamber via the two way stopcock, open the aspirator stopcock, suck out the rinse; repeat until clean. |
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Check the level of water in the boiling flask, add more if necessary. Do not allow the level to go so low that the heating coil is exposed. If the flask runs dry, and is still hot, do not add water. Turn off the power and let it cool slowly; if you add water to a hot flask it will crack. Damaged stills can be repaired, but damage is avoidable. |
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Repeat the sample test cycle again; the water in the boiling chamber will still be quite hot, so the time is shortened considerably. |