SPP, anyone using it?

[Jolly John]

Is anyone here using Odin's SPP? Do they make a real difference?

I'm thinking about ordering some, I know it will be a long wait, but if they are as good as they're cracked up to be, it'll be worth it.

[vino-tinto]

I have contacted Odin a few times about SPP and had some good advice on the best way to use it. I ordered some SS SPP back in December, which is due early March.
I will be using a 54mm x 1m packing height LM column with a SS scrubber on top and 2 copper scrubers at the bottom, it should be able to achieve at least 33 redistillation cycles, so I hope I should get a nice drop of spirit.

I have 40 litres of 40% waiting that I made from runs using my T500 packed with SS scrubbers, can't wait to get cracking.

Have you read the PDF about SPP on the iStill site, really informative.

[YHB]

If you want to make neutral, then it may be worth considering.

After the initial enthusiasm for SPP the popularity seems to have dropped off, from what I read it appears to be a one trick pony. It is brilliant at making Azeo neutral slowly. Run it quickly and the column floods, run it slowly and you get Azeo and nothing else.

That of course is only my understanding as I have never tried it, I have never tried it because I cannot buy the wire to make it as cheaply as other people are selling the finished product for.

Maybe someone who has tried it may along in a while and can give you an informed opinion.

[Capt-Cudellez]

I use SPP, as YHB said it is a bit of a one trick pony. If you are after neutral it lets you produce this in a compact package.

I run it in a full column, when taking off at the same rate as when I used scrubbers it definitely produces a smoother product with the extra theoretical plates it provides. But if wanting to produce less than azeotrope (say pulling 93% for a white rum) then it is not really fit for this purpose, even if running in a really small column.

Have a look at this thread here for some side-by-side I did on my stumpy VM.
http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2621

As YHB said it is prone to flooding so if you cant up the power, and increase the take off then it reduces the reflux ratio (less distillation cycles) and the product will start to taste hot, just like with any other packing.

With my full column and 1900w in, I produce excellent neutral (alcoholic water) @ 1.5L per hour. I can still produce azeotrope at 2.5L an hour, but it tastes hot. Not all azeotrope is equal.