Better Bottle™
Don't
think of Better-Bottle carboys as plastic – think of them as better than glass,
because they are made from a special, scientifically tested, type of
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which does not have the disadvantages that
make other plastics unacceptable for fermenting wine or beer.
Special PET – Negligible oxygen permeability • No taste or odor • Meets FDA
requirements with Kosher statement • Clear and colorless • Exceptionally stain
resistant • Smooth, non-porous, non-absorbing, hydrophobic surface does not
carry over flavors (flavor scalping) and soaks clean without brushing • Superior
resistance to cleaning and sanitizing agents.
Designed for Convenience – Better-Bottle carboys are unbreakable, extremely
light weight (about 1.5 lbs [~0.68 Kg]), and designed with textured grip ribs,
so they are safe to use, easy to handle, and inexpensive to ship. They are also
easy to store away when they are not in use. Their injection molded necks are
wide, so filling is convenient; uniform, so a variety of closures fit
consistently; and extra strong, so handles can be attached. We do not recommend
the optional taps that are available, as they can be a source for contamination.
They are also Tim Vandergrift
approved.
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Better-Bottle™
Materials Specifications
Introduction
The materials used to make Better-Bottle carboys and their related components
have non-porous, unreactive, non-absorbing surfaces, so they are extremely
resistant to staining (see below), do not pick up flavors (see the Flavor
Scalping tab to the left of this page), and are easy to clean and sanitize (see
the Wash/Sanitize tab to the left of this page). The special, scientifically
tested, polyethylene tere-phthalate (PET) plastics have negligible oxygen
permeability. All of the materials are approved by FDA or NSF (see below).
PET Purity
From time to time, rumors fly about the safety of materials used to store or
prepare foods and beverages. Lately, there has been a great deal of chatter
about the danger of crushing grapes in enamel bathtubs and basins. Well, there
is solid science here. The glazes on those old tubs and basins are likely to
contain toxic heavy metals that will dissolve in grape juices, which tend to be
slightly acidic (see Mangas S, Visvanathan R, van Alphen M. Lead Poisoning from
Homemade Wine: A Case Study. Enviro Health Perspec. 2001; 109:433-435). Yankee
know how and ingenuity are part of the fun of home winemaking or brewing;
however, unless you have specialized knowledge, it is not wise to use materials
that have not been approved for use with this class of beverages and the related
cleaning and sanitizing agents.
PET containers have been safely used for 20 years and have undergone rigorous
testing under FDA guidelines to ensure their safety with a wide range of foods
and beverages. PET is also exceptionally easy to recycle. Nevertheless, certain
negative rumors continue to circulate around in the media and over the Internet.
Plasticizers Unlike many other types of plastic, PET does not contain
plasticizers. — Many plastics contain oily plasticizers to make the plastics
soft or flexible and there are concerns that plasticizers are accumulating in
food chains and may pose a significant risk. Semi-rigid vinyl (PVC) contains
about 10 percent by weight of phthalate plasticizers and flexible vinyl (e.g.,
tubing) contains as much as 50 percent by weight. Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
is a very popular ortho-phthalate plasticizer. Di-isononyl phthalate DINP is an
iso-phthalate that is widely used in plastic toys. It is generally agreed by all
researchers that phthalates migrate freely from vinyl. They can be literally
squeezed out by light pressure. Kink a piece of vinyl tubing and you can feel
the greasiness. The phthalates also dissolve and evaporate out, especially at
temperatures over 30° C (~85° F). Plasticizers can be a large part of what makes
plastics smell.
PET is made by polymerizing tere-phthalate with ethylene glycol, so some people
mistakenly believe that PET contains plasticizers. They do not understand that
phthalate plasticizers are ortho- or iso-phthalate isomers. Ortho-, iso-, and
tere-phthalate molecules have the same number and kinds of atoms, but they have
very different characteristics. Ortho- and iso-phthalates are never used in the
manufacturer of PET, nor are they added to PET.
Additives Better-Bottle PET carboys and fittings are made without additives. —
Many of the plastics that are used to mold bottles and fittings contain
additives to protect the polymers during processing and use and to enhance
end-use performance. These additives may leach out and they may also react with
cleaning and sanitizing agents.
Bis-phenol A Bis-phenol A (BPA) has nothing to do with PET. — BPA is a potential
endocrine disruptor that is associated with the production of polycarbonate (PC)
plastics and epoxies, among other things. BPA is not used in the production of
PET material, nor is it used as a chemical building block for any of the
materials used in the manufacture of PET.
Dioxins There are no Dioxins in PET and none are formed if PET is burned. —
There is absolutely no truth to the Internet-circulated rumors that dioxins can
be leached from PET bottles when they are frozen. Dioxins are
chlorine-containing chemicals and PET contains no chlorine. Dioxins are a group
of chemicals, which include 75 different chlorinated molecules of dibenzo-p-dioxin
and 135 chlorinated dibenzofurans. Some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) also
are referred to as dioxin-like compounds. These substances can be inadvertently
produced during the bleaching of pulp and manufacturing of pesticides like Agent
Orange and other chlorinated aromatics; however, they are also produced by
burning of materials containing chlorine. Natural fires and volcanic eruptions
were producing dioxins before modern chemistry came along. But, burning large
amounts of chlorinated plastics, like PVC, will certainly increase the levels of
dioxins in the environment. According to Rolf Halden, Ph.D., burning chlorinated
plastics in a back yard fire can put out as much, or more, dioxin as a
full-sized incinerator burning hundreds of tons of refuse per day. The
incinerators are equipped with state-of-the-art emission controls that limit
dioxin formation and their release into the environment, but the backyard trash
burning does not.
Antimony The leaching of Antimony (Sb) from PET has been blown out of
proportion. — Antimony oxides (primarily antimony trioxide) are used as fire
retardants for plastics, textiles, rubber, adhesives, pigments, and paper.
Antimony trioxide is also used as a catalyst in the production of PET. Catalysts
are substances that act in very small concentrations to promote chemical
reactions by lowering energy barriers; they do not become part of the product,
except as possible trace contaminants. Recently, Dr. Bill Shotyk, who has been
studying Sb concentrations in polar snow and ice at concentrations of a few
parts per trillion, found traces of Sb in water that was bottled in one-way
(throw-away), PET containers and concluded that it was not advisable to use PET
containers to store his samples. Dr. Shotyk examined twelve brands of natural
waters from Canada and 3 brands of deionized water and determined that they
contained 156 +/- 86 ppt Sb and 162 +/- 30 ppt Sb respectively.* The news media,
not always the most reliable group of scientific journals, have picked up on
what Dr. Shotyk reported and attached attention-grabbing headlines. It is
important to give this issue some scientific perspective:
One part per trillion (ppt) is the equivalent of 1 second in about 32,000 years.
A part per million is 1000 times greater than a part per billion (ppb), which is
1000 times greater than a part per trillion (ppt).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a drinking water level of 20
ppb (20,000 ppt) and the European Food Safety Authority has established a food
level of 40 ppb (40,000 ppt).
US, Canadian, and European standards accept 5-6 ppb (5000-6000 ppt) levels in
drinking water.
It is so difficult to measure levels of Sb in foods and beverages at levels of
less than 1 ppb that there is almost no data; however, according to a January
2000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, the average concentration of
Sb in meats, vegetables, and seafood is 0.2 to 1.1 ppb (200-1100 ppt).
On average, an adult takes in approximately 7.44 ug (7,440,000 trillionths of a
gram) of Sb each day. About one third of this intake would be expected to come
from the consumption of water, typically municipal supplies. The contribution to
this average from PET is negligible.
* Shotyk W, Krachler M, Chen B. Contamination of Canadian and European bottled
waters with antimony from PET containers. J Environ Monit. 2006 ;8:288-92. Epub
2006
Stain Resistance
To dramatize how unreactive and non-absorbing Better-Bottle materials are,
representative parts were soaked for a week in a concentrated mixture of berry
juices (blackberry & blueberry) and for one day in iodophore sanitizer. The
figure below shows the results. The Better-Bottle parts (labeled in white) show
no sign of staining; however, a nylon part (labeled in black) was clearly very
stained.
Cleaning / Sanitizing
Introduction
The special PETs used to make Better-Bottle carboys
and related components have such non-porous, unreactive, stain resistant,
non-absorbing, hydrophobic surfaces that they are much easier to clean and
sanitize than glass and other types of plastic. Contaminants that stick to glass
and penetrate other plastics soak away without brushing. Also, the fact that
Better-Bottle carboys are so light weight and unbreakable makes them a joy to
handle.
Water Temperatures
Better-Bottle carboys are rated to 60°C (140°F), the highest temperature
recommended for home hot water. Higher temperatures will cause Better-Bottle
carboys to distort and are not considered safe. At temperatures above 60°C
(140°F), it may not be possible to react quickly enough to avoid a very serious
burn. The following chart shows just how dangerous very hot water can be.
[University of Michigan, Pediatric Advisor 2002]
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Water Temperature
Time to Cause
Serious Burn
66°C (150°F) 2 seconds
60°C (140°F) 6 seconds
52°C (125°F) 2 minutes
49°C (120°F) 10 minutes
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Rinsing
The most convenient way to rinse a Better-Bottle carboy is to hold it upside
down and direct a jet of water against its bottom, using a nozzle that extends
far enough into the neck to prevent the outflow of water from blocking the water
jet. A pistol-grip garden hose nozzle will work and there are many commercially
available bottle rinsing attachments for sink faucets. A Carboy fitted with a
Racking Adapter can also be rinsed through the Outlet, which can be turned to
direct the jet of water against the bottom.
Rinse With Hot Water
Using Racking Outlet Rinse With Hot Water
Using Hose Nozzle
Damaged Acetal Parts
Important Rinsing Note – Leaving a certain amount of washing or sanitzing
solution in equipment during storage periods will not necessarily prevent mold
and bacteria contamination or make start up easier. Better-Bottle is not aware
of any combination of detergents or sanitizers, used for winemaking and beer
brewing, that damage Better-Bottle PET carboys or fittings (when used according
to manufacturer's instructions).
With time, residual washing and sanitizing solutions are likely to concentrate
due to evaporation and many of the the ingredients will oxidize, or breakdown in
other ways. The result can be residues that do not rinse away easily and can
spoil a wine or beer. True sanitizers are designed to be effective in minutes,
if not seconds, and more is not better. Sanitizing carefully just prior to use
and paying attention to the purity of your rinse and make up water is the most
certain way to achieve success on a regular basis. Tap water and even some
bottled waters, can contain substantial numbers of microorganisms, some of which
can spoil a wine or beer, as well as minerals (e.g. iron, sulfur, . . .) and
bacteriocides (e.g. chlorine, chloramine . . .). Softened water from a private
well that is not treated with bacteriocides is likely to be one of the least
desireable sources of rinse and make up water. It pays to discuss this issue
with your suppliers and to compare notes with other winemakers and brewers in
your area.
* Soft glass, acetal [Delrin or Tenac], polyamide [nylon], polycarbonate,
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene [ABS], polystyrene, vinyl [soft and hard],
polyethylene, gum rubber etc.
Washing
Hot water and the right detergents do an excellent job without scrubbing. Never
use stiff brushes, abrasive scouring pads, or cleansers.
Detergents recommended for winemaking and beer brewing do not damage
Better-Bottle carboys and related components when used according to the
manufacturer's instructions. We recommend Saniton Soap or Diversol. Patiently
soaking a carboy with a solution of low-suds detergent and hot water is an easy
and effective way to loosen stubborn contamination, which can then be rinsed
out. For faster results or more stubborn debris , put a few cups hot wash
solution into a carboy, add a face cloth, and vigorously slosh the solution and
cloth. Better-Bottle carboys are light, so sloshing the carboy in your hands
will not be difficult; however, rocking the carboy back and forth on its side or
rocking it on a tennis ball placed under its punt requires even less effort.
Important Washing Notes: – Do not partially fill a Better-Bottle carboy with hot
water, seal the carboy, and let the water cool, because the vacuum that forms as
the hot water vapor cools can damage the carboy.
Detergents – Better-Bottle carboys and related components have been tested with
the number of detergents that are representative of detergents readily available
to home winemakers and brewers. Tests were performed by filling carboys, and
submerging components, in solutions of the different detergents. The solutions
were kept at ~60° C for the first hour and then permitted to cool to ~30° C.
After 15 days, the carboys and components were inspected for damage – none was
observed.
Sanitizing
A decided advantage to the Better-Bottle system is that the materials from which
the carboys and related components are made do not wet the way glass and rubber
do, so sanitizing solutions drain away leaving little residual. Because
Better-Bottle carboys are light-weight, they can be easily rolled and tipped to
insure that every surface is exposed to the sanitizing solutions.
Sanitizers – Better-Bottle carboys and related components have been tested with
metabisulfite, chlorine (Diversol), and iodophor sanitizers that are
representative of products readily available to home winemakers and brewers.
Tests were performed by filling carboys, and submerging components, in solutions
of the different sanitizers. The solutions were kept at ~25° C. After 1 day, the
carboys and components were inspected and no changes were observed. Most
sanitizing solutions are effective within a matter of minutes.
Many plastics are damaged by the sanitizing products used for home winemaking
and brewing. A good example would be nylon, a popular material used to make
fittings, valves, pump parts etc. Just a few minutes of exposure to an iodophore
sanitizer will stain and damage nylon and acetal. In the following figure,
materials used to make Better-Bottle components are labeled in white. Nylon,
labeled in black, is not used to make Better-Bottle parts.