Ask The Brewmasters

We recently switched to a new lot of DE and almost immediately had our DE dosing pump clog. We found that the DE had clumped together in to balls of different sizes. We found the same in our DE bin and when we mixed some with water in a bucket. (see attached picture)
It was suggested that there could be sand in the DE, but we didn't see anything under the microscope. Anyone experience this before or have ideas on what could cause it?

Thanks

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Tim Mayhew
Brewing Manager
Troegs Independent Brewing
Hershey, PA
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Tim,

it looks familiar to a case we had a couple of years ago (DE pump clogging, DE settling out faster). We were told by the manufacturer that the DE batch was within specs.

After trying product from another brewery and being able to chase the issue to that particular pallet, the manufacturer admitted to the fact that the furnace during production was not running at desired temperature and replaced the existing pallet: the problem was gone.

Since that experience we keep 2 weeks worth of functioning DE on hand before fully trusting a new delivery.

Prost,

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Thorsten Geuer
Brewmaster
Bayern Brewing Inc
Missoula MT
(406) 721-1482
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2022 08:07
From: Tim Mayhew
Subject: Diatomaceous Earth Clumping

We recently switched to a new lot of DE and almost immediately had our DE dosing pump clog. We found that the DE had clumped together in to balls of different sizes. We found the same in our DE bin and when we mixed some with water in a bucket. (see attached picture)
It was suggested that there could be sand in the DE, but we didn't see anything under the microscope. Anyone experience this before or have ideas on what could cause it?

Thanks

------------------------------
Tim Mayhew
Brewing Manager
Troegs Independent Brewing
Hershey, PA
------------------------------

That sounds familiar, DE manufacturers tend to keep silent regarding production problems like low temperatures in the process or broken sives.
This can all cause issues with use.

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Tom Thilert
TT Filtration LLC
414 Ridgeview Ct.
Arnold] MD 21012
+1 (443) 996-9123
tom@ttfiltration.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2022 17:40
From: Thorsten Geuer
Subject: Diatomaceous Earth Clumping

Tim,

it looks familiar to a case we had a couple of years ago (DE pump clogging, DE settling out faster). We were told by the manufacturer that the DE batch was within specs.

After trying product from another brewery and being able to chase the issue to that particular pallet, the manufacturer admitted to the fact that the furnace during production was not running at desired temperature and replaced the existing pallet: the problem was gone.

Since that experience we keep 2 weeks worth of functioning DE on hand before fully trusting a new delivery.

Prost,

------------------------------
Thorsten Geuer
Brewmaster
Bayern Brewing Inc
Missoula MT
(406) 721-1482

Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2022 08:07
From: Tim Mayhew
Subject: Diatomaceous Earth Clumping

We recently switched to a new lot of DE and almost immediately had our DE dosing pump clog. We found that the DE had clumped together in to balls of different sizes. We found the same in our DE bin and when we mixed some with water in a bucket. (see attached picture)
It was suggested that there could be sand in the DE, but we didn't see anything under the microscope. Anyone experience this before or have ideas on what could cause it?

Thanks

------------------------------
Tim Mayhew
Brewing Manager
Troegs Independent Brewing
Hershey, PA
------------------------------