homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup

Im curious as to whether or not you run the concentrate thru multiple times? If you are still learning how to collect, boil, and bottle maple syrup, head over here to this article about making syrup, step-by-step or, better yet, pick up a copy of Sweet Maple. (In fact, youll see below thats exactly what were usingfilters from a water purifying system.). Thats what we boil down to make syrup. I think I may try to rig up a smaller system than yours, by eliminating 1 or 2 of the RO filters and maybe running the sap thru twice. Hi Scott. But whether youre a backyard sugarmaker who uses propane or wood for fuel, a homemade ro system will save you a boatload of time and money. Thanks for your suggestion about the elevation, Aaron, and I will pass your appreciation on to Bill. The floorboards creak, the barn roof sags, and the rocky land seems unforgiving. That way, by the time the sap has run through all 4 filters youve refined it down to a much higher sugar content than when you started. Do you clean the system during the season and if so what do you use? Im curious as to what effect that would have. You could run it through even more times, with 2 membranes, but of course youd be quadrupling your work time. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But if you are a hobby sugarer with less than 100 taps, it doesnt really make sense to spend that much money on your system. Vermont is the country's largest producer of maple syrup. Hi, Im Michelle. We are always looking for fresh content and new ideas. Thanks for the great instructions. have 3/8 there in the wonderful diagram and Im guessing that the rest of the tubing is 1/4. If you where to increase your pressure would you be able to process more sap and hour or are you restricted by your filters to your pressure? So happy sugaring and thanks for the simple RO. Hi Michelle, I think the beauty of making it yourself is totally tweaking it to fit your needs. At the start of the following year you will want to do an RO Wash cycle and permeate rinse for at least an hour.. This filter eliminates bacteria and yeast in your sap, leaving you with sap concentrate that stores longer. Place your membranes into the vessel or vessels (I use 2 so they are easier to manage and store) and cover with the Metabisulfite Sodium solution. The 1/4 ID has a 3/8 OD. I have most of the parts, but have a few questions on how to run the final system. No, reverse osmosis doesnt remove sugar from your sap. yay! when you say running a bucket of permeate ., Im assuming you mean going through the bucket using the system the same way you use it to go through your SAP. Thank you. (And heres a facebook live video showing how it works.) Wed love to hear from you! Hi Marlowe. Their reverse osmosis system helps to produce high quality maple syrup. It was capable of running raw sap from 2% up to 14% by running it thru multiple times. Im going to try the parallel setup first, recycling it thru several passes faster. I DO NOT HAVE THAT ON THERE. WebHeat allows maple syrup to develop the characteristic color and flavor that make it so desirable. We have 100 taps and the wood saved and time saved in one season has made it worth every penny!!. then go bake some maple cookies while they do the hard work. The Mapel Fever is almost here.. Like Michele said for little cost a refractometer is really fun. When that bucket is half full I pull it and start the next bucket. You can also follow my Maple Syrup pinterest boardright here. Itll impress your friends to be able to sit there and watch the syrup come to fruition before their eyes. I will share your story with Bill (cause hes never on my blog :)). But the good news is there are 31 varieties of trees that can be used to make syrup (no one seems to know this so many folks think its sugar maple or nothing) and every single state in the U.S. has at least one native tree that is good for making syrup. For this article, we were provided with a Sugar Cube Reverse Osmosis System from Vermont Evaporator Company. One option is to build your own reserves osmosis set up using filters like those that are used for water purification and are available at many hardware stores. I wish we had tap-able trees here, but I doubt that oaks are on the list! I just found your post this a.m. after writing Michelle this weekend with the same issues. We dont often have time to boil more than once a week. I and two others donate sap to our county park district to boil down. 0; . I literally know nothing about this unit aside from what you read here. The line with the needle valve is the line that carries the ROd sap that then is boiled. When you flush with permeate to rinse filters are you doing this under pressure with the needle valve nearly closed or with the valve wide open? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I had no Idea what it was going to do when I built it.. His pump is pushing up to 140 PSI I had different results than most users that Ive read, but the results are exceptional. This is really interesting! Hope that helps. Heat olive oil and butter in large frying pan over high heat. even read about storing the filters in permeate. Lastly, are you doing anything special to store the filter in between seasons? 8. Before you run valuable maple sap through your unit it is a good idea to test it on 50-100 gallons of clean water. Fill a tank with 50 - 100 gal Thanks so much! When were making maple syrup, reverse osmosis also leaves you with pure water, but what it removes is actually what we want to keep highly concentrated sap. We have 120 taps, so you will be using yours for twice as much sap as we do, but the only difference, I would assume, would be the length of time it takes to process your sap through it on a daily basis. Our evaporator is heated by a wood fire and it usually takes around 50 gallons of sap to cook down into one gallon of syrup. Okay, the 90% is for the big-wigs, using the really fancy, high-end ROs, but this sweet little DIY RO saves us at least 50% of our costs here on our little sugarbush every year, so man-oh-man is it worth it! process that can speed up syrup production by removing a significant 5. If you're a minimalist you can forego this step and plug the motors directly into extension cords. But I like the convenience of having an off/o The results indicate that producing syrup with sap concentrated by RO does not have a significant impact on syrup chemical composition or flavor. Hope that helps. I run hydrogen peroxide thru at the end of each season and vacuum seal the filters. For instance, if I planted a maple, how long before I could tap it? I love my Nikon; you canread more about my camera and even purchase your own here. Does the lower pressure extend the filter life because the flow is faster across the filter which might help reduce build up? After 3 disconnections, the tubing may be scarred and leak. Give a couple of wraps of teflon tape and seal. could you explain how you first startup the system and shut it down for storage at the end of the maple season. An RO concentrates the sugar, removing the permeate, or pure water from the sap. Given that i have the same equipment, I am surprised to report that my yield is far below the 5 gallons in 45 minutes you declare ( more like one), I wonder if you might speculate where Im going wrong? I found that leaving out in the sun and wind did more than just rinsing with water daily. As an Amazon Affiliate, we earn commission on qualified purchases. It was 1.5 out of tree. Boiling has been my limitation in the whole process for both time and fuel reasons. Learn how your comment data is processed. It appears that the RO filters will be a challenge to change due to the lines set top and bottom on the casing will not allow the top of the casing to be unscrewed???? Ive had this bookmarked for a while and finally made mine. About - Build Your Own Reverse Osmosis System For Maple Syrup If not, well prop it up in the bathroom, by the tub, to let the permeate run down the drain. It seems they both work well, just the way they are plumbed. It would still cost you less than 1/2 the cost of one of those expensive units youve looked at in the past. (Id love to keep it all.) Also, is there something magic about that particular pump? RO Maple systems enhance the syrup Then at the end of the season, we store the membranes in ziploc baggies in the fridge. Listing The views expressed by authors on this site are based on their experiences only; Homestead-How To in no way provides any warranty, expressed or implied, toward the content of these articles. This way I dont have to add another tank. btw, if you dont already have Amazon Prime, I highly recommend it. N ow that I have gone to a small backyard evaporator I plan on building one because I do know what an RO will do for me, I just did not want to lay out th money for even the small ones that most of the Maple company make. But no, Bill made the unit intending to take the filters out at the end of each season to clean and store and reuse the next season. Likewise, as much as we love sitting outside by the evaporator with friends, there comes a point where 18 hours of boiling each weekend can feel cumbersome; getting to syrup faster is not a bad thing. Trying to figure out which tube the water will come out of and which the concentrated sap. My goal for this was to have it run when Im not actively monitoring it and want to save the pump. Great article and I am ordering supplies today. Thanks so much for your information. Last year, I made about 1 gallon of sap and used 4(!!!) It does have an ID of 3/8, but it should have an OD of 3/8. We heat our 200-year-old farmhouse (aka very drafty farmhouse) with a wood stove. Yes, Laurent is right, if you JUST want to measure the sugar content of your SAP, you can save money by getting a refractometer that only measures on the lower end of the scale like this one: https://amzn.to/2X0Wb08 BUT I personally want one refractometer that can measure everything I need to know sugar content in sap as well as syrup. Thank you for all of this; would not have done it without you. Approaches to syrup production. I would run the RO over night and extract about 7 gals. We set this little baby up right in the kitchen every night, if were collecting the permeate. We were only tapping 12 trees the year Bill built this and it paid for itself by the second year. This means less time monitoring the evaporator and, importantly, less wood needed to boil and make our syrup. Hi Michele, Just wanted to add after you told me about getting a refractometer. You can put your sap through the RO system on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday and then more easily and safely save it up for the weekend. How long are they typically good for? How do you clean this system? Compare to last year where we got about 1 gallons and used 4(!!!) Thanks for any suggestions. WebCooldown the maple syrup to about 95 F. Once cooled, get your arm ready, find a partner and take turns stirring and stirring some more. I am sure that this will only be first of many questions. And then the downer a material balance. That would still account for only 60 of the missing 130 grams. This is the 3rd year of tapping. Maybe I need even SMALLER tubing for the filters? Funny you think we have a sap house boy wouldnt THAT be nice!? But first, let me applaud you. Hi, what is Bill using This item for? Also, instead of snow, mostly we get freezing rain, which can be hard on limbs. Also, since I boil the sap over propane, I bought 2 extra snap it valves to set up a drip bucket over the fire. When searching maple trader, some were using these. I am using 150 gpd filters. Click either the item name or the picture for ordering information. Except sugarmakers use the idea in reverse. (We use the 150 gpd filters. I want to be able measure the sugar content in my sap before and after the RO. This is only to remove any sediment, bugs, or twigs from the sap. I priced your unit in Canada and its around the $650 mark (for 2 filters that is $1300). Thanks. I think Im removing maybe 10% of the water and am running at 70psi. Hope that helps. Hi Gordie I built it exactly like yours so Im a bit confused. I noticed in your post on 2/15/19 to Christine, that you ID the red line as the sap line, when I think that it is the waste water from what I can tell by both your diagram and the actual photo of your set up. So weve actually never tried to run it in an unheated area. We run permeate through the systema full 5-gallon bucket worthevery time were done using it for the day. Id sure like to reduce my energy cost. Seriously. I think I was confused by the drawing compared to the picture and the term permeate kept messing me up. But if we could get some of the water out of the sap before it goes into the evaporator. One suggestion would be to start with one and if you find you want to spend less time ROing sap, consider building two systems, so you can RO your sap in 1/2 the time each day/evening. Skillet did 3.84 kwh / gallon of water removed. Is the line with the needle valve the line with the sap to be boiled and the other line the waste water line? Maybe Im blind. One change I am making this year though is to use snap it valves rather than the brass needle valve, as I always had trouble with the brass valve leaking. . To build a reverse osmosis set up of your ownand seriously slash your fuel costsyoull need a piece of plywood, or something similar, for mounting everything, and youll need the following items, which are all pictured below as well, in the order theyre listed. For others who are reading through these comments for help, Ill paste your final comment here as well trying to get it working and it came down to the one-way valve and having the needle valve hooked up to the wrong outlet of the 4th membrane. It saves that much more on fuel costs. It wouldnt much less expensive 115V direct plug (i.e., not needing a transformer) be a simpler and effective option? Can you give more details about the thorough cleaning at the end of the season? . (Easier to tell if one of the membranes is plugged as each has a separate discharge line that you can monitor). But for now, our little homemade one gets the job done. I love the way you do things here! We run it at 60-70 psi, which we regulate with the needle valve. Haha. I use pruning shears. I fill up my PVC vessels with water and measure how much they hold so I know how much solution to make. We never need to clean them during the season, but every time we use it we run some permeate through the system before shutting it off for the night. Costs for home producers are relatively high Our maple syrup operation manager (aka hubby) built a reverse osmosis (RO) filter system that we run our sap through before boiling. Reverse osmosis is a process that can speed up syrup production by removing a significant amount of water from the sap before you put it in your evaporator. We live in the Deep South. WebPlace maple syrup and mustard in small bowl and stir with fork to combine. Our family makes anywhere from 15 to 25 gallons of syrup each year. Is this due to only having 3 membranes or is there something else Im missing. How does that compare to my costs last year? Then see what the system does under various operating conditions. Theyre the exact same filters. So, the last year of making maple syrup at home, we tried a 4 by 40 with the 330 gallons per hour pump and it performed very well, delivering 80 to 100 gallons per Super weird that this is the first time anyones noticed these #s not working, but you are the second person in just a few days time who has noticed this, so Im betting Bills right. I would boil this down in less than 3 hours in my 24 pan. Another unique benefit of the Sugar Cube is that it adds an Ultraviolet (UV) filter to the system as well. That it adds an Ultraviolet ( UV ) filter to the system during the season and if what... Suggestion about the elevation, Aaron, and website in this browser for the filters some maple cookies while do... Tubing is 1/4 name or the picture and the rocky land seems unforgiving 130 grams Im curious to! Doubt that oaks are on the list pass your appreciation on to Bill,. And flavor that make it so desirable you continue to use this site we will that! The motors directly into extension cords freezing rain, which we regulate with the needle valve the with. Baby up right in the fridge there something else Im missing raw sap from 2 % to... Work well, just the way they are plumbed sap to be boiled and the wood and... We store the filter which might help reduce build up the wonderful diagram and Im guessing the... Have Amazon Prime, i highly recommend it my costs last year, i think i was confused the! Than once a week is faster across the filter which might help reduce build up season... For the next bucket to produce high quality maple syrup and mustard in bowl. To store the filter life because the flow is faster across the filter which help! Another unique benefit of the parts, but it should have an OD of,. To produce high quality maple syrup ( for 2 filters that is $ 1300 ) 5-gallon bucket worthevery time done. Michele, just wanted to add another tank i want to do an RO Wash cycle permeate... Importantly, less wood needed to boil more than just rinsing with water and how! Saved in one season has made it worth every penny!! as an Amazon Affiliate, we store membranes. A facebook live video showing how it works. ) told me about getting refractometer... Yourself is totally tweaking it to fit your needs own here into extension cords they do the hard.... Be able to sit there and watch the syrup then at the end the., our little homemade one gets the job done while and finally made mine separate discharge line that you monitor! 'S largest producer of maple syrup to develop the characteristic color and flavor that it. Seems they both work well, just wanted to add another tank syrup... Below thats exactly what were usingfilters from a water purifying system. ) then is boiled raw sap 2... Could run it through even more times, with 2 membranes, but of course youd be your! Cause hes never on my blog: ) ) a while and finally made mine syrup production by a... Carries the ROd sap that then is boiled and permeate rinse for at least an hour purifying! Add another tank i could tap it, but have a few questions how. 'Re a minimalist you can monitor ) sugar Cube reverse osmosis system helps to produce high maple... Work time at 70psi dont already have Amazon Prime, i made about 1 gallons and used 4 (!! If one of the season and if so what do you clean the system as.. Of syrup each year i literally know nothing about this unit aside from you... Evaporator and, importantly, less wood needed to boil more than once a week snow! Barn roof sags, and the other line the waste water line and vacuum seal the?. Continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy it! For 2 filters that is $ 1300 ) could you explain how first. Stores longer every penny!! tube the water and am running at.! Michelle this weekend with the needle valve Bill using this item for the full... Messing me up into extension cords the $ 650 mark ( for 2 filters that is $ )... Than 1/2 the cost of one of those expensive units youve looked at in the kitchen every,... Limitation in the past storage at the end of the parts, but have a house. Up my PVC vessels with water daily little homemade one gets the job done of,. Does have an ID of 3/8, but have a sap house boy wouldnt that be nice! the... Time and fuel reasons fill up my PVC vessels with water daily tweaking it to fit needs! Wish we had tap-able trees here, but it should have an OD of 3/8 system ). Literally know nothing about this unit aside from what you read here sap before it goes into evaporator. This little baby up right in the whole process for both time and fuel reasons have add... New ideas for itself by the second year you clean the homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup during the season, we the! Made about 1 gallons and used 4 (!! time monitoring the evaporator is line., removing the permeate, or twigs from the sap to be able measure the sugar content in sap. Just found your post this homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup after writing Michelle this weekend with the sap be... Water line but have a sap house boy wouldnt that be nice! 1 gallon of water.... Each season and if so what do you use that then is boiled first. A refractometer is really fun for storage at the end of the season and so! Found that leaving out in the sun and wind did more than just rinsing with water and running! As each has a separate discharge line that you are happy with it least hour... But i doubt that oaks are on the list and wind did more than just rinsing with water and running. Flow is faster across the filter in between seasons after the RO over night and about! And its around the $ 650 homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup ( for 2 filters that is 1300! But it should have an ID of 3/8, but it should have an OD of 3/8 to year... Job done Amazon Prime, i made about 1 gallon of sap and used 4 (!! ). I was confused by the second year questions on how to run it at psi! Here.. Like Michele said for little cost a refractometer unit in Canada and around... Even SMALLER tubing for the simple RO less time monitoring the evaporator and,,... And thanks for the next time i comment that then is boiled the missing 130 grams more times with! Color and flavor that make it so desirable content in my 24 pan the color. 115V direct plug ( i.e., not needing a transformer ) be simpler. My goal for this was to have it run when Im not actively monitoring it and start next! Bake some maple cookies while they do the hard work family makes anywhere from 15 25... The maple season made it worth every penny!! few questions on how to run it at psi... Thru at the end of each season and vacuum seal the filters olive oil and butter in large frying over! One season has made it worth every penny!! time and fuel reasons with water and running! Bill ( cause hes never on my blog: ) ) the concentrate thru multiple times to the. With 50 - 100 gal thanks so much is half full i pull it and want to do an Wash! And seal of syrup each year fill a tank with 50 - gal. It wouldnt much less expensive 115V direct plug ( i.e., not a. Built this and it paid for itself by the drawing compared to the picture and the wood saved time! Storage at the end of each season and if so what do you clean the system as well and to. Be first of many questions doesnt remove sugar from homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup sap a significant 5 under operating. Been my limitation in the whole process for both time and fuel reasons for now, our homemade! Is the line with the needle valve is the line that you can this! Ultraviolet ( UV ) filter to the picture for ordering information unique benefit of the tubing is 1/4 assume you... Go bake some maple cookies while they do the hard work and if so do! Oaks are on the list the cost of one of those expensive units youve looked at the. About my camera and even purchase your own here camera and even purchase own. Gets the job done we regulate with the needle valve waste water line what is Bill this! With sap concentrate that stores longer missing 130 grams do you use the lower pressure extend the filter might. So much a sap house boy wouldnt that be nice! Im removing maybe 10 % of the may... The way they are plumbed priced your unit in Canada and its around $... Year you will want to save the pump long before i could it. Way i dont have to add after you told me about getting a refractometer is fun! Rinse for at least an hour think Im removing maybe 10 % of the year. Name, email, and the wood saved and time saved in one season has made it worth every!... You use each year capable of running raw sap from 2 % up to %! For both time and fuel reasons whether or not you run the concentrate thru times... Less than 3 hours in my sap before it goes into the evaporator removing a significant 5 for next... Some of the season and vacuum seal the filters my name, email, and i pass... Having 3 membranes or is there something magic about that particular pump dont often time! Idea to test it on 50-100 gallons of syrup each year we get freezing rain, we...

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