Possible Chemistry Storage Problem Grolsch Type Bottles, Evaporation?

Andre Noble · May 26, 2006

Is it possible my chemicals are slowly evaporating (seeping out in gaseous form) from the Grolsch-type beer bottles I store them in?

I'm not certain, but I'm starting to suspect it.

Anyone else use brown 'beer bottle' that has the Grolsch type clamp who has experience to say if this is a possiblity with these types of tops?

In my case. it involves brand new bottle from home brewing company, brand new tops, room temperature storage, with it (possible evaporation) over the course of weeks/months??? (And if this IS the case, how come beer doesn't evaporate from same bottles?)

Any feedback from users with real world experience using these bottles to store chemistry (developers, fixers, etc.) appreciated. Ie, will placing Saran wrap over mouth of bottle before clamping shut, stop this?

Thanks.

cmichael · May 27, 2006

Hello Bronicaguy,

I've been using actual Grolsh bottles for a few years now to store D-72. I have not experienced any problems using them and do nothing more than just snap the cap shut (ie no saran wrap). I have not noticed any change in solution volume over time. More importantly, even when I open several month old D-72, it's as clear in color as the day I brewed it. So I'm pretty sure no signigicant amount of oxygen is getting in.

Nick Zentena · May 27, 2006

A couple of thoughts. Beer is under pressure. If the bottle leaks it'll lose CO2 over time. Second point most beers aren't intended to be laid down for storage.

It's no different with plastic pop bottles. They leak very slowly. But if you use the stuff in a reasonable period of time you'd never notice.

I'd be surpised if the bottle is leaking enough to notice in the short time frames you mention. How much have you noticed going missing?

The big worry with using normal drinking bottles is somebody thinking they are drinkable.

Jim Noel · May 27, 2006

I have kept a variety of photographic solutions in Grolsch bottles for many years. I have never had noticeable evaporation.
Some of the solutions, such as pyrogallic acid, do have a tendency to cause deteriation of the gasket over many months, so I replace them.

Kevin Caulfield · May 27, 2006

I have used Grolsch bottles for years for storing colour processing chemicals with no problems. But you should be sure you use near new bottles, as the older ones can have dodgy seals. That's the only possible problem I can think of.

Dave Parker · May 27, 2006

The seals are easily replaced..

bart Nadeau · May 27, 2006

I've used Grolsch bottles for storage for many years and have kept developers for years in them with no oxidation discolorization. Here is what I do:
1) Buy bottle(s) Grolsch.
2) Drink contents (waste is bad)
3) Rinse now empty bottle 4 or 5 times in hot water.
4) Fill solution to brim - close seal on solution, not air.
5) Rinse outside of bottle off.

bart

David A. Goldfarb · May 27, 2006

Acid can cause those seals to deteriorate, so perhaps avoid them for fixer and stop bath.

Photo Engineer · May 27, 2006

And here I am collecting Grolsch bottles for future storage.

What should I do? Hmmm, maybe I should continue to just drink the beer.

PE

Donald Qualls · May 27, 2006

Oddly, I've never much liked Grolsch beer, so even though the bottles are nice to reuse (I once planned to use them for homebrew, but couldn't get through a case of the beer), I don't have any. Fortunately, I can buy them new at a local brew shop.

For chemicals, I've been using yeast jars (dark brown, painted inside the lid so no bare metal, and a nice rubber seal) for things that need to stay dark like VDB solution, and clear jars with cam-lock lids otherwise similar to those on yeast jars for other solutions. Got Dektol stock in a number of largish pickle jars (bought a 5 gallon cube, I figure I'll have Dektol for about two to three years if it keeps that long -- so far, it's about six months on and still okay, just killed the first pickle jar of stock), though I've been blanketing those with butane lighter fuel before reclosing.

Travis Nunn · May 27, 2006

Photo Engineer said:
And here I am collecting Grolsch bottles for future storage.

What should I do? Hmmm, maybe I should continue to just drink the beer.

PE

Sounds like a good plan to me.

Gerald Koch · May 30, 2006

Ordinary soft drink bottles of PET plastic work very well for developers. Look for the numeral 1 in the recycle triangle. This type of plastic has a low gas diffusion coefficient. Acidic solutions like stop and fixer are better stored in high density polyethylene or polypropylene.

Nick Zentena · May 30, 2006

Donald Qualls said:
Oddly, I've never much liked Grolsch beer, so even though the bottles are nice to reuse (I once planned to use them for homebrew, but couldn't get through a case of the beer), I don't have any. Fortunately, I can buy them new at a local brew shop.

Bottles are easy. First you meet a cute waitress. I guess doesn't really have to be cute but it doesn't hurt if she is.

Possible Chemistry Storage Problem Grolsch Type Bottles, Evaporation?

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