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What does floculate mean when it comes to yeast

It is the tendancy for yeast to gather either at the top or bottom of the brew. The more it gathers the higher the floculation

Dogger

Thanks for the quick reply dogger. Awsome

It may not be right you know.

I think it is really used with ales, the top fermenting yeasts and there ability to gather on the surface.



Dogger

No, I think you are right Dogger. It is the ability of the yeast to drop out of suspension (be it lager or ale) thus making a clearer beer.

Dogger Dan wrote:It may not be right you know.

I think it is really used with ales, the top fermenting yeasts and there ability to gather on the surface.



Dogger

yeah, you're right, a yeast's "flocculation" relates to the strength of the attractive forces between yeast cells. The yeast stick together to form a large mass that drops to the bottom of the frementer.

My understanding of a flocculant, is an additive or chemical that gathers any waste or unwanted product.......binds it together and seperates it from good or wanted product.

I work in an iron ore mine and have large tanks of water we use to process the ore. We reuse the water, so a flocculant is added to the tanks. All the crap sticks and sinks, and the good water flows over the top.

Sorry for the tangent, but i guess you can sort of bind or flocculate all that info together with the rest.

I guess a yeasts flocculant properties is its ability to stick and seperate, after fermentation maybe ?? i.e. stick to the bottom of the fermenter.

"Flocculation is the agglomeration of destabilized particles into microfloc and after into bulky floccules which can be settled called floc. The addition of another reagent called flocculant or a flocculant aid may promote the formation of the floc."

Basically small suspended particles start sticking to each other until they form particles that are large enough and heavey enough to sink to the bottom.