Well, who among us in childhood did not try to make “pop” from available ingredients: vinegar and soda? But if at a young age few people understood the nature of this phenomenon, then in school years, in chemistry lessons, absolutely everyone studied the substitution reaction between acids and alkalis.
Any interaction of acids and alkalis is accompanied by the release of carbon dioxide. This means that all we need to prepare a carbonated drink is to collect carbon dioxide and dissolve it in liquid.
To make soda at home, it is not at all necessary to use table vinegar or vinegar essence. Can be used:
- citric acid in crystals;
- freshly squeezed lime, lemon or orange juice;
- wine or apple cider vinegar.
The main thing is to maintain a proportional ratio between the ingredients. Excessive amounts of any of them will give the finished drink an unpleasant aftertaste.
To make 1 liter of the finished drink, you will need:
- 17 g of soda and 18 g of vinegar essence;
- 17 g of soda and 150 ml of 8% wine or apple cider vinegar;
- 17 g of soda and 36 g of citric acid;
- 17 g of soda and 50 g of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
The main reason to avoid using vinegar essence when preparing sparkling water at home is the formation of sodium acetate, which is an irritant. For some people, even a negligible amount of sodium acetic acid can cause nausea, irritation of the mucous membranes, and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
The effect of sodium citrate (a salt formed by the interaction of citric acid and soda) has a less harmful effect on the human body.
Unfortunately, in the 21st century, no manufacturer makes citric acid from citrus juice. Completely different ingredients are used as the main raw materials:
- sweet potato;
- cassava;
- molasses;
- sucrose.
Therefore, if you want to make a carbonated drink similar to soda, use freshly squeezed lime or unripe lemon juice instead of citric acid crystals.
Industrial production of soda
Most of the enterprises producing soda are located near artesian wells. They pump out the raw materials for their products from the depths of the earth with powerful pumping units.
Despite the “conditional” purity of artesian water, it is necessarily passed through a system of coal, sand and salt filters. At this stage, harmful impurities and heavy metal salts are removed from it. Additionally, food colors, flavors, sweeteners, flavor enhancers and preservatives are added, and only at the last stage the water is carbonated by saturating it with carbon dioxide.
But this method is used exclusively in the production of soda. Mineral waters, which are called table or medicinal, are produced using a different technology. The value of mineral water lies in the presence of beneficial salts in its composition. Therefore, they are not subjected to filtration - to minimize the risk of developing pathogenic microflora, they are pasteurized.
You can often hear the question: “Why do I carbonate mineral water, since it already has a lot of useful properties?” Unfortunately, real mineral water does not always have a pleasant taste; dissolved salts give it a salty or bitter taste, with a characteristic aftertaste, and sometimes with smell. To improve the taste, it is subjected to artificial gasification.
That is why some types of mineral water are made carbonated and non-carbonated. Classic example of Essentuka No. 4 and No. 17
Note. The presence of sediment at the bottom of a bottle of mineral water is not always associated with poor quality of the product. Most mineral salts tend to precipitate during storage.
There are also lines for the production of mineral water from ordinary artesian water. To do this, instead of sweeteners and dyes, mineral salts are added to purified water, bringing its composition as close as possible to that obtained from natural sources. The taste of the finished drink prepared in this way is practically no different.
Do-it-yourself soda (saturator)
Hi all!
I want to share with you my experience in creating and operating a homemade carbonation machine.
The article describes a method for making and using a homemade device for carbonating drinks based on a fire extinguisher. The authorship of the article is mine.
Oh, my friends, now there will be a lot of text. But everything is strictly to the point.
Introduction:
I want to make it clear right away that I was not the first to come up with this. I took some ready-made solutions, tweaked some for myself, invented some myself (possibly repeatedly), and conducted research myself.
The purpose of this article is to tell (convey) to home-made people how this is possible, to tell my own and other people’s experiences, to give those interested a platform for their own start, as I started in my time.
I also want to make a reservation about copyright. If I took something from somewhere, I immediately mention it. I wrote this article based on my article, which is many years old and which I posted on my mini-site, which almost no one knows about. So if it seems to someone that this article was taken from a website or a local forum, then it was I who posted them then (a long time ago). Here, on the chip, there are a lot of craftsmen and these are people who won’t scream “MnOga BUKAF”, which is very nice.
There will be a lot of text, theory, research. But there will also be a How-to on production.
Let's go!
Firstly, where did it all come from?
Once upon a time, around 1990, I used this device: a fire extinguisher cylinder with a PVC hose attached to it and at its end a self-machined nut for screwing onto a household aluminum siphon instead of a gas can. We poured water into the siphon, screwed on the nut, opened the valve on the cylinder, shook it, and turned it off. It made great soda. Then the gas ran out and the cylinder was abandoned.
The other day I remembered this experience and decided to make myself the same device. With difficulty, we found this device in an attic in the village. Here is his photo. The tip, however, is no longer for a siphon, but for a bottle, made quickly. The siphon adapter was temporarily unscrewed.
I studied it, scoured the Internet and this is what I came up with (Theoretical part):
Carbon dioxide can be food grade or technical grade. It can also be divided into grades (highest, first, second...), but this is still difficult for us. Moreover, interestingly, the technical quality is better than the food quality, because... there is less water vapor there. This is the first.
Second: carbon dioxide, of which carbon dioxide contains the overwhelming amount, dissolves very well in water. And a small amount of gas impurities, if they exist, are correspondingly much less soluble in water. Therefore, you don’t have to be afraid of any microscopic fractions of mythical gas impurities.
Third: small debris from the cylinder will remain in the filters and will not get into the water.
From this we conclude that using carbon dioxide from a fire extinguisher is completely harmless.
Lyrical digression. My mother makes homemade kvass in the following way: she buys kvass wort, dilutes it with yeast and sugar, and it ferments. Then he pours it into one and a half ounces and puts it in the refrigerator. There it takes several days to reach its proper condition and self-carbonates so that the cap has to be opened for half an hour. This is for information.
And now, if you look at life realistically, then: it is known that no one will make any carbonated drinks such as kvass and beer (we are not talking about simple soda) in mass production in the manner described above, it is unprofitable. Large industries purchase carbon dioxide in cylinders by the carload and use it in production. They drink beer or kvass, filter it, what gases remain there? Then they artificially carbonate it and go on sale. Hence the conclusion - that this carbonization method is used quite widely, why don’t we try it?
If you buy regular soda in a store, you can’t be sure what’s inside: purified mineral water (we don’t expect Borjomi) or dirty, raw tap water with the dirty hands of migrant workers or homeless people in it in a basement with rats; ordinary baking soda . Hence the conclusion: it is better to carbonate your spring or boiled water.
Initially, soda appeared in the middle of the last century under the name “soda”. They diluted citric acid in water, threw in soda - a neutralization reaction occurred with the release of carbon dioxide, which saturated the water and people drank this “soda.”
The soda boom came at a later time for one simple reason. The fact is that carbon dioxide dissolved in water has an antiseptic and preservative effect on water. Therefore, such a drink can be stored in warehouses for a very long time, which is commercially tempting.
There is no clear opinion about the benefits or harms of soda. On the one hand, there is an opinion that soda has a negative effect on the stomach due to the formation of weak carbonic acid. But on the other hand, there have long been a lot of drinks that have natural carbonation: champagne, beer (we are talking about naturally carbonated drinks). Yes, and people drink artificially carbonated drinks en masse and do not suffer from gastritis. In addition, in the USSR there were mass vending machines for soda. And then medicine was not like it is now. And nothing. In general, everyone decides for themselves. If you use everything in moderation, it will be fine.
About what this device can be used for.
Naturally, for carbonating drinks. Moreover, you can choose the degree of carbonation as you like, even to such an extent that store-bought soda nervously smokes on the sidelines 
.
1. Regular soda. You can take boiled or spring water.
2. All kinds of lemonades. Water with jam/syrup dissolved in it is carbonated.
3. Special soda. When it’s +35 outside and you’re constantly drenched in sweat, then to restore the acid-salt balance in the body, I squeeze half a lemon, add salt and a pinch of sugar. And I carbonate it all. Perfectly quenches thirst.
4. Champagne. Now I have access to the entire range of champagnes. We take any wine in a bag: dry/semi-dry, semi-sweet, white, rose, red and carbonate it. You need to choose the right wine. Sometimes you get very tasty homemade sparkling wines .
5. Tea. An infusion of rosehip/hawthorn with sugar (not alcoholic, just a preventative) gives a strong foam, like beer, but the taste appears original.
6. People carbonate homemade beer.
7. You should not try to carbonate vodka, because... You can get severe alcohol intoxication, because carbonated drinks greatly increase the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood.
8. By the way, I believe that gin and tonic is also made by slightly carbonating a solution of alcohol and grapefruit juice in water.
Now for the design.
The original is designed like this: a standard valve is unscrewed from the OU-2 fire extinguisher and an oxygen valve is screwed in. A carbon dioxide reducer with a pressure gauge is screwed to it; at the outlet, through an adapter, there is a PVC tube ending in a specially machined adapter for screwing onto a household siphon (see photo above, but without the siphon nozzle, temporarily removed).
I filled this cylinder and found an old siphon. We pour water, open the valve, shake the siphon for a couple of minutes, close the valve, unscrew the tube - the siphon is ready for use. We press the siphon lever, pour in the soda and are surprised that it is kind of crappy, not very carbonated, the bubbles are small, worse than in bottled water. But if you turn the head off the siphon and pour soda from there, it will be wonderful. It turns out that water, passing through the siphon valves, loses its gases. Therefore, it was decided to carbonate directly in the bottle, as advised on the website for home-beer lovers. The tip for the bottle has been redesigned. Now we carbonate the water directly in the bottle, then screw off the nozzle and immediately screw on a simple cap. After this, the bottle of soda becomes no worse than a store-bought one.
The theory for those interested: in the open state, the gas tends to leave the dissolved state. Moreover, according to the laws of physics, this will happen most intensively not on surfaces, but on edges. For example, if you apply several deep scratches to the bottom of a pan, then the maximum bubbles during boiling will be released precisely on the scratches, i.e. at gas generation centers. It’s the same here, when soda passes through the valves and siphon passages when pouring into a glass, most of the gases are lost on all sorts of edges and bends. Therefore, it is necessary to carbonate in a bottle and without pouring.
But the old device will have to be given back to the owner, so I decided to build my own. A friend gave me an old fire extinguisher with a valve, not a lever. They machined an adapter for me, which I screwed into the standard place of the fire extinguisher bell; I screwed a purchased oxygen reducer to the adapter, then a purchased adapter, a hose for water supply, then a homemade adapter for a bottle. Everything is working. I now have my own unit, which I am very happy about.
This is what it looks like (the hose from the bottle end is unscrewed):
At the moment this is an outdated design, but I will describe it too. The prices are old, but I don’t have any others.
Cost estimate:
1. Fire extinguisher. 400..800 rub. (I already had it)
2. Oxygen valve. 200 rub. (I didn’t buy it, I made an adapter)
3. Oxygen reducer. 660 rub. It would have been possible for 300 rubles, but I wanted a poncho with two pressure gauges.
4. Water supply hose 2m nut-nut. 106 rub. (you can just use a PVC tube)
5. Fittings, adapters, FUM, gaskets - 60 rub.
6. Filling the cylinder with carbon dioxide. 200-400 rub.
Similar structural elements are described in one form or another on the following resources:
1. Homemade beer lovers site (beer carbonation)
2. Site for fans of air guns (reloading cans)
3. Website for aquarists (saturation of aquarium water with carbon dioxide)
Now for the design. How to do it.
1. We purchase a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Optimally OU-2, but OU-3 is also possible, but it is heavier. Or we go to the local VDPO, approach the workers and ask them to sell an inexpensive fire extinguisher, it will come out cheaper. Enthusiasts can buy a 10 liter cylinder outright.
2. We are finalizing the cylinder. If it is a carbon dioxide mini-cylinder for welding, then there is no need to alter anything, there is the correct valve. If it is a fire extinguisher, then it is designed differently. There is a tube running from the valve to the bottom inside the cylinder. It would be advisable to remove it so that when the valve is opened, gas is supplied to the reducer from the top of the cylinder, and not liquid CO2 from the bottom through the tube. But practice shows that with such a low consumption of carbon dioxide as during carbonation, liquid carbon dioxide has time to evaporate into gas in the tube, valve and reducer. So, if you leave the original valve, then the tube does not need to be removed.
3. Replace the valve with an oxygen valve. This is good. To do this, it is better to turn to the workers of the VDPO for a little money on the spot, they will unscrew the fire extinguishing valve (with a tube) and screw in your oxygen supply, which you bought in advance, on the paint. And then they will fix it. And then a gearbox will fit wonderfully into this valve. But you can leave the standard fire extinguishing valve. And here there are 2 options:
a) you have an old design fire extinguishing valve, with a turntable, like I have in the photo above. I ordered this adapter from a turner. On one side there is a thread for a fire extinguishing valve, where the socket was previously screwed. On the other, there is a thread for the union nut of the gearbox.
It should be taken into account that carbon dioxide has a weak, but still corrosive effect, so it is better to make the adapter from brass, etc. metals
Also, now in plumbing stores you can buy a variety of adapters, incl. with threads M12, 1/4″, 3/8″, 5/8″, etc. I feel like one of them will fit and I won’t have to grind anything out. And for the inquisitive ladies, this information: on the forum of air gun lovers there are comrades who sell adapters for refilling small fire extinguisher cans. So this is where a plumbing adapter is used. So look in the store.
b) you have a lever fire extinguisher. And if the valve is brass, then I suggest taking the advice from aquarists, but modifying it a little. It is not good if you supply carbon dioxide to the gearbox by sharply pressing the lever. Unlike the valve from option “a”, there is a valve here that immediately opens sharply when you press the lever. There will be a hydraulic shock to the gearbox and who knows how it will all end. Therefore, you need to press the lever slowly and not all the way so that the valve opens slightly. This cannot be done by hand, so we do it like aquarists. I hope it will be clear without a picture. We drill the upper and lower handles of the lever away from the cylinder. We insert a long bolt into the holes and begin to tighten the nut on it. The lever is slowly compressed and the valve opens slightly. You can use a wing nut (with lugs) to make it easier to twist. This is an economical solution. I would optimize this method. I installed a nut and two counter-nuts onto the bolt between the handles. One under the screw head all the way to clamp one lever handle. And the second one is closer to the second handle of the lever so that the second nut and the counter-nut to it limit the travel of the lever when pressed. It turned out to be something like an adjustable spacer between the lever handles. This way, you can just safely squeeze the lever with your hand and it won’t press more than we need (the spacer won’t). To fix the lever in the pressed position, you can either tighten the above-mentioned wing nut from the outside or simply throw an elastic band (from panties) tied into a ring over the lever.
4. We screw the reducer to the valve (or adapter). A gearbox is a must! Don’t even try without it, there will be trouble. I wanted an oxygen one (blue) with two pressure gauges, just to show off. In general, a primary pressure gauge is not needed. As long as you have at least a drop of carbon dioxide in your cylinder, this pressure gauge will always show about 70 atm. And then it will drop to 0 after 2-3 refills when the tank runs out. But a second pressure gauge is needed - otherwise how will you know the outlet pressure? And it’s important to know it; I’ll describe why below. In general, for carbon dioxide, reducers (black) are used not with a pressure gauge, but with a flow meter. This is more important when welding. But we use it for carbonation, so we need a pressure gauge. By the numbers: the input pressure will almost always be around 70 atm (it will vary slightly depending on the ambient temperature and pressure), and you will set the output pressure from 2 to 10 atm. These are the pressure gauges needed on the gearbox. My output pressure gauge seems to be up to 20 or 30, which suits me.
5. I screwed a regular 1/2″ nut-nut hose to the outlet of the gearbox for water supply. He is so civil, in a metal braid. And you can buy them in different lengths. I recommend buying a longer one, it will be more convenient. Don't forget to put all connections on fum tape. Well, or silicone gaskets, if suitable.
6. The hose must end with some kind of adapter for connection to the carbonation container. The most convenient container is a plastic bottle. They withstand different pressures, this can be understood by the thickness and rigidity of the plastic. Coca-Cola bottles are the most suitable. The plugs also hold pressure well.
About the adapter. There is room for creativity here. Initially, as a base, I took this photo, posted somewhere on a forum for fans of homemade beer (it’s so long ago, I don’t remember the link, may the author forgive me).
Here the author uses a rubber hose from the gearbox, then a 1/2″ herringbone-nut adapter, then a ball valve, then some kind of adapter screwed into the plug. I put together an analogue of this design.
But I didn't like it. The heavy structure tends to overturn the bottle. The need for a ball valve is questionable. If only you save the remaining gas in the hose between the transition from one container to another. In addition, immediately after carbonating you need to unscrew the bottle, and sometimes this is not advisable to do right away.
So I went a different route. I optimized the design so that I made several adapters that the hose can be screwed onto by hand. So after carbonating I leave the adapter on the bottle for a while. Naturally, there must be a check valve inside the adapter so that gases do not escape from the bottle. It was made from scrap parts. I am attaching a photo.
I take a stopper with a dispenser (red) from a drinking water bottle. I remove everything unnecessary (yellow blank). Then I take a fitting for 1/2″ metal-plastic (there are 3 brass parts at the bottom). It fits into the pipe (yellow part) with tension and glue; tighten the nut. Dry, rinse and you're done (green adapter assembly on top).
Next, so that when splashing water does not flow from the bottle into the hose, and also to be able to unscrew the hose from the adapter, I put a homemade valve inside the brass fitting. On one side there is a suitable plastic mushroom with an elastic band:
On the other, a screw with a spring screwed into the leg of a plastic part.
Works fine.
However, this adapter is too labor-intensive to manufacture and I simplified the design. The thought came when I walked into a car store. We drill a hole in the plug (13mm, I think) and insert a nipple for tubeless tires for the R13 into it. It is important to drill the hole strictly in the center - because... The nipple skirt just fits into the inner skirt of the plug. It is also important that the hole is drilled gently, without scoring; I melt the edges of the hole a little with a lighter. This is to prevent the cork from rupturing due to drilling defects when there is pressure inside the bottle. After creating pressure inside the bottle, the pressure presses the nipple skirt against the cork and thus ensures a tight seal (like in a car wheel). Before inserting the nipple into the hole, I lubricate it a little - this makes it easier to slide and fit tightly into the hole. Then I wash the adapter with soap.
Accordingly, I screwed a male 1/2 - herringbone adapter onto the end of my hose, put a piece of hose purchased at a car store onto the herringbone, and onto the other end I put on an adapter for a tire inflator (also purchased at a car shop).
Now you can set up a lot of adapters and, after carbonation, do not remove them at all and do not release precious pressure from the bottle.
The photo below shows the final look of my device.
7. The bottom of the fire extinguisher is almost always rounded. It's inconvenient, you can't install it. So I made a shoe for it. I took a piece of plastic sewer pipe, cut it lengthwise and inserted a fire extinguisher into it. The pipe parted slightly, tightly surrounding the fire extinguisher. Then I inserted pieces of thin rubber (you can use double-sided tape or glue) between the pipe and the fire extinguisher so that one would not slide on the other and secured everything with tape. Thus, the fire extinguisher itself stands with all its weight on the floor, touching its convex bottom with its tip. And there is a pipe around him to prevent him from falling. See photo above.
Now I’ll tell you about the carbonation method.
The fact is that, according to physical laws, CO2 dissolves better in water, the lower its temperature. Therefore, before carbonating, you need to cool the liquid to almost zero, so more gas will dissolve. Accordingly, carbonating a hot liquid is bad and ineffective.
When carbonating, be sure to leave an air gap in the bottle (much like it is done in a bottle of cola.
Then screw our adapter tightly. With an easy and relaxed movement we put the hose tip on the adapter. And open the valve on the cylinder. You can open it a little or completely - it doesn’t matter. This only applies to the oxygen valve. If you have a lever one, then we follow the rules for its use given above.
Then there is one theoretical subtlety. There was air in the hose and it will be pushed into the bottle. But it will not dissolve; it will only create pressure. Therefore, I first release a little gas from the bottle without attaching a hose and then put the hose on the bottle adapter. Although, practice shows that the result is the same. You don't have to bother. This was advice for perfectionists.
Next, we take the bottle in our hands (the hose allows it, because we chose it to be long) and shake the bottle very, very intensely. It is most effective to shake the bottle along the axis, i.e. from the bottom to the throat and vice versa. There must be a storm in a bottle. In this case, you can observe how gas bubbles come out of the plug valve into the water. If you don't shake them, they go away. If you shake, they go strong again. When shaking, the gas mixes well and dissolves intensively. In short, we shake from 15 to 60 seconds. Based on the intensity of bubble release, one can experimentally determine the degree of saturation of the liquid with gas.
Then we put the bottle and disconnect the hose. You will hear a puff and smell of sourness. This is fine.
As the gas dissolves, the temperature of the liquid will rise slightly. Therefore, you can put the bottle back in the refrigerator and then serve it on the table. Or you can use it right away.
Now for hints, comments and just facts.
When you come to the VDPO station with a cylinder for refilling, the refillers usually have a whole box with adapters, so they can connect to almost any of your valves.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a safe gas and smells sour. Not flammable. If it leaks out a little, it’s okay. However, liquid carbon dioxide in a cylinder is dangerous. If liquid carbon dioxide gets on your hand, you can get frostbite. The cylinder is under a pressure of about 70 atm and all necessary precautions for working with high-pressure cylinders must be observed. However, we use a household fire extinguisher; it has a good safety margin, so we don’t have to worry about it. But don't kick him either. Let's take a shorter approach with the mind.
I conducted a bottle bursting experiment. The bottle was a regular 1 liter. He gradually increased the pressure by adjusting the reducer. Around 8 atm. the bottle began to float. It was fun to release the pressure and feel the soft, thin plastic. Then he continued to increase the pressure. At around 10 atm it was torn apart. The hearing returned after about 10 minutes. The cat discovered the one-time ability to move through the air. Those around me were surprised by their wide-open eyes, however, I think I also surprised them with the same thing. The sound of the explosion was comparable to a shot from a large caliber in our ear. In short, do not exceed the pressure and use only durable, high-quality bottles made of thick plastic. But you should be less afraid of the rupture of a carbonated drink, because... there, most of the gas is dissolved in the liquid and only the air bag on top of the bottle will pop. But this happens if the bottle is dropped, heated, etc. Otherwise, they are no more dangerous than regular cola.
When carbonating, water will not get into the hose. Because If the pressure is the same on both sides, then the valve is closed. And if the pressure in the hose is greater, the valve opens and gas enters the bottle through it; water does not penetrate the hose.
I usually carbonate at a pressure of about 5-6 atm.
Empirically, at the subconscious level, I have the opinion that if a carbonated bottle sits there, then the liquid holds the gas in it better and doesn’t all fly out instantly. It seems so to me, for some reason. Is gas absorbed better?
The working position of the cylinder is standing vertically. If you put it down, the liquid phase will move to the valve and liquid CO2 will enter the reducer. He might freeze. In the case of a fire extinguishing valve, it would seem that the opposite is correct, but after turning over, a portion of liquid carbon dioxide may remain in the tube, which will be squeezed out into the reducer by gas. In short, there is no need to do this.
Ugh. I think I wrote everything. You can make a video of the process, but I think everything is clear.
Additions from discussion participants:
1. I started carbonating at a pressure of about 3 atm. That’s enough for me, it’s safer, there’s less wasted gas. The quality of the drinks does not suffer.
2. If previously technical carbon dioxide differed from food carbon dioxide only in the absence of water vapor, then recently it has become fashionable to use gas mixtures. And now technical welding carbon dioxide can easily be added with other gases (welding mixture). Therefore, you should try to refill either food grade or regular technical fluid, which firefighters use to refill extinguishers.
3. There is information that carbon dioxide produced in alcohol production (a by-product of fermentation reactions) has a stinking odor and can contain a lot of vapor, not even water, but similar to mash. And not even vapor, but almost liters of liquid sediment at the bottom of the cylinder. Gives a bad weld. Such carbon dioxide should be avoided.
4. Valves for cylinders are different. It is imperative to ensure that the valve can be used for carbon dioxide (a slightly aggressive gas). There are special modifications, for example, the oxygen valve VK-94, according to information from the manufacturer, is not recommended for use with carbon dioxide, but its modification VK-94-01 is just possible.
5. There is information that the valve (shut-off valve) of lever fire extinguishers has low reliability and can leak after several openings and closings.
We need to check. This can be mitigated by installing a plug on the gas outlet from the reducer (for a budget option), but keeping the reducer and hose under constant pressure is not very healthy. Modified May 17, 2016 by TB16 editing addition
Calorie content and composition
The energy value of regular carbonated or mineral water is 0 calories. This water does not cause weight gain and has beneficial properties.
Unlike mineral water, sweet carbonated water contains a huge amount of sweeteners. Even if the label says “sugar-free,” this does not mean that the drink has zero calories.
Unfortunately, no studies have been done to study the effect of sweeteners on the human body. One can only guess how regular consumption of such drinks will affect us in the future. Nutritionists from all countries strongly recommend abandoning sweet soda in favor of purified mineralized or lightly carbonated water.
In addition to sugar, flavor enhancers, flavors, dyes and preservatives are added to soda. The list of ingredients used may vary. Tea leaf extract and concentrated juices are sometimes used as flavoring fillers, and instead of adding traditional preservatives, the prepared carbonated water is pasteurized. Information about the preparation method and composition of the product is displayed on the label. The cost and beneficial properties of such drinks are somewhat higher.
All information about the composition of sparkling water is displayed on the label. For mineral table waters, they additionally indicate the place of extraction, the number of the well or source and describe in detail the amount of salts contained. The absence of such data is a reason to doubt the originality of the product.
What are they selling us?
Soda drinks are now more popular than ever. They are used for preparing cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixes, and for diluting strong alcoholic drinks.
Soda water drinks include various ingredients - rum, whiskey, cognac, tea, milk and ice cream. Their preparation is not difficult, they can be made in a matter of minutes, and this opportunity makes them even more attractive.
The composition of soda water is slightly different from carbonated water. Soda is made from ordinary water, saturating it with carbon dioxide, while soda is made from water, baking soda, acid and various additives that are not always beneficial for the body.
Manufacturers saturate their products with dyes, preservatives, substances that impart or enhance taste, sweeteners and other substances. In addition, they contain carbon dioxide, or baking soda. To carbonate, unscrupulous manufacturers may add ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and other gases to drinks. This mixture enhances the taste and tonic properties of drinks and makes them addictive.
As a result, a person receives a product low in nutrients and nutrients. It contains no minerals and vitamins, but a lot of acids that wash calcium from bones and tissues. Regular consumption of such drinks causes harm to the gastrointestinal tract and the entire body as a whole.
How to make homemade lemonade
To give homemade soda an additional taste and increase its beneficial properties, it is advisable to make it not from ordinary purified water, but from herbal and fruit infusions.
Ginger lemonade
Ginger, which until recently was distributed exclusively in Asia, is increasingly appearing in the diet of Europeans. It is added to meat and fish dishes, baked goods and confectionery, teas and drinks. It tones, improves metabolism and quenches thirst. It is not surprising that ginger lemonade has won universal love among residents of both continents. To prepare it you will need:
- Water – 1 l;
- Ginger – 30 g;
- Lemon – 70 g;
- Granulated sugar – 60 g;
- Melissa - 1 sprig.
Preparation
Peel the ginger and finely chop it.
Cut the lemon into thin slices. Place all ingredients in a container and fill with boiling water.
Leave for 10 minutes and then remove the lemon wedges. If this is not done, they will give the drink a bitter taste. Cool the lemonade to 5 - 10 degrees and filter.
Now it can be carbonated.
Note. Drinks containing citrus fruits should not be carbonated chemically (by adding soda). It is better to resort to the physical method (adding carbon dioxide).
Cucumber lemonade
You will need:
- Sparkling water – 1 l;
- Cucumber – 300 g;
- Lemon – 75 g;
- Sugar to taste;
- Mint or lemon balm to taste.
Preparation.
Grate the cucumber on a coarse grater or finely chop it. Cut the lemon into thin slices and thoroughly rub with granulated sugar and mint. Place all ingredients in a glass container and fill with water.
Let it brew. Filter and cool.
Lemonade with cinnamon and grapefruit
You will need:
- Lemon – 70 g;
- Grapefruit – 250 g;
- Sugar – 60 g;
- Cinnamon – 2 pinches or ½ stick.
Preparation.
Cut the lemon into thin slices and grind with granulated sugar and cinnamon.
Peel the grapefruit from zest and membranes. Squeeze out the juice.
Place all ingredients in a container and fill with soda. Seal carefully and leave to extract the nutritional and flavor components into the liquid.
Required products and materials
Necessary ingredients for making lemonade
To make lemonade you will need:
The tube from the dropper through which carbon dioxide will enter the lemonade
In addition, you will need the following tools:
- drill
- hot glue gun
- IV tube
- small plastic bag
Can I use it?
If you do not suffer from chronic gastrointestinal diseases, then there is no reason to refuse to drink soda. The only exceptions are sweet carbonated drinks with synthetic fillers. Also, do not abuse homemade soda made by combining soda and acid.
Of course, if you urgently need to get rid of heartburn, “start a stuck stomach,” or get rid of a hangover, a glass of this drink won’t hurt. In other cases, it is better to use a siphon and cylinders with carbon dioxide or “distill” carbon dioxide from one bottle to another. Yes, longer, but healthier.
For gastrointestinal diseases
Note. Mineral water from natural sources can bring not only benefits to the body, but also harm. If you suffer from chronic gastrointestinal diseases, be sure to read the instructions or consult a specialist before use.
During pregnancy
During pregnancy and lactation, it is better to replace sparkling water with mineralized or purified water. Drink table mineral water only after consulting a doctor.
When losing weight
The process of losing weight is inextricably linked with physical activity and nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, replenishing the acid-base balance by drinking mineralized water is not only not harmful, but also beneficial. The only condition is that you can’t drink soda during or after training.
Recipes for delicious drinks using the device
The harm from drinking purchased carbonated water is known to everyone: pancreatic cancer, diabetes, kidney stones, disruption of the stomach and biliary tract, obesity and diseases of the cardiovascular system. By investing in a siphon, you can save on the purchase of harmful soda and medications, and making a variety of drinks will not be difficult.
The design and principle of operation of the siphon
The easiest to prepare is lemonade:
Inexpensive soda is made using simple ingredients:
If you use infusions of rose hips, tea or other medicinal herbs instead of water, you will get a doubly healthy drink that will allow you to strengthen your body and enjoy it. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, doctors recommend excluding any carbonated drinks from the diet so as not to harm the baby’s health.
It takes a little more effort to prepare the Tarragon drink with your own hands, but the taste is amazing:
Unstoppable Bubbles
There is a belief that excessive consumption of carbonated water leads to increased gas formation and bloating. With normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, such side effects almost never appear. Most likely, the cause of flatulence is hidden in the disruption of the digestive tract.
To eradicate it, you should definitely visit a gastroenterologist and carefully review your diet. Many foods combined with soda can cause gas formation (brown bread, legumes, cabbage, grapes). Sometimes, to correct the situation, it is enough to consume all these products separately.
Drinking water purified from salts and impurities has a good effect on well-being. It remains to be seen whether carbonating water is beneficial to human health or not. Are there machines to make your own soda? Get acquainted with the most commonly used siphons at home and their additional functions. Finally, is it possible to make a device with your own hands?
Theory
In fact, making soda at home is not at all difficult. It’s enough just to study a few recipes based on carbon dioxide CO2. This component does not burn, does not smell, has no color, and plus everything, it has more weight than the same oxygen. Moreover, CO2 dissolves quite quickly in liquid and makes the drink slightly sour.
It was on this principle that soda was made in the former USSR. Remember the vending machines with drinks that could be found on almost every street in those days? Inside these machines, under pressure, CO2 gas was supplied to a reservoir with already sweet water, which, as mentioned above, completely dissolved in it.
In order to make soda at home, you can use special cylinders or siphons. As for the latter, such equipment is available in any hardware store. Through siphons, the required gas is supplied in portions to the existing drink.
If you can’t buy a cylinder or siphon to make soda, you can start producing carbon dioxide using improvised means. These include baking soda and vinegar. If you mix these two ingredients, a chemical reaction will eventually begin, during which carbon dioxide will be released. In order for the experiment to be a success, all the products used must be mixed in the following proportions: 1 liter of water + 7 tbsp. vinegar 9%+ 2 tsp. table soda. In addition to all of the above, you first need to prepare the following equipment:
- A polyvinyl chloride tube, the length of which reaches 1 m;
- Two plastic bottles (it’s better if they are dark);
- Two covers. You must first make holes in the plugs. The diameter of the holes should be smaller than the diameter of the tube.
Why you should have a siphon at home
In the ancient 60-90s of the last century, almost every housewife had a nondescript metal canister of soda, sweet or not, depending on the availability of syrup at the gas station. Even then, people knew that carbonating water - saturating it with carbon dioxide - was carried out not only to satisfy the gastronomic taste, but for health improvement. True, such water tastes better and invigorates, and quickly satisfies the desire to drink.
Natural sparkling water, 19 liters, delivered, in glass or plastic containers, is several times healthier than artificial water, but it is not always possible to buy it. Liquid stored in plastic bottles can be harmful if the manufacturer uses a non-food grade polymer. The solution is to buy home equipment for carbonating water, but like all kitchen appliances, it has advantages and disadvantages.
Is there any benefit?
But people benefit from natural soda mineral waters, containing a large amount of bicarbonate, and carbonated by nature itself. Their chemical composition has been well studied, indications and contraindications have been identified and defined.
For example, carbonated mineral water “Narzan” is useful for both children and pregnant women. “Narzan” cleanses the body of toxins and waste, removes acetone, free radicals, and other harmful substances. But this water should not be drunk without moderation, otherwise, instead of benefit, you can get harm.
In addition, various mineral waters are carbonated, which increases their consumer appeal without compromising their beneficial properties.
You can gargle with soda water for sore throat and mouth for stomatitis and toothache. Making the drink is very simple - stir 1 tsp in one glass of warm water. soda
Pros and cons
Easy to use, which even children will quickly learn to use, the lightweight and compact siphon will take its rightful place in the kitchen. The latest models differ:
- stylish design;
- modern materials (high-quality environmentally friendly plastic and chrome);
- the ability to move to any place (no power required);
- presence of a tray (prevents drinks from spilling on the table);
- the opportunity to experiment (create different tastes).
Saving on bottled gas and water is also important, but using equipment for carbonating water at home has three minor, solvable disadvantages:
- If you open the lid frequently, gas comes out (it’s better to drink it all at once).
- Cost of CO2 canisters (you can find them cheaper in online stores).
- Cannot be washed in the dishwasher (rinsing under the tap is sufficient).
IMPORTANT: Buying a siphon for carbonating water is a useful purchase, especially for people with low acidity, but it is not recommended to abuse such liquid for children or those with problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Subtleties of choosing a siphon
One of the advantages of siphons over purchased water is the possibility of long-term storage of drinks without loss of gas. Today, customers are offered 3 types of soda machines:
Siphon cans
All soda machines have a capacity of 1 or 2 liters, and the gas contained in the cylinders dissolves in water, saturating it with a large number of bubbles. Some of the gas does not dissolve, creating pressure, so you must follow the rules for safe use of the device. When a buyer is faced with the question of how to choose a siphon, then, focusing on the price category and the number of people in the family, it is worth giving preference to the most suitable model, and a catalog with photos will help to better evaluate the available assortment.
There are devices made of plastic and stainless steel. The latter are considered safer and more durable and do not require special care.
Types of operation principle and design of siphons for carbonating water
Gone is the unsightly metal cylinder that stored gas and water, requiring standing in a long line to refill. It was replaced by other species. All of them are interesting to the buyer and are used in large and small families.
Classic siphon
A siphon bottle is a modern version in appearance; it is actually a Soviet-era bottle, but designed much more aesthetically. Italians and Austrians are the leaders of the most used models.
Operating principle:
- To a container filled three-quarters full and hermetically sealed, attach a can of CO2 (volume 8 grams) in place of the valve.
- Gas bubbles fill the entire space.
- After pressing the button or lever, the carbonated liquid comes out under pressure.
The advantages are the cost, the glass flask and stainless steel body will last a long time, are easy to clean, carbon dioxide canisters from all manufacturers are suitable and the water retains carbonation for a long time. Cons: connecting the gas cylinder to the siphon yourself (which is unsafe if there are children); small capacity.
Ecological
This is a new type of equipment for carbonating water, consisting of two or a whole battery of flasks; the more accessories included in the design, the more expensive the cost. The siphon is called an ecological siphon because of the replaceable disposable plastic bottles made from eco-plastic.
Positive aspects: in a few seconds it is possible to prepare any carbonated drink (wine, lemonade, gas-water); eco-plastic does not pollute the environment and is not harmful to health. The negative point is the price of a single-use container.
Saturator
This is no longer a large street soda fountain, but compact equipment for carbonating water. It consists of a neat plastic case in which a carbon dioxide cylinder with a volume of at least 425 grams is installed. When making soda, you need to screw a bottle of liquid to the inlet and press the valve (button) to fill the water with carbon dioxide.
Pros: speed, ease and safety of use; Beautiful design; productivity (with additional nozzles, it is possible to carbonate water in several bottles at the same time). Cons: price; inability to use bottles and other replacement components from another manufacturer.
Each equipment for carbonating water has advantages and disadvantages, the main thing is to follow the instructions, use the gas cylinder with caution, and do not add more than 3/4 of the liquid to the bottles.
Good reasons
Hippocrates also wrote about the benefits of water with gases. He talked about its positive and even healing effects on the body. Nobody tried to carbonate water back then. People took advantage of the gifts of nature. They collected life-giving moisture with bubbles into bottles and took it to places where there were no such sources. Everything would have been fine, but along the way, over time, the water fizzled out, and drinking it in this form turned out to be extremely unpleasant. Since then, many have begun to think about how to re-carbonate water so that natural processes do not affect this factor. Scientists have found that there are two different ways of gassing a liquid: mechanical and chemical. The first is to directly saturate the liquid fraction (ordinary fruit, mineral water or wine) with carbon dioxide. And the second involves the appearance of the same bubbles as a result of chemical reactions: fermentation (beer, kvass, cider and champagne) or neutralization (soda water). Each of them is interesting in some way and has found its place in a person’s life.
Popular siphon models
Based on reviews from buyers and sellers in stores, the TOP 5 purchased devices of Russian and foreign production were compiled on online platforms. It includes all types of equipment for carbonating water, they are considered from different points of view.
Some people care about performance, others about cost, and some people pay attention to all the technical characteristics, safety and design.
Oursson os1000sk
Equipment for carbonating water with cylinders. Chinese model, made of colored transparent plastic and metal in 4 colors. The set includes spare CO2 cylinders and a 1 liter bottle, which is an environmental siphon. Carbonation will take up to 7 seconds, there is a mark indicating the maximum level.
Sodastream
The second place goes to the siphon-saturator for soda - made of high-quality plastic, made in Israel. A bottle (0.5-1 liter) is easily attached to a gas cylinder by turning until it clicks; it is enough to prepare 60 liters of liquid. If you follow the instructions, it will last a long time and is safe. Included as a bonus is a set of syrups in a small container.
Siphon for carbonating water O!Range
Developed in Russia, but produced in China. A simple universal device for carbonating water and other liquids, which can be used as a creamer. The body is made of aluminum, a can of carbon dioxide, weighing 8 grams, is purchased separately. Included in the package: a container, a cartridge for a food bottle, an item for convenient removal of the seal and instructions.
Home bar elixir evolution
Ergonomic equipment for carbonating water made in Italy. It has many attachments and the liquid carbonation can be adjusted. Equipment for carbonating water will make up to 90 liters of drinks for a family of 3 people without replacing the cylinder, enough for 3-4 months of regular use. Equipped with protection: safety valve and pressure release button.
Saturator Hibest blue
The kit includes a siphon, a bottle and a 60 liter gas cylinder. Made in China from eco-plastic, but the drink bottle is reusable. Made in several colors, you can get refreshing gas-water or unusual cocktails in a matter of seconds. Equipped with an overpressure relief valve.
The listed equipment for carbonating water has been tested and enjoys well-deserved attention from customers who value time, money and love delicious carbonated drinks.
How to make sparkling water
Without using a siphon
w-dog.net
You will need:
- 2 teaspoons of soda;
- 2 teaspoons citric acid;
- 1 glass of water;
- sugar - to taste;
- syrup.
Mix citric acid and soda, pour in a mixture of water, sugar and syrup, add ice and drink as quickly as possible.
Citric acid will react with soda and bubbles will appear. If the taste seems too strong, reduce the amount of soda and citric acid. Of course, such lemonade will not be carbonated for long, but you can try it as a fun experiment. Moreover, it is fast and inexpensive.
Using a homemade siphon
You will need:
- 2 plastic bottles;
- awl;
- 2 plugs;
- small hose or flexible tube;
- spoon;
- funnel
- 1 cup vinegar;
- 1 cup baking soda;
- any liquid.
Make holes in the two covers and tightly secure the hose in them. Calculate so that one end of the hose almost touches the bottom of the bottle. Pour the liquid you want to carbonate into one of the bottles and close it tightly. The hose should go as deep into your future lemonade as possible.
Pour soda into the second bottle through a funnel, fill it with vinegar and quickly close with the second lid. If you hear a hiss and see the mixture bubble, you've done it right. If the vinegar and baking soda don't react strongly enough, shake the bottle. This will enhance the reaction.
The gas will flow through the hose, saturating the lemonade with carbon dioxide. If the connection is leaky, you will end up with a slightly carbonated drink.
You can carbonate any water-based drink, but it is better not to experiment with coffee and tea. On average, a liter bottle of water can be carbonated in 15–20 minutes. Of course, the process of creating a siphon will take time, but it will not be wasted.
Using a commercial siphon
geology.com
The siphon can be ordered online or searched in stores. Now there is a large selection of plastic and metal siphons for carbonation, even with drawings. So, it will be easy to find one that will fit into your kitchen decor.
The principle of operation of a purchased siphon is the same as that of a home-made one, only canisters of compressed gas must be purchased separately. And if you find a vintage siphon, it will not only help aerate the water, but also serve as a stylish piece of furniture.
Precautionary measures
Safety during operation depends on the quality of equipment for carbonating water, which is determined by the world name of the manufacturer and the rating of its products. Devices with a valve to relieve excess pressure are safer.
Following simple instructions (do not let children use them, do not take in a lot of liquid, do not use scratched, cracked containers) will allow you to use siphons for the entire period for which they are designed.
Read carefully the technical characteristics of devices, reviews and choose devices.
Rules for drinking the drink
For safe, and most importantly medicinal use of fizzy drink, the following several rules should be followed:
- To make pop, use only warm water at approximately 36 degrees.
- To avoid an excess of carbon dioxide in the stomach, before preparing a drink with mineral water, it is necessary to release all the gas from it.
- Check the quality of the soda before cooking. To do this, pour sodium bicarbonate into a teaspoon and drop a drop of vinegar on it. If the product is good, then the appropriate reaction should occur (hissing and bubbles);
- Ready-made pop is usually used half an hour before meals.
- Drink no more than one glass per day;
- It is forbidden to drink the drink on an empty stomach, because it will begin to digest its own mucous membrane.
What is soda water
Soda water is prepared from several components - plain water, carbon dioxide, baking soda. The water obtained by mixing these ingredients tastes like regular soda.
Soda water is the base for many cocktails
As a supplement, you can use various food additives: dyes, flavors, for example, juices of berries, lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange. They improve the taste and give the drink a pleasant aroma.
American soda - Schweppes
Interestingly, soda water is often confused with soda. An example of the latter is American Schweppes, which can be easily prepared at home using a simple recipe.
The following products will be required:
- granulated sugar (5 tablespoons);
- 2 medium-sized grapefruits;
- bottle of soda (1.5 l).
It is necessary to mix sugar and squeezed grapefruit juice in a separate container, filter it and slowly pour it into the soda. Serve slightly chilled.
