Beer Line Cleaner - shelf life and alternative uses?

[Kev888]

I just had my BLC arrive; I thought there had been a mistake, and there had but it was mine - I'd obviously clicked the wrong bookmark and ordered 4x5L instead of 5L.. The dilution rate is 3-6ml per L; thats a lot of line cleaner. Still, at least per L its a much better deal 'if' it keeps...

Erm, does anyone know what sort of shelf life it has?

Also, I'm thinking of what else it can be used for: it doesn't list the ingredients apart from the safety label mentioning Sodium Hydroxide, I know from a previous thread that Boingy's also contained Sodium Hypochlorite too. Aside from the dilution rate, can I use it more or less interchangably with bleach?

Many thanks
Kev

[Swiller]

I will be watching this theread with interest Kev
as my brother bought me a 5L container of purple
beer line cleaner, I have had it 6 months + and
haven't opened it yet. I would only be using it for
the 3 lines I have in my kegorator so would not
be using much.

[boingy]

I don't think mine has any form of expiry date on.
And at the rate I use it I suspect it will outlast me.

[Kev888]

hmm, mine neither. I guess that may mean its largely indefinate then..

Excellent, I can now pretend it was a financially wise decision to buy in ridiculous bulk . I have just done that with percarbonate and metasilicate, so it would be in character, though I may need many more beer taps to make all the BLC worthwhile..

Cheers
kev

[WallyBrew]

I just had my BLC arrive; I thought there had been a mistake, and there had but it was mine - I'd obviously clicked the wrong bookmark and ordered 4x5L instead of 5L.. The dilution rate is 3-6ml per L; thats a lot of line cleaner. Still, at least per L its a much better deal 'if' it keeps...

Erm, does anyone know what sort of shelf life it has?

Also, I'm thinking of what else it can be used for: it doesn't list the ingredients apart from the safety label mentioning Sodium Hydroxide, I know from a previous thread that Boingy's also contained Sodium Hypochlorite too. Aside from the dilution rate, can I use it more or less interchangably with bleach?

Many thanks
Kev

It probably doesn't list a shelf life or best before date because it was probably exceeded at the time of purchase.

Any product containing sodium hydroxide will readily absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form sodium carbonate. Every time you open the container gas exchange with the atmosphere will occur and the sodium hydroxide will slowly become sodium carbonate. Even solid sodium hydroxide purchased as AnalaR (analytical reagent) grade contains sodium carbonate.

The sodium hypochlorite will also degrade over time by loss of oxygen. Eventually you will end up with a sodium carbonate/ sodium chloride mix that will be useless.

It's life expectancy is probably little better than a year at the specified use rate and will very much depend upon how it is stored and how often it is opened.

[Kev888]

Ah, thats interesting - as with most chemistry such things are a bit beyond my knowledge. In that case I definately need to find other uses for it!

I'll be using it as a cleaner so it should at least be obvious to the eye if its cleaning power is waning, but theres no way i can use 20L at 6ml per L in a year or so, just for cleaning my beer lines/taps..

Cheers
kev