[dirtstache]

Hey everyone, long time lurker, first time poster!

I run 4x48 material columns with a butane/propane blend in my CLS. My next upgrade is to install a 6x48 jacketed (fully jacketed with two ports, not dry ice sleeve) column to serve as a dewaxing chamber cooled by liquid CO2 (I heard LN2 is too cold or something?).

The bottom of the 6x48 will reduce to a 1.5" ball valve, and then expand back to 6" for two filter plates. I am looking for advice on three subtleties of this setup:

1. What is the proper way to add liquid CO2 to the jacket (through the top port or the bottom port)? I would think a pressure gauge and blowoff valve should be placed at the top port of the jacket to ensure that the jacket doesn't explode due to expanding CO2 gas, and that a needle valve should be used to regulate flow of CO2 into the jacket.

2. Liquid CO2 (-55ish degrees) can get my extraction colder than it ought to get right? How cold should my butane be in the dewaxer? -40 degrees? What is the best way to monitor this? Should I get a thermocouple sticking down into my dewaxing column or should I just judge the temp of my butane by the length of time the CO2 is in the jacket, or just by looking in the sightglass for coagulation of fats?

3. What is the best way to pack my filter plates? Tools at my disposal: borosilicate glass wool, ball bearings, propack (looks like corn chex make of stainless steel), unbleached unrecycled coffee filters, micron filter papers. I was thinking ball bearings on top of glass wool on top of coffee filter in the upper filter plate, and more glass wool and micron filter paper in the bottom filter plate. Any suggestions? Anybody used propack before?



Thanks in advance for any input, criticism, etc.
Glad to finally be a real member of this community!

Dirtstache