Do Fining Agents Require Filtration?

Maybe you've seen debates on Reddit or brewing & winemaking forums. Do you really have to filter out Biofine?

“I don't need to filter. My product is already clear, so surely racking off the Biofine is enough…right?”

Heck, maybe filtering out Biofine didn't even occur to you at all.

“You mean I have to filter out my filter additive? That makes no sense!”

While there are many areas where the US government could stand to be more transparent, the question of whether you need to filter after using Biofine (a.k.a silicon dioxide) is completely clear—no pun intended.

For breweries, here's what the FDA has to say:

§ 172.480 Silicon dioxide

(c) It is used or intended for use as a stabilizer in the production of beer, and is removed from the beer by filtration prior to final processing.

And lest you think they forgot about wineries:

§ 27 CFR 24.246 - Materials authorized for the treatment of wine and juice
Silicon dioxide must be completely removed by filtration.

You'll notice that in both cases there is no room for interpretation. It must be removed by filtration—not settling or racking.

It Looks Clear to Me

Biofine, silicon dioxide, silica, etc. They all have one purpose: to make your product look great. And they work very well! After racking and settling, your “Crispy Boi” or Pinot Grigio may look ready for the shelf. But there's more than meets the eye.

The reason behind the FDA requirement to remove silicon dioxide with filtration is that settling and racking remove the largest visible particles, but they still leave a lot behind. Consider that the smallest particle you can see with your naked eye is around 60 to 80 microns. Meanwhile, the typical residual silicon dioxide particle is, perhaps, just a few microns in size. Maybe less!

The bottom line is: while you can trust your eyes to tell you if your product is bright and clear enough to look great in the glass, you can't rely on them to tell you if there's any residual Biofine left in your product.

Luckily, there's an easy solution.

The Glass Fiber Advantage

Graver GFC cartridge filters utilize FDA-approved 1 µm borosilicate glass depth media, and are specifically sized for optimal Biofine removal coupled with long onstream life. Borosilicate glass, if you don't know, is the same material used in Pyrex®. It is durable and chemically inert, but retains a natural positive ionic charge. This positive charge is crucial because silicon dioxide particles in solution carry a negative charge, creating an electrostatic attraction that dramatically improves removal efficiency.

Glass fiber filters like GFC are often utilized for haze removal. The same properties that make them excellent haze filters—their ability to attract and retain colloidal haze-forming particles—helps make them ideal for attracting and retaining Biofine/silicon dioxide.

The result? Complete regulatory compliance coupled with superior flow rates.

Ready to ensure regulatory compliance? Order Graver GFC filters now and join the brewers and winemakers who've moved beyond hoping their products are compliant to knowing they are.

Check Out Graver GFC Filters Here