Comments on: Ice cubes and air bubbles http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/ - dedicated to molecular gastronomy Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:27:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Martin Lersch http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-155108 Martin Lersch Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:53:58 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-155108 My guess is that it's best to drain the water - otherwise it will act as an efficient transporter of heat from the sides of the container to ice cubes. Air on the other hand is a pretty good insulator. My guess is that it’s best to drain the water – otherwise it will act as an efficient transporter of heat from the sides of the container to ice cubes. Air on the other hand is a pretty good insulator.

]]> By: lil http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-151827 lil Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:56:07 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-151827 I'm wondering how to store ice in a cooler. When ice melts in a bag or plastic container it is then surrounded by water - is it better to drain the water and leave the ice "dry" in the cooler or will the water help keep it frozen longer? I’m wondering how to store ice in a cooler. When ice melts in a bag or plastic container it is then surrounded by water – is it better to drain the water and leave the ice “dry” in the cooler or will the water help keep it frozen longer?

]]> By: stella Loriast http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-112215 stella Loriast Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:40:42 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-112215 wow! amazing! wow! amazing!

]]> By: Martin Lersch http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-112145 Martin Lersch Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:00:15 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-112145 Nice pictures! And this reminds me that I have a couple of more experiments to do :) I'll bring some purified water from work to see what effect that may have. Nice pictures! And this reminds me that I have a couple of more experiments to do :)

I’ll bring some purified water from work to see what effect that may have.

]]> By: fedward http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-112139 fedward Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:00:51 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-112139 I played around with this (using filtered tap water) and got the best results from boiling the water twice. I have <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fedward/sets/72157613049536481/" rel="nofollow">posted pictures on flickr</a>. I'll probably do a bit more playing around. I'd like to try filling only every other cube (in a checkerboard pattern) to see what effect that has on the location of the cloudiness in each cube (I suspect it'll be focused in a column or cone down the middle), but considering that the water I used came straight off the boil I don't expect there to be any less cloudiness. I played around with this (using filtered tap water) and got the best results from boiling the water twice. I have posted pictures on flickr.

I’ll probably do a bit more playing around. I’d like to try filling only every other cube (in a checkerboard pattern) to see what effect that has on the location of the cloudiness in each cube (I suspect it’ll be focused in a column or cone down the middle), but considering that the water I used came straight off the boil I don’t expect there to be any less cloudiness.

]]> By: rafe http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-111232 rafe Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:55:46 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-111232 "help needed:" Here are a few suggestions to reduce your air bubble problem. (1) make sure you are not using cold solutions. more gas can dissolve in the colder solutions (especially aqueous ones). use solutions at room temp or above. (2) what medium are your channels made in? if this medium is hydrophobic (PDMS, plastic, etc), the air bubbles will stick to the sides of the channels, because air is 'hydrophobic.' if you have access to a plasma oxidizer, you can use that to oxidize your channels. the bubbles will slide right through and not impede your flow. or you can adsorb a layer of protein on the channel. proteins are (generally) hydrophillic, and will accomplish the same objective as plasma oxidations. good luck. “help needed:”
Here are a few suggestions to reduce your air bubble problem. (1) make sure you are not using cold solutions. more gas can dissolve in the colder solutions (especially aqueous ones). use solutions at room temp or above. (2) what medium are your channels made in? if this medium is hydrophobic (PDMS, plastic, etc), the air bubbles will stick to the sides of the channels, because air is ‘hydrophobic.’ if you have access to a plasma oxidizer, you can use that to oxidize your channels. the bubbles will slide right through and not impede your flow. or you can adsorb a layer of protein on the channel. proteins are (generally) hydrophillic, and will accomplish the same objective as plasma oxidations.

good luck.

]]> By: erik http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-108822 erik Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:29:57 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-108822 Late, but anyhow: a somewhat related problem that is rather fun is making perfect ice spheres. Reference at food for design (http://foodfordesign.blogspot.com/2008/05/perfect-ice-for-perfect-drinks.html). However, you need some new equipment that has to be stowed away in the kitchen when it's not used (a common problem in our home). This seems to require that you have a bubble-free ice cube to begin with, though. The final alternative is of course to obviate the ice altogether and use small rocks. Get some good looking small pebbles from the beach or a souvenir shop (commonly in science and natural historic museums), run them thoroughly in the dishwasher, and put them in the freezer. Reusable and not prone to dilute the drink. It takes all the fun out of experimenting with the ice, though :) Late, but anyhow: a somewhat related problem that is rather fun is making perfect ice spheres. Reference at food for design (http://foodfordesign.blogspot.com/2008/05/perfect-ice-for-perfect-drinks.html). However, you need some new equipment that has to be stowed away in the kitchen when it’s not used (a common problem in our home). This seems to require that you have a bubble-free ice cube to begin with, though.

The final alternative is of course to obviate the ice altogether and use small rocks. Get some good looking small pebbles from the beach or a souvenir shop (commonly in science and natural historic museums), run them thoroughly in the dishwasher, and put them in the freezer. Reusable and not prone to dilute the drink. It takes all the fun out of experimenting with the ice, though :)

]]> By: help needed http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-99866 help needed Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:40:24 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-99866 hi...i am doing some work on a project in which I have to establish laminar flow in a closed chamber which have 5 inlet holes and 5 outlet holes. I am pouring water into the inlets by using a water reservoir and the outlets are open to air.However there are bubbles being formed inside the chamber which are getting difficult to remove.These hinder the flow and dosen't make the flow laminar.Could anyone suggest a way to remove these air bubbles? If there is any solvent which helps in dissolving air bubbles,it would help. hi…i am doing some work on a project in which I have to establish laminar flow in a closed chamber which have 5 inlet holes and 5 outlet holes. I am pouring water into the inlets by using a water reservoir and the outlets are open to air.However there are bubbles being formed inside the chamber which are getting difficult to remove.These hinder the flow and dosen’t make the flow laminar.Could anyone suggest a way to remove these air bubbles? If there is any solvent which helps in dissolving air bubbles,it would help.

]]> By: Gastroholic http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-99848 Gastroholic Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:45:27 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-99848 I am working on making very clear ice and have resorted to my Anti-Griddle. I place silicone ice trays filled with distilled water on top of the anti-griddle. The water starts to freeze from the bottom up, therefore giving the bottom a head start, and thusly pushing the air out of the top. Clear as a bell. I am working on making very clear ice and have resorted to my Anti-Griddle. I place silicone ice trays filled with distilled water on top of the anti-griddle. The water starts to freeze from the bottom up, therefore giving the bottom a head start, and thusly pushing the air out of the top. Clear as a bell.

]]> By: Gianluca http://blog.khymos.org/2008/04/13/ice-cubes-and-air-bubbles/comment-page-1/#comment-88454 Gianluca Thu, 01 May 2008 21:44:35 +0000 http://blog.khymos.org/?p=240#comment-88454 to avoid bad smells it's even easier to use ice cube bags like this: http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=30314 . in Europe they're much easier to find, but at least they're finally available in the US as well. to avoid bad smells it’s even easier to use ice cube bags like this: http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=30314 . in Europe they’re much easier to find, but at least they’re finally available in the US as well.

]]>