# How can I de-carbonate soft drinks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010 "2010-10-04T16:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/21 "2010-10-04T20:26:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Why? > > I can personally assure you that (at least with petroleum-based liquids and nitrogen) applying a vacuum won’t cause dissolved gas to spontaneously leave solution. > > Why would reducing the external partial pressure to zero be different than reducing the external partial pressure to a small fraction of what it was originally? Why do you personally know this? I DO know that pulling a vacuum on liquid is a method used to remove bubbles from glues and casting solutions, so it certainly DOES cause dissolved gas to leave solution in those cases. Otherwise the people doing it are performing irrelevant work. The cite I gave above shows that the same method works for removing carbonation from wine. So I don’t see why I should believe your personal guarantee. As for the other case, reducing the TOTAL pressure outside the liquid (which is what pulling a vacuum does) is more relevant than reducing the partial pressure of CO2 in the atmosphere, which isn’t relevant. As I say – would it be different if you did it in an atmosphere of pure CO2 with the same total pressure? When you’re inside a vacuum, it doesn’t know or care what the makeup of the atmosphere outside is. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/22 "2010-10-04T20:44:18Z")
> [@](#): > > DEGASSING EPOXY AND POLYURETHANE COMPOUNDS > > … > > Bubbles tend to rise to the surface of the material and will, under ideal circumstances, given enough time, will eventually release from the liquid. In reality, most applications do not allow for the required time or the proper conditions for products to self de-air, vacuum must be applied to speed the removal of trapped gases from the mix. [http://www.crosslinktech.com/degassing\_materials.htm](http://www.crosslinktech.com/degassing_materials.htm) > [@](#): > > Hi, I need to remove air bubbles from a water sample before running it through a particle counter. I was wondering what common methods were available for removing air bubbles from oil samples so that they will not affect the particle count. I have looked into inline vacuum, and centrifugal; the inline vacuum looks like it uses a filter which would also block some particles, the centrifugal is only available for large volumes and I only need approx 3mL/min for small samples. > > .. > > We used to use ultrasonic agitation but found vacuuming the samples (in a vacuum chamber) to be the best. [http://forums.noria.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/136604995/m/8621034841](http://forums.noria.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/136604995/m/8621034841) [http://www.cheaponsale.com/d-p11157175610780900-Vacuum\_Degassing\_%26\_Deaerator\_For\_Removing\_Air\_Bubble\_%26\_Gas/](http://www.cheaponsale.com/d-p11157175610780900-Vacuum_Degassing_%26_Deaerator_For_Removing_Air_Bubble_%26_Gas/) > **[China Wholesale Suppliers, buy direct from China Factories](https://www.himfr.com)** > > Find the reliable China Manufacturers & Wholesale Suppliers, we are the leadeing B2B online Market from China. [http://hep.ucsb.edu/people/hnn/n/scintillation\_optics\_info/optical%20epoxy/removing\_bubbles.pdf](http://hep.ucsb.edu/people/hnn/n/scintillation_optics_info/optical%20epoxy/removing_bubbles.pdf) > **[vacuum deaerator - Wholesale vacuum deaerator](https://www.himfr.com/buy-vacuum-deaerator)** > > Wholesale vacuum deaerator - buy latest vacuum deaerator direct from 17 vacuum deaerator Factories. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/23 "2010-10-04T21:21:09Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Why do you personally know this? I DO know that pulling a vacuum on liquid is a method used to remove bubbles from glues and casting solutions, so it certainly DOES cause dissolved gas to leave solution in those cases. I’ll second this. Done it a million times. It’s fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/24 "2010-10-04T21:30:25Z")
Why not just open the can the night before and leave it in the fridge? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/25 "2010-10-04T21:49:34Z")
Bubbling nitrogen through it will work as well. I think that the vacuum process might be slow, admittedly, I’ve never tried to remove CO2 from a carbonated beverage. I’ve been mostly concerned about oxygen when I degas, so I freeze it and pull a vacuum at the same time. I think it will work a lot better if you agitate. Water is kind of funny. It really doesn’t respond to a vacuum like other solvents. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/26 "2010-10-04T21:51:13Z")
I have two ideas based on analytical chemistry degassing methods: 1. pour it through a cloth or paper filter and collect it on the other side. This maximizes exposed surface area and also provides massive numbers of nucleation sites. You can reuse the same apparatus forever if you wish. I would buy a [glass funnel](http://www.amazon.com/Funnel-Short-Stem-58%C2%B0-Angle/dp/B001BLRLGI/ref=sr_1_20?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1286228726&sr=1-20) and some filter paper and set it up as a permanent stand in your office (like an espresso machine) and promote your uniqueness. One other possibility is getting a [fritted funnel](http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Brand-fritted-funnel-coarse/dp/B003NUW0DY/ref=sr_1_7?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1286228911&sr=1-7) and not worrying about filter paper. 1. The other method is simply bubbling a non-water-soluble gas through your beverage before drinking. Helium and Argon both work well. You just need a “bubble drip” for a decent time and all of the CO2 will be gone. [Something like this](http://www.citejournal.org/vol2/iss1/science/setup.JPG) is what I envision ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/27 "2010-10-04T22:53:11Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Why do you personally know this? Stop. Time out a second. Apparently there’s some misunderstanding here, so let’s take it from the top. Carbonation in beverages is carbon dioxide _dissolved_ in the the beverage. The amount of carbon dioxide (or any gas) that can be held in a liquid _at equilibrium_ is a function of many things, one of which is the type of gas (different gasses will dissolve different amounts, in other words) and another of which is the\* partial pressure\* of the gas over the liquid. The partial pressure comes in because the free surface of the liquid is always exchanging gas molecules with the gas above. A high partial pressure of the gas (carbon dioxide, say) will drive more molecules into solution, resulting (at equilibrium again) in more dissolved gas in solution in the liquid. Note that I keep saying “at equilibrium.” Some change in conditions (such as opening a bottle, reducing the carbon dioxide pressure above the beverage) will eliminate equilibrium, and things change. They don’t, however, change _instantaneously_. That should be obvious; if it were otherwise, there would be no need for this thread. It takes time and energy to dissolve or undissolve gasses. Now, to release a gas from solution, it’s necessary (so far as I know) to change the equilibrium so that the partial pressure of the gas over the liquid is lower. That way more gas molecules make their way _out_ than make their way _in_. That’s necessary, but not sufficient to quickly re-establish equilibrium–not all gas molecules are at the free surface of a liquid, waiting to get out. That’s why shaking a pop bottle is effective. Finally, note that dissolved gas _is not the same thing_ as mixed in bubbles. Gas molecules in already-existing bubbles don’t need to migrate to a free surface; they’re not in solution to begin with. Removing bubbles is a different issue than removing dissolved gas. Now, with that done: > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Why do you personally know this [applying a vacuum won’t cause dissolved gas to spontaneously leave solution]? Because I’ve personally done it. Gradually applying a vacuum won’t immediately cause the gas to leave solution. But shake it a little and nucleate some bubbles… > [@CalMeacham](#): > > I DO know that pulling a vacuum on liquid is a method used to remove bubbles from glues and casting solutions, so it certainly DOES cause dissolved gas to leave solution in those cases. I’ve done that, too, to remove air from an epoxy mixture. The vacuum removes air bubbles that are whipped into the mixture (which, in my case, you could see because it turned the epoxy white). Whipped-in air bubbles _are not the same thing_ as dissolved gas. Hopefully it should be obvious why your later list of cites is irrelevant. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > The cite I gave above shows that the same method works for removing carbonation from wine. Your cite describes how pulling the wine through filter pads using a vacuum pump will remove carbonation. As it will: the filter provides some agitation, and the vacuum will enlarge and draw out the bubbles once nucleated. Your cite, however, agrees that the vacuum is not necessary, only convenient. (“If you don’t have access to this system, vigourously stir your wine for 5 minutes a day …”) > [@CalMeacham](#): > > So I don’t see why I should believe your personal guarantee. An apology here would be nice. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > As for the other case, reducing the TOTAL pressure outside the liquid (which is what pulling a vacuum does) is more relevant than reducing the partial pressure of CO2 in the atmosphere, which isn’t relevant. This is false. Henry’s Law ([Wikipedia cite, but it should be sufficient](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry%27s_law)) governs the solubility of gasses in liquids, and the total dissolved concentration is a function of partial pressure, not total. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > As I say – would it be different if you did it in an atmosphere of pure CO2 with the same total pressure? Yes. Yes it would. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/28 "2010-10-05T01:50:13Z")
A blender works well. Sometimes what I do is pour coke into a [URL=“[http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUoxTfY3YQ21Q3aVmB7kR2lPmgVyWZFMssv4hWlYj6Vx3iQqo&t=1&usg=\_\_GPgmSz6WfF3NpSB\_UK4GfJ\_63uQ=](http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQUoxTfY3YQ21Q3aVmB7kR2lPmgVyWZFMssv4hWlYj6Vx3iQqo&t=1&usg=__GPgmSz6WfF3NpSB_UK4GfJ_63uQ=)”], screw the lid on, and shake it, release the pressure, repeat as necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/29 "2010-10-05T01:52:22Z")
My sister just stirs hers with a spoon for a minute and it gets most of the bubbles out. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/30 "2010-10-05T02:16:15Z")
I demand blending. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/31 "2010-10-05T02:55:55Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > My sister just stirs hers with a spoon for a minute and it gets most of the bubbles out. I second this suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/32 "2010-10-05T03:12:39Z")
There’s some serious over-thinking going on here. As Antigen suggested, pour into a glass stir with a spoon for a minute or two. Done! Works everytime. (It’s part of an old remedy - flat lemonade (sprite/7up in american terms) is excellent if you’re feeling poorly. Particualry if you’re having stomach problems or keeping stuff down) ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/33 "2010-10-05T05:13:35Z")
> [@Kyrie\_Eleison](#): > > > [@Lare](#): > > > > But I’m at work so I can’t heat it, and it’s coming from the vending machine so I don’t have the option of making my own… > > > > I thought applying a vacuum would do it, too, but that doesn’t seem to do much. (Although why, I don’t know.) > > You have the ability to apply a vacuum to a solution, but not to heat it? Where on earth do you work? Will I get in trouble if I say my job isn’t so hot, and it sure does suck? ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/34 "2010-10-05T07:27:59Z")
adding the enzyme [carbonic anhydrase](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonic_anhydrase) greatly speeds up the process. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/35 "2010-10-05T12:49:24Z")
if you leave it in a container a couple of plastic swizzle (stirring) sticks would help speed up the bubbling. better would be a spiral design or those with holes. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/36 "2010-10-05T13:32:58Z")
I find it funny that you guys find it so hard to get soda to go flat. I even try resealing stuff, and it tends to go flat within a couple hours, just from the agitation of drinking it. It always goes flat when I don’t want it to. ---
**Author:** ![J-P\_L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/j-p_l/32/3156_2.png) [@J-P\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J-P_L)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010/37 "2010-10-05T13:33:53Z")
Using two glasses, simply pour it repeatedly from one glass to other other. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-de-carbonate-soft-drinks/556010.md?page=1)