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[Humperdink]

When does one use one over the other in wine making? Are they interchangable? Curious minds want to know, all I see from a quick google search is they are used the same. Seems like there'd be no reason to have two things that do the same thing...

[Humperdink]

I assume you are talking about sulfites. You said KSO₂, but I think you meant K₂S₂O₅ (Potassium Metabisulfite). The other, Sodium Metabisulfite (Na₂S₂O₅), is exactly the same in use - except dose and elemental contributions. The #1 reason to have the two kinds is because a lot of people have sodium issues associated with high blood pressure and other medical reasons. Doses are different between the two: KMETA needs 0.66g/gal for 100ppm SO₂ contribution at pH 3.5 whereas NaMETA needs 0.56g/gal to do the same thing. Then there is also Sodium Bisulphite (NaHSO₃) that needs 0.61g/gal for the same thing, and the same sodium issue applies as does with NaMETA.

Quick and informative. That's exactly what I didn't know. Thanks Guest! I had always seen/heard it referred to as KSO2 but yes I mean potassium metabisulfite.

Edited by chriscose, 22 September 2010 - 04:14 PM.