Ascorbic Acid, USP, Powder (Vitamin C)

Ascorbic Acid, like Copper Sulfate, is often used to treat hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or ‘mercaptans’, which presents as a rotten egg scent in your wine. Try treating first with Copper Sulfate but if the problem persists, then treatment with Ascorbic Acid will be necessary. If you have advanced H2S ‘disulfide’, the scent could be described as burnt rubber or garlic-like and the wine will not improve with the treatment of Copper Sulfate alone. The use of 0.25gm Ascorbic Acid per gallon will often help by converting the disulfides back to mercaptans. The process may take up to three weeks or even longer, after which the wine should be treated with Copper Sulfate.

Addition Rate: 0.25 gram/gallon

Ascorbic Acid is an anti-oxidant used as a partial substitute for sulfur dioxide, or used to prevent oxidation, which creates a dull and unpleasant flavor, and to prevent discoloring in the final product. Recommended for wines that discolor easily.

Multiple sizes available. Select your desired size. See Commercial Supplies for larger quantities.

Used at the rate of around 0.25 gram per gallon, the addition of ascorbic acid will cause the disulfides to revert to mercaptans, which can be removed with copper sulfate. However, this reversal could take several months.