Soda water generally refers to beverages infused with carbon dioxide. Tiantai can supply the Soda Water Production Equipment, soda CO2 blending machine and Soad water filling machine. Soda & Sparkling Water equipment is usually needed to make sada water.
First let us know what is Soad water?
Soad water is mainly divided into two categories: naturally carbonated mineral water (water source naturally containing bubbles) and artificially carbonated water. It is further subdivided into:
Plain sparkling water: Only carbon dioxide is pressurized into pure water, without additives.
Flavored soda water: Natural flavors, trace minerals, or sweeteners are added to the carbonated water (such as the commonly available zero-calorie soda water).
Sugary soft drinks: Such as Coca-Cola and Sprite, which can be considered an extension of the soda water category. Due to its refreshing taste and sugar-free/low-sugar characteristics, soda water has become a popular alternative to high-calorie beverages.
Soda Water Production Equipment：
The core of making soda water lies in efficiently dissolving carbon dioxide in water. The main equipment includes:
- Home soda water maker:Currently the most popular device. It usually includes a main unit (with a built-in gas valve and pressure system) and a refillable steel CO, cylinder or disposable gas cartridges. Users fill a special water bottle with cold water, screw it onto the main unit, and press the button several times to instantly make fresh sparkling water; the bubble intensity is adjustable.
- Soda Commercial carbonator equipment Commonly found in restaurants and bars. The principle is similar, but on a larger scale, connected to large CO₂ cylinders, allowing for rapid and continuous production of large quantities of soda water for mixing drinks. Soda CO2 blending machine is also needed.
- Fermentation method (traditional/naturally produced): Carbon dioxide is produced through yeast fermentation of sugars, such as in the production of kombucha or some beers, but the process is slow and the amount of bubbles is difficult to control.
Let’s explain in detail the common values and units of carbon dioxide content in soda water. Core Concepts: The carbon dioxide content in soda water (artificially carbonated water) is primarily expressed in the following two ways:
- Volume Multiples
- Mass Concentration (grams per liter)
1. Volume Multiples (Volumes of CO₂or vol)
Definition: This is the most commonly used method of expression. It refers to the volume of carbon dioxide gas that can be released from a unit volume of beverage at standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm or 101.325 kPa) and standard temperature (0°C or 32°F).
Unit: Usually expressed as “vol” or “volumes”.
Calculation: For example:
1 vol means: The CO₂ dissolved in 1 liter of soda water can release 1 liter of CO₂ gas under standard conditions.
4.0 vol means: The CO₂ dissolved in 1 liter of soda water can release 4 liters of CO₂ gas under standard conditions.
Typical Range:
Regular soda water/carbonated beverages: Usually between 3.0 – 4.0 vol. This is the most common range, providing a moderate level of fizziness.
Highly carbonated soda water/beverages: Can reach 4.0 – 5.0 vol or even higher. For example, some ginger ale, tonic water, or soda water brands that aim for a strong fizz may fall within this range. Weakly Carbonated Beverages: Some flavored waters or low-carbonation products may have less than 3.0 vol.
Features: Intuitively reflects how much gas (volume) is released after opening the bottle. Consumers can more easily understand the concept of “4 times the volume of gas.”
2. Mass Concentration (grams per liter – g/L)
Definition: Refers to the mass of carbon dioxide gas actually dissolved in each liter of soda water.
Unit: grams per liter (g/L).
Conversion with Volume Multiples:
Under standard conditions (0°C, 1 atm), 1 mole of CO₂ gas has a volume of approximately 22.4 liters and a mass of 44 grams.
Therefore, 1 vol of CO₂ is equivalent to dissolving approximately (44 g/mol) / (22.4 L/mol) ≈ 1.96 g/L of CO₂.
Approximate conversion: 1 vol ≈ 2.0 g/L (the actual value is 1.96, usually approximated to 2.0 for quick estimation).
Typical Range (based on volume multiple conversion):
Regular Soda Water/Carbonated Beverages: 6.0 – 8.0 g/L (corresponding to 3.0 – 4.0 vol).
Highly carbonated soda water/beverages: 8.0 – 10.0 g/L (corresponding to 4.0 – 5.0 vol) or higher.
Features: More directly represents the total amount of CO₂ dissolved in the liquid, a unit commonly used in scientific and engineering calculations.
Summary
Most common unit: Volume multiple (vol). Tells you how many times the volume of carbon dioxide gas a bottle of water can release compared to its own volume.
Scientific/Industrial unit: Grams per liter (g/L). Tells you how many grams of carbon dioxide are actually dissolved in each liter of water.
Typical content:
Regular soda water/beverages: 3.0 – 4.0 vol or 6.0 – 8.0 g/L.
Highly carbonated soda water/beverages: 4.0 – 5.0+ vol or 8.0 – 10.0+ g/L.
Conversion relationship: 1 vol ≈ 1.96 g/L ≈ 2.0 g/L (approximate value).
Important Notes
Actual CO₂ content varies significantly depending on the brand, product type (plain soda water, flavored soda water, other carbonated beverages), production process, and desired taste.
The amount of dissolved CO₂ is strongly affected by temperature and pressure. The lower the temperature and the higher the pressure, the more CO₂ can be dissolved. This is why chilled soda water has fewer bubbles when opened (the gas dissolves better), while warm soda water fizzes violently when opened (the gas doesn’t dissolve as easily).
Next time you see information on a soda bottle, pay attention to whether it lists the CO₂ content (although many common products don’t specify the exact value). If it does, now you know what that number and unit represent! Tiantai can supply the Soda Water Production Equipment, soda CO2 blending machine and Soad water filling machine.
If you are interested in any soda water equipment or beer brewery equipment, please feel free to contact us:
Ivy Liang(Sales Director)
Email: [email protected]
