Hi Elizabeth

 

Lead acetate was used as a clarifying agent for cider in west country England in the 18th C with the natural consequences.  Its use was replace with simple floccing agents such as ising glass in the 19th C.

 

In the lab process you describe, the simple use of a couple of drops of a dispersion of an organic polyamide flocculant (e.g. Superfloc products of Cytec) followed by filtration or certification would give a perfectly clear non-toxic syrup, but it might not be as quick to work as the lead acetate.

 

Best regards

 

Peter