Ethanol (dilute)

Legality: Production of alcohol in the US

In 1978 the US federal government passed laws regarding the home production of undistilled spirits.

27 C.F.R. §25.206 & §24.75

• Part 25 asserts: With additional limitation set by individual states, it is permissible for an individual to produce up to 100 gallons of beer per year for "home consumption", and this production shall not be subject to tax. A household with two or more adults may produce 200 gallons per year, likewise.
• Part 24 asserts: With additional limitations set by individual states, it is permissible for an individual to produce up to 100 gallons of wine (including mead, etc) for "home consumption", and this production shall not be subject to tax. A household with two or more adults may produce 200 gallons per year, likewise.

Bottom line: Do not produce this chemical without checking to make sure that you may do so legally.

 

Dilute ethanol is an aqueous solution of 5-10% ethanol.

Uses

Primary

• Feedstock for ethanol
• It is frequently consumed as a foodstuff by humans, who find its effects on their nervous system pleasant.

Hazards

• Consumption of alcohol can have negative effects on the human nervous system in both the short and long term.

Character

The ethanol/water azeotrope

Ethanol forms an azeotrope with water at 190 proof, which is

• 95% by volume
• 93.75 by mass
• 16.269 Molar

These measurements give a useful additional result as well:

• From [1]: at the azeotrope, there would be 50g of water in a liter.
• From [2]: at the azeotrope, there would be 750g of ethanol in a liter.
• Therefore the density of the azeotrope is 800g/L

The boiling point for the azeotrope is substantially lower than water, and slightly lower than for pure ethanol.

Production

Bioproduction

• Dilute ethanol is primarily produced by fermentation of natural sugars, or bacterial production via the ABE Process followed by purification detailed below.

Purification

Filter

1. Filter through a paper filter
2. Filter through a carbon filter
3. Filter through a paper filter

First distillation

1. Estimate concentration (C)
2. Calculate Fore (F) = 0.05 * C
3. Place ethanol in alembic
4. Heat double boiler to just below a boil
5. Place alembic in double boiler
6. When you have received F units of fluid in the receiver, switch to a second receiver
7. Discard the contents of the first receiver (the Fore, which may contain impurities)
8. Wait until the receiver and alembic contain equal amounts of fluid
9. Discard the contents of the alembic
10. In the receiver is your purified dilute ethanol
11. Estimate concentration again

    Check: It should be higher

Testing

Calculation of percent ethanol

1 - (density of solution) ========================= 0.211

• Take a spoonful of material and put it on a cool non-flammable surface. Try to light it with a flame. If it does not burn, the %ethanol is &lt 10%. If it burns and burns away completely, it's nearly 100% ethanol. If it burns but leaves a puddle of water, the amount of water left will give an indication of how much ethanol there is.

Storage

• Out of reach of children

Disposal

• Evaporate

See Also

• Mead