I just finished my first attempt at methanol recovery. A chemist friend of mine tested it with some fancy machine at work and told me it was 90.5% percent methanol.
Two questions:
1. Can I do better than 90.5%?
2. What amount should I mix with fresh methanol prior to doing my next bio batch?

Stevep,
1. yes. you can do better than 90.5%. I usually run 99+%. what is your head temp? that is the temp at the top of the reflux column before the condenser. if you can keep this around 152F but no more than 155F. at 160 my purity is around 93%.

2. I would suggest 70/30. new/recovered.

where in NC?


-dkenny

Hey Dave,

I am the one with your old temperature gauge. I have a thermocouple connected to a SSR on my still; I will have to adjust where my thermocouple is, I think glycerol is splashing on the thermocouple causing an erroneous head temperature reading.

My main concern was that my methanol test might have been a little to accurate, I was told by the chemist it was very accurate, and that I would not be able to realistically achieve anything better. I know a lot of other people are using home based tests and thought that might account for some of the purity difference. Thanks…..Steve

He may be mixing up ethanol with methanol. It is extremely difficult to get extremely high purity ethanol. Not so bad with methanol.

-Jim

Jim D,

Sorry for the confSorry for the confusion in my writing. The chemist only stated that his test was accurate. I was the one wondering if I could do better.

Gotcha! I have not recovered any yet, but I just got a 35 gallon water heater to use as my still. I already have my hydrometer and cylinder to float it in. I need to get it going like you are!

I'm hoping to do better than 95%.

-Jim

stevep,
if you have more of your distilled methanol bring a 250 ml sample over. I have a ethanol trellis. I know from this that I get more than 90%. the ethanol reads closer to 101% at 56F. its calibrated for 59F. if I use store bought methanol it'll measure around 102%.

I can also show you my latest setup. it different than when you where here.

-dkenny

ps its good to hear you on the board.

Dave,

Sounds good, we will have to pick a day and get together.