I remember reading in a post that alcohol reacted with aluminum.Is this reaction a slow destruction of the aluminum without effecting the alcohol, or does this reaction have an effect on the alcohol possibly rendering it useless for our purposes, or a big bang accompanied by a mushroom cloud? Thank you, and may the reaction be with you.

I have been using an aluminium auto radiator for methanol recovery for well over 100 gallons with no noticable effect.

It is my understanding that aluminum is not bothered much by methanol. Some alloys may be tho.

Certainly methoxide (methanol with NAOH) will destroy aluminum in a hurry, making hydrogen gas in the process! It's the NAOH that does it.

Draino has NAOH with aluminum particles in it which make it active in water.

Bob

The reaction between Methanol and Aluminum is well-known. From Wikipedia:

quote:

One of the drawbacks of methanol as a fuel is its corrosivity to some metals, including aluminum. Methanol, although a weak acid, attacks the oxide coating that normally protects the aluminium from corrosion:

6 CH3OH + Al2O3 → 2 Al(OCH3)3 + 3 H2O

Note that both the Aluminum and Methanol are "spoiled" through this reaction.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BobAbbey:
I have been using an aluminium auto radiator for methanol recovery for well over 100 gallons with no noticable effect.

Any chance you would share your plans for this recovery unit? I was thinking about using a radiator to spray wet biodiesel onto for drying after water wash. I have an immediate need to fabricate a drying sytem. Got any advice?

Much thanks,
Billy

Hummm, I keep about a pint of methanol in a Sigg aluminumn bottle, un anodized aluminum. I have not noticed any effect. I am running a 3/27 right now with methanol from that bottle and some from a stainless storage can. Both samples test the same, good to go.

I'm not sure whether meth reacts against aluminum, but I know that lye does.

In fact when lye reacts with aluminum, it produces hydrogen. When lye reacts with sugar, it produces carbon monoxide. Safety first!

Methanol DOES react with aluminum. But if you look at Methanex's methanol TISH you'll see (page 22) clearly stated that it attacks it SLOWLY.
How slowly? Very. I can talk for personal experience, and so does anybody that ever operated a model engine. I have had model engines (for R/C cars and planes) I have used for HUNDREDS of hours, on methanol blends running from about 65% to almost 90% methanol, and have never seen the slightest sign of corrosion, neither in the crankcase or carburetor, where the methanol flow is fairly cold, nor in the cylinder head, where it reaches hundreds of degrees.
And also those engines are made with several different alloys, from cheap cast aluminum for some entry level engines, to 6062 and even 7075 for high end, racing ones.

Alcohol does not react with aluminum... lye on the other hand does. It will degrade it vigorously while creating hydrogen gas.

Try mixing lye and water, in a sturdy container. All aluminum foil and capture the gas by putting a trash bag over it. When the trash bag is full, let it float away :-)