I am still not finished with my methanol recovery system, but am curious how long I need to boil the methanol before it's all out of the bio? I have a sealed 40 gallon electric hot water heater and 30 gallon batches- using the bottom 240V element only. How long do I maintain the heat at 170F and do I run the circulator pump all the time, or once it reaches temp, can I shut it all off? Everything i read says to look for drips in the still, but until I build the still, I am just boiling off.

Thanks

ski2liv,

a couple of things to think about

170F pot temp is too low.. I run mine until the pot temp hits 205F. I would go higher but don't because the pump seal will not take it. if you using the HF or NT pumps don't go above 200F..you'll loose the shaft seals.

inject air in the pot..either above or below the liquid. this help to force the vapors out..reduces recovery time

use a reflux column. this help improve the purity. mines 2" copper pipe the stainless scrubs loosly packed inside.

control the pot temp based on the temperature at the top of the reflux column. I run mine at 151F at the top of the reflux column.

-dkenny