Please hear me out before shooting me.confused:

I asked a friend who is a chemical engineer if there was any way to render methanol inert.

He replied that there is no way to do so
chemically. The only way to change the molecule is through oxidation - burning, which would leave CO2 and H20. He related this to flare pipe at a petroleum plant.

Is this a viable option?
Is there a negative environmental impact?
Has anyone done such a thing?

I am still searching for waste disposal options before I can begin processing large batches.

Thanks,
Mel

If you add a little acid, you can easily neutralize NaOH. For example, using HCL (Muriatic Acid) will convert NaOH to salt and water.

Glycerin is supposed to be hard to burn, and Methanol/Glycerin is supposed to initially burn cleanly, then leave residue, as well as potentially toxic smoke.

I'm not sure of the dilution, but if you have too much water in the alcohol, it will be very tough to burn. Of course, you could distill and burn the alcohol, but then if you go through that trouble, you might as well distill and recover the alcohol.

If you neutralize the acid, then bacteria should be able to eat dilute methanol&glycerin.

Thanks Keelec,

Any idea how much HCL per gallon of Glycerol?
After adding the acid, what happens to the methanol and how long does it take?

Mel

HCL Neutralizes NaOH.

Not Methanol.

I assume it would be added in approximately an equal molar amount to the NaOH (perhaps minus a bit). But, perhaps just testing with Litmus paper or something would be easier.

The methanol is volatile.

But, there were some notes of Stills earlier too reclaim.

Why do you want to get rid of methanol? Be much better economically and environmentally to recover it, and reuse it.
Other options; waste water treatment plants sometimes will take the glyc with the methanol in it to feed the bacteria; it actually helps accelerate the process.
The glyc with methanol will burn i a pot type arrangement but will leave a hard crust residual behind that has to be cleaned out regularly (biodiesel burns almost completely clean)Add a little methanol to a paper towel and light it with that.Smouldering glyc gives off acroleine, a toxic substance.
Once recovered from the glyc layer you can then make soap from the glycerine :-)
Methanol is the prime ingredient in windshield washer fluid. It is also the prime ingredient in Fondu burners.

I gotta agree with Legal Eagle on the meth issue.

You already paid for it. Some of it is still in the glycerol. Why waste it? Why not distill it out of the glycerol and blend it with new methanol on your next batch?

It is my intent to reclaim the Meoh.
My first priority however is to get a processor up and running so I can get away from making labor intensive 2 gallon batches.
I was just looking for an interim solution. I really do not have the room or resources to store any large amounts. The local waste management will not take it and the EPA is telling me that I have to solidify it (using sand or sawdust) and then take it to a landfill 40 miles away. The local landfill cannot accept this class of toxic waste.
So in short, my issue is one of prioritization.
I do appreciate the suggestions.

Mel