i'm using refrigeration pump from small window a/c untis to recover methanol. is there anyone else using this type of setup. how safe are they for this. using a 200 gallon propane tank as my reactor and could make a nice bang if something went wrong.

are these piston type pumps...
I hope not...they don't work. I destroyed a wonderful vacuum pump trying this.

if its spiral type pump. it might work but will need lubrication.

I'm going to try a vane type pump next..so far nothing stops these. the last thing thru mine wasn't air but vegie oil. I was using it to suck oil into my processor and over filled...yep right thru the pump. the noise changed but the pump didn't stop..

vane pump don't pull the same vacuum. I think mine good to 25 inches. where my piston pump is 29.995 inches. so some heating is necessary.

my only suggestion would to put the condenser after the pump..not before. keep the vapor hot and vapor thru the pump. maybe pressurized the pump output..

-dkenny