Would a larger plate heat exchanger (water cooled), with 2" inlet/outlet condense methanol vapor faster than a plumbers delight if you have more surface area? I want to build a methanol still using a former 300 gallon propane tank, with heater elements, pushing air into heater tank and pulling vapor through a condenser by vacuum. Does anyone have a methanol still similar to this? I need to know what type of vacuum pump is safe to use. Which type vacuum pump is built to be methanol vapor and or chemical resistant?
I produce 75 gallons of glycerol per batch, which contains a good quantity of methanol to
be recovered. This is why I'm thinking to build a dedicated methanol still, but given the dangers of heat and methanol, I'm asking for advice. My home built processor is not a pressure vessel, so I can't just vacuum off the processor. I see the commercial methanol recovery systems for sale, but they are way out of my league in cost to buy. Thank you
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This message has been edited. Last edited by: CSCHAEFER,

No need for pressure vessels and vavcuum for methanol recovery, myself and quite a few others recover methanol in our GL style processors, check out the GL processor which can be used to recover methanol from bio and glyc
http://www.graham-laming.com/b...tate_diagram_new.htm


and also check out my whole batch demething method
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/ev...=373108012#373108012

I too have been demething biodiesel without a vacuum. Heat the fluid up to about 80 degree C and keep the top head between 65-70C and Ive been having great success.

I recirculate the biodiesel and it enters the tank thru a misting nozzle. This really accelerates the process of methanol coming off. Lots don't but, I would never go back to not using a misting nozzle to help me demeth.

I asked this exact same question a few months ago and here is the thread. Some really fantastic replies about using a vacuum. One day i will still like to set up some kind of vacuum operation.

http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/ev...=647100821#647100821

I recirculated a 350 gal. batch of Bio Diesel, with glycerol drained off already, spraying Bio Diesel back into top of tank. Then applied a very small vacuum (1-3) inches. The vacuum really enhanced the condensing of methanol through a 10-foot plumbers delight. I think using vacuum is really worth setting up on your process. I can only imagine better results, when a full vacuum would be used.