Water in methanol. Is there a fix?

[neisel]

I was given 120 odd litres of methanol which turns out to have water in it.

Is there anything I can do that will make it pure & / or usable?

If not, what to do with it?

[julianf]

Commercial places use (fractional) distillation.  But setting up would cost you more than the meth would be worth.

People have talked about water removing gells before, but ive never heard of the results.

[julianf]

As for what to use it for - if its not too bad, you could try using it for enriched glyc washes?

DGS will, im sure, be able to advise better.

[neisel]

Thanks.

I wondered if one of the guys who reclaims methanol could do something with it, but TBH I haven't a clue f the energy cost would make that a non flyer.

It's got to be useful for something other than screenwash.

[nigelb]

It's got to be useful for something other than screenwash.

mmmm....nothing quite like the sweet smell of poison in the cabin!!

I reckon Julian is on the right line...meth enrichement of the glyc prewash.

Do you know how much water is in it? Have you tested it with a spirit hyrdometer or weighed a sample to find out how pure or impure it is. GL posted up on his website a graph that shows the level of contamination.

[neisel]

This is the worst. That bottom line on the hydrometer is .800 so I can't give you a definitive SG reading.

[dgs]

Hi neisel,
There looks to be a lot of water in that methanol. Without knowing how much it is difficult to advise you. If you send me a sample I will test it for water, probably with the sandy brae. Just PM me if you want to do that. Dave.

ps Just doing a few quick calculations, as long as the water was not more than @ 25% it would still work with a sort of enhanced glycerol pre-treatment, but you would have to ensure that there was a lot of glycerol in the mix (maybe anything up to 50%) so it removed the water when it was drained.

As an experiment you could try; 100 litres of oil, 50 litres (or as much as you've got) of glycerol, 10 litres of wet methanol, mixed with 200gms KOH. After draining the glycerol do a 10/90 to calculate 2nd stage which you would do with dry methanol. I think this would work but it depends on the water content of the methanol.

[nigelb]

This is the chart I was eluding to. If you cant weigh 1lt weigh 100ml and multiply the weight by 10. It should give you a good indication.

http://www.graham-laming.com/bd/methanol_purity.htm

[dgs]

This is the chart I was eluding to. If you cant weigh 1lt weigh 100ml and multiply the weight by 10. It should give you a good indication.

http://www.graham-laming.com/bd/methanol_purity.htm

nigel, the big question is not the water in the methanol, but if leicester will stay in the premiership.

[K.H]

They are on a good run at the mo 

[nigelb]

I used to be a season ticket holder until 2 yrs ago. Got fed up with the cheating. I hope they stay up but the bottom line is...I couldn't care less. Must change my avatar.

[Julian]

I used to be a season ticket holder until 2 yrs ago. Got fed up with the cheating. I hope they stay up but the bottom line is...I couldn't care less. Must change my avatar.

Footballing is second only to smileys ... Nige can I help you change your avatar ... sooner the better in my books.

[nigelb]

I'll change it tonight when I get back...off to Music Fest to see my lad play in his brass band.

[K.H]

I'll change it tonight when I get back...off to Music Fest to see my lad play in his brass band.

Please please change it to a giant smiley

[nigelb]

There we go....all done.