What is an ethanol still?
A still is a device that has long been used in ancient times for the purification of liquids. There are many kinds of stills a few of which include a whiskey still,copper still, ethanol still or moonshine still.
The process of purifying liquids is done by boiling and converting it to steam. It is then condensed and collected making sure the undesirable impurities are left behind.
An ethanol still is a device where ethanol is distilled. Essentially, distillation could be used to virtually concentrate any liquid that has a vaporization point. The process of ethanol distillation is where an alcohol is placed in a sealed pot. It is then heated to a specific temperature allowing ethanol to boil off so only water remains. The resulting vapor is then piped to a second pot where it is converted back to liquid.
How to make an ethanol still
Begin by sawing the copper tubing to two sections. One section is approximately a foot long and another is nine feet in length.
Then, bend the nine-foot tubing section to a coil. You can use a cooking pot as an easy mold. Bend back the tubing around the pot using clamps. The clamps must be made with the central six feet tubing making sure to leave 1.5 feet on both sides.
The cooking pot must be stainless steel or made from copper. It must arrive already sealed. If the pot needs to be sealed, do so by soldering the lid to the pot. Ensure that the solders are solid and thick.
Drill in the cooking pot’s lid and feed the other end of the tubing in it making sure it is bended. Then, the tube must be soldered to the hole.
Cut a second hole inside the pot lid with the use of a reciprocating saw and drill. The hole must be a snug fit for the rubber stopper. Similarly, the hole is where the mash will be poured through the cooking pot. Drill a hole onto the lid or cap of the glass jar.
Position the pot on a cooking stand campfire. Place the glass jar near the pot enough for the copper tubing’s other end to be fed in it. The end need not be sealed. However, a few inches of the tubing must be inside the jar so it will not pop out.
Fill the pot with fermented mash. The fire’s temperature must fall anywhere from 173 degrees Fahrenheit and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature goes higher, the water could boil. If the temperature is lower, alcohol could not boil. Make sure the temperature is perfectly appropriate.
It is not necessary for the condensation coil to be packed in ice or water but it has to remain in a shady and cool place.
Ethanol is usually utilized for fuel. It is necessary that it be 95% pure and so it needs two or more distillations. When using ethanol as fuel, its purity must be tested prior to its use.
Be aware that alcohol distillation is regulated by the United States government and so needs a license. Never mix alcohol vapor and fire. Always utilize a still and do distill outdoors in order to decrease the risk of fire hazards.
The process of purifying liquids is done by boiling and converting it to steam. It is then condensed and collected making sure the undesirable impurities are left behind.
An ethanol still is a device where ethanol is distilled. Essentially, distillation could be used to virtually concentrate any liquid that has a vaporization point. The process of ethanol distillation is where an alcohol is placed in a sealed pot. It is then heated to a specific temperature allowing ethanol to boil off so only water remains. The resulting vapor is then piped to a second pot where it is converted back to liquid.
How to make an ethanol still
Begin by sawing the copper tubing to two sections. One section is approximately a foot long and another is nine feet in length.
Then, bend the nine-foot tubing section to a coil. You can use a cooking pot as an easy mold. Bend back the tubing around the pot using clamps. The clamps must be made with the central six feet tubing making sure to leave 1.5 feet on both sides.
The cooking pot must be stainless steel or made from copper. It must arrive already sealed. If the pot needs to be sealed, do so by soldering the lid to the pot. Ensure that the solders are solid and thick.
Drill in the cooking pot’s lid and feed the other end of the tubing in it making sure it is bended. Then, the tube must be soldered to the hole.
Cut a second hole inside the pot lid with the use of a reciprocating saw and drill. The hole must be a snug fit for the rubber stopper. Similarly, the hole is where the mash will be poured through the cooking pot. Drill a hole onto the lid or cap of the glass jar.
Position the pot on a cooking stand campfire. Place the glass jar near the pot enough for the copper tubing’s other end to be fed in it. The end need not be sealed. However, a few inches of the tubing must be inside the jar so it will not pop out.
Fill the pot with fermented mash. The fire’s temperature must fall anywhere from 173 degrees Fahrenheit and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature goes higher, the water could boil. If the temperature is lower, alcohol could not boil. Make sure the temperature is perfectly appropriate.
It is not necessary for the condensation coil to be packed in ice or water but it has to remain in a shady and cool place.
Ethanol is usually utilized for fuel. It is necessary that it be 95% pure and so it needs two or more distillations. When using ethanol as fuel, its purity must be tested prior to its use.
Be aware that alcohol distillation is regulated by the United States government and so needs a license. Never mix alcohol vapor and fire. Always utilize a still and do distill outdoors in order to decrease the risk of fire hazards.