Homemade ethanol
#1
#3
If I was making 90% alcohol (180 proof); I'd be too tempted to drink it.
On a side note; regular moon-shine; white lightning; everclear; etc... is around 180 proof; 90% alcohol. How efficient is it for mixing with gasoline to make a home brew ethanol fuel? I've seen plenty of recipes for moonshine.
On a side note; regular moon-shine; white lightning; everclear; etc... is around 180 proof; 90% alcohol. How efficient is it for mixing with gasoline to make a home brew ethanol fuel? I've seen plenty of recipes for moonshine.
#5
#6
Try here: Make your own Fuel
And here: Ethanol Distillation
I bought 2 commercial reflux stills a couple of years ago to try and make ethanol for use in making biodiesel. Made one batch with it that came out at 98%, but I still have to build a molecular sieve to reach the required 99.5% that I need. These 2 sites were a great help.
And here: Ethanol Distillation
I bought 2 commercial reflux stills a couple of years ago to try and make ethanol for use in making biodiesel. Made one batch with it that came out at 98%, but I still have to build a molecular sieve to reach the required 99.5% that I need. These 2 sites were a great help.
#7
What are you using as a still? Reflux is supposed to be the best, but you have to tune the heat and return. As stated, there is a lot of info available to make shine, but most shine gets watered back down to 40% alcohol from the 80-95% pure distilled.
I would think 10-20% means either your yeast isn't producing like it should or your not allowing it eat as much sugar as it could. 10-20% means your only making 1-2 gallons of alcohol per 10 gallons of mash, I would think the yeast could do better.
You may also want to try this http://www.amazingstill.com/ to pre distill your mash.
I would think 10-20% means either your yeast isn't producing like it should or your not allowing it eat as much sugar as it could. 10-20% means your only making 1-2 gallons of alcohol per 10 gallons of mash, I would think the yeast could do better.
You may also want to try this http://www.amazingstill.com/ to pre distill your mash.
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#8
IMHO, unless you have a significant amount of $$ invested, or got lots of feedstock you can't do anything with, I wouldn't bother with making alcohol.
#9
#10
Ok this time I cheated a little. I went to the store and bought some wine that was 18% alcohol and ran that through the still. during the stilling I ran a test and I got 130 proof. BUT after it was done about 30 minutes later it was 120 proof. so I just brushed it off and went onto dewatering it. I was told to run it through zeolite(sp?) and charcole well after letting it sit over night it now reads 110 proof. What is Going on now? I am officaly 100% LOST
#12
#13
Again thank you all again. and dam I am getting ever closer to a higher proof. My run today started out at 40 proof before distilling. 130 Proof in the middle of distilling. 3/4 the way though distilling it was 120 proof and at the very last end the final reading was 110 proof. I am so close to finally getting it but now I have to still find out why its losing so much proof in the end.
#14
Again thank you all again. and dam I am getting ever closer to a higher proof. My run today started out at 40 proof before distilling. 130 Proof in the middle of distilling. 3/4 the way though distilling it was 120 proof and at the very last end the final reading was 110 proof. I am so close to finally getting it but now I have to still find out why its losing so much proof in the end.
#15
Sounds like your temps are rising higher as you go. You need to keep a tight control on your distillation temp. With my still if I allow the temp to rise much above 170-180 deg the proof goes down because of more water vapor coming across with the alcohol. 110-120 proof on a first run through a non-reflux still is not bad. If you run the 110 proof through the still again you should get 170-190 proof.