Mark, what about Methanol? I guess non-reagent grade Ethanol had
additives to render it unfit for human consumption.

 The only Ethanol that I was every able to buy was the sipping grade at
the liquer store - usually at 80-90 proof! I worked for the Alabama
State Health Labs and we bought the 200 proof stuff from the
distilleries in New Orleans in 5 gallon sealed containers. At that
purity it was a very clear, pure, reagent grade, and we used it in the
labs. Keeping track was a pain because we had the not-to-infrequent
disappearace of a liter or so which always would wind up at someones
hooch party. One helluva kick. And strictly against the law.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Marc Perdue wrote:

> Grain alcohol is 190 proof, or 95% ethanol.  The other 5% is water.  The
> only ethanol that doesn't have any water is 200 proof.  I believe you
> can buy it in some FLAPS by different brand names, used for drying out
> wet gas.  Having said that, all ethanol mixes readily with water; the
> higher the proof, the more it can absorb, but grain alcohol would work
> in a pinch.  You might prefer to drink it though . . .  :^)  Ethanol
> will absorb water readily and not release it unless you boil off the
> ethanol (180 degrees F) or run it through some kind of dessicant.  The
> only feasible way to get rid of that last 5%, going from 190 proof to
> 200 proof, is by running it through a good, dry dessicant.
>
> Former fuel ethanol distiller,
> Marc Perdue
>
> Roger Sisler wrote:
>
>> hours to get all condensables out.I think any alcohol has water
>> already in
>> it, except for grain alcohol.
>>
>>
>>
>
>