WHAT IS DRY ALCOHOL?

Dry alcohol is a kind of fuel material used for heating, generating calorific heat. Compared with mini gas stoves and induction cookers in restaurants, hotels or picnics, dry alcohol is much safer and more convenient and saves costs.

Dry alcohol exists in the form of jelly

In essence, dry alcohol is alcohol that has removed water into a jelly form, which is a product produced from ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and some additives. If applied correctly, it will be very effective and safe, a useful fuel. On the other hand, because it is in the form of jelly, when it is accidentally spilled, there will be no overflow phenomenon. The fire will go out if the alcohol burns out or there is no more air left.

Types of dry alcohol available today

On the market today, there are two types of dry alcohol, ethanol and methanol

1. Ethanol

• Made from plants or fermented, also known as bio-alcohol.
• Non-toxic.
• Fire with a yellow flame, does not produce a burning smell, when the bottom of the stove is burned, there is water.

Ethanol burns with a yellow flame

2. Methanol

• Industrial alcohol.
• Toxic, especially if not burned completely, formaldehyde will be produced. This is a very toxic, extremely dangerous substance.
• The flame when burning is green, with a pungent odor. In some cases, black smoke appears due to the addition of flammable additives.
• Burning methanol alcohol produces a heat of 41 degrees Celsius, which is 71 degrees Celsius lower than ethanol alcohol.

Dry alcohol production method

1. Use canxi axetat

Mixing saturated calcium acetate into a mixture of water and alcohol solvents, we will obtain colloidal calcium acetate or dry alcohol.

The mixture ratio will be 75ml of ethanol, 10ml of saturated calcium acetate ie 7.5:1.

2. Use fatty acids and alkalis

When heating alcohols, fatty acids are more soluble and rapidly react with alkalis to form soaps and fatty acids according to the reaction equation.

C₁₇H₃₅COOH + NaOH —–> C₁₇H₃₅COONa +H₂O

Natri stearat C₁₇H₃₅COONa formed will be further dissolved in water and form a hard shell. After the alcohol penetrates this shell, dry alcohol is formed.

In fact, dry alcohol is mixed with some substances such as phenolphthalein, rose bengal to create more eye-catching colors for the product without losing the properties of dry alcohol. For the flame produced by dry burning alcohol, to create color, sodium salt, potassium salt of nitrate and chlorate, lithium salt, copper salt,... are added in very small amounts, up to 1% of the total. volume of alcohol, preferably 0.5%.

Some additives are added to color the alcohol

3. Uses a cellulose derivative with a layer that prevents hydration

Fuel mixture consisting of: 10g methocel J75 MS, 50g water, 170g etanol, 2 – 4 g natri hydroxit and a small amount alumin trihydrat.

Dry alcohol production process

Mix 200ml of alcohol with 50ml of water. Add10g Methocel J75 MS, We will get a thick solution. Then pour this mixture into an alkaline container in sufficient quantity to raise the pH value so that it is greater than 8. Normally, the amount of natri hydroxit is 2 – 4g. At this point, a gel mixture is immediately formed.

4. Use inorganic fuel

Method 1: Mix 7.5g silic dioxit with 1.2g canxi hydroxit Add 2874g ethanol, stir rapidly for 1.5 minutes, then add 54g hydroxypropyl cellulose, mix well. After 1.5 hours, the glue mixture thickens into dry alcohol.

Method 2: Mix 6g silic dioxit + 6g titan dioxit + 0.1g canxi hydroxit width 2898g etanol add 90g hydroxypropyl cenulozo, evenly island.

Method 3: Mix 6g silic dioxit + 6g Au oxit + 1026g etanol + 84g metyl hydro butyl, evenly island 10 minute. add 374g water. Sau 20 minute , keep giving add 1504g etanol, we will get dry alcohol.

Alcohols obtained by the above methods are all 90% alcohol. To separate water from alcohol, the fastest way is to use anhydrous copper sulfate salt to absorb water, it should be done several times to remove more thoroughly.

Is it dangerous to use dry alcohol?

• Inhaling methanol when burning can cause poisoning with symptoms such as dizziness, burning nose, mucosal damage.
• Penetrates through the skin causing irritation and itching.
• Penetrating into the bloodstream causes a lack of oxygen, which can cause the victim to lose consciousness.
• The smoke that enters the eyes stings, and the cornea is also damaged.
• If dry alcohol is not pure alcohol, they contain many extremely toxic impurities, when burned, it will create toxic smoke

Things to keep in mind when choosing dry alcohol

• The selected dry alcohol must have full and clear labels.
• To distinguish between ethanol and methanol, observe the color of the flame and the smell of the smoke produced.
• Absolutely do not use methanol alcohol because it is very dangerous.

Observe the color of the flame to see if it is ethanol alcohol

Above are THANHNHI shares about what is dry alcohol? Notes when choosing dry alcohol. To ensure your safety and benefits, be a smart consumer and choose the right quality dry alcohol product.