Alcohol distillation is one of the oldest industrial processes. Not only can it produce spirits, but it can also provide fuel alcohol for internal combustion engines and be used as a solvent in many pharmaceutical applications. Unfortunately, alcohol distillation cannot be performed at home; only skilled craftspeople and those licensed to run distilleries should attempt it themselves.
Distillation is an extremely volatile process that produces highly volatile flammable vapors that, when ignited in enclosed spaces, can spark fires or explosions. Distilling also releases skin irritants and eye irritants as well as harmful particles which may damage livers, kidneys, central nervous systems or cause blindness if consumed directly by humans. Most hazardous is production of MeOH (CH3OH), an extremely toxic chemical with very low boiling points which is difficult to separate from ethanol during distillation processes – consumption can lead directly to blindness!
Ethanol has an extremely high boiling point of 78.2@C, making it relatively straightforward to isolate it from water during distillation. Other byproducts with lower boiling points called ‘faints” from distillation include 1-Propanol (CH3CH2CHCH2OH), isobutanol (CH3CHOH) and acetone (CH3CH2CHCHO) which may be found in paint thinners, petrol and varnish products – although its inhalation could pose significant health risks to human health – so careful monitoring must be observed if this material enters our bodies!
