Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Distillation and Still Design
My intent in creating this thread is to exchange information concerning distillation. A still is a versatile piece of equipment that can be used to purify a huge range of substances based on differences in their boiling points. A still can be used to purify drinking water, produce alcohol ( I would NEVER, EVER do this because it is illegal without a permit.), obtain essential oils from plants, and probably a bunch of other stuff I don't know about (yet).
To get things going I would like to provide some pictures of my personal still, which of course I use only for legal purposes.
The first one here is of the unit in general. It shows all the essential parts. A functional still requires:
1.) a heat source (electric range top, which is very important for safety if any of the compounds in your still are flammable)
2.) a boiler to heat the mixture you wish to separate
3.) a connecting arm to connect the boiler to the:
4.) condenser, which returns the vapors generated in the boiler to a liquid form
5.) receiving vessel to catch either the desired or waste product, depending on which is the more volatile of the two.
This is a close up of the boiler. Due to a shoestring budget when I built it, I had to improvise. As you can see, the boiler vessel itself is a 4 liter Carlo Rossi wine jug. The fun part about this design is that first you need to empty the jug Now, this is not quality glass like Pyrex or anything along those lines. Therefore, you have to be really careful about heating it up or it will shatter. I learned this the hard way back in the experimentation days, although fortunately the only result was a mess. The solution I came up with was to put a large pot on the burner, then add a layer of salt about 1/3 of an inch thick on the bottom, then place the boiler bottle on top of that. Then I pour more salt in around the bottle, so the bottom three inches or so of the vessel are covered. This helps distribute the heat more evenly to the sides of the boiler. I also increase the heat applied slowly. I increase the heat gradually over the course of about an hour until I hit the maximum level I intend to use. That gives the glass time to expand gradually and uniformly, helping to avoid any unpleasant ruptures.
This is the condenser unit. The coil I made by hand bending 1/4 inch inside diameter copper tubing, which you can get at most hardware stores. I think I bought 15 feet worth. I also used that to make the lyne arm which connects the boiler to the condenser. I used compression fittings to make those connections. They are handy because they allow you to easily disassemble and store the still.
One other nice feature about this condenser design is that the drain is situated at the operating water level. That way the condenser can never run dry, preventing the possibility of uncondensed vapor escaping in any serious amount.
** NOTE: The pictures presented above depict a still being used to distill water from tap water **
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
bromius wrote:
My intent in creating this thread is to exchange information concerning
distillation. A still is a versatile piece of equipment that can be used
to purify a huge range of substances based on differences in their
boiling points.
A nice thread idea and very true, stills are useful for many things from
distilling water to producing fuels depending on the qualities of the
still and it's purpose. We have an excellent thread on water purification,
but a thread focused more on alcohol stills is a good idea...
bromius wrote:
The first one here is of the unit in general. It shows all the essential parts. A functional still requires:
1.) a heat source (electric range top, which is very important for safety if any of the compounds in your still are flammable)
2.) a boiler to heat the mixture you wish to separate
3.) a connecting arm to connect the boiler to the:
4.) condenser, which returns the vapors generated in the boiler to a liquid form
5.) receiving vessel to catch either the desired or waste product, depending on which is the more volatile of the two.
Materials: Well sealing kettle, Silicone plug, Silicone tubing, bag
Also, you need some twine and a small metal tube to fit in the
silicone tube so the twine doesn't crush the tubing when tying
the bag to it.
Materials: Well sealing kettle, Tape, Silicone tubing, bag
You just run it open for a minute or so to evaporate undesirable
distillates, then plug in the bag. The high surface area of the bag
condenses the steam quickly and fills up with condensate that can
be poured into a different container. These are very light, cheap
and easily scaled up. Definitely a great weekend project.
Below is a super ghetto garbage bag still. I haven't tried this
design however if you do I suggest using an untreated food grade
bag and not a random garbage bag. 4 gallon food grade glad bags
should be relatively safe. (though I make no claims about long term use)
Garbage Bag + Rice Cooker = Alcohol Still
There are many ways to make a still. Another amusing design...
A long pipe and a kettle
A very very low quality still distilling a steady trickle of water. If you
have a pulse you can make one of these.
Amusing stuff...
Last edited by steam_cannon on Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:41 am; edited 2 times in total
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
Why's alcohol distillation (w/o a permit) illegal in the US? Is it because they don't want people getting alcohol for free or is it because it's dangerous?
It seems like knowing the process would be pretty smart for the future. You'd then at least, if you're not a drinker, be able to produce rubbing alcohol for disinfecting wounds and medical utensils. It could be quite helpful. Not that I endorse making alcohol illegally. _________________ Riches are not from abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind.
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
3aidlillahi wrote:
Why's alcohol distillation (w/o a permit) illegal in the US? Is it because they don't want people getting alcohol for free or is it because it's dangerous?
It goes back to that grand social experiment called prohibition where the USA tried to sober up the whole nation. What they got was speakeasys and orginized crime. Realizing the money that was in such an addictive subtance apon repeal of prohibition they taxed every bottle that is sold and the permit process mostly insures that Uncle Sam gets his cut. You can actually make small amounts for your own use. They allow several gallons of both beer and wine each year and smaller amounts of the hard stuff coming out of stills but as soon as you want to sell any you must pay the piper or the "Revenuers" as the case may be.
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
3aidlillahi wrote:
Why's alcohol distillation (w/o a permit) illegal in the US? Is it because
they don't want people getting alcohol for free or is it because it's dangerous?
I think it boils down to:
* 99% Government doesn't want people getting it for free.
vtsnowedin gave a good description...
* 1% dangerous if high pressure equipment is involved or glass...
bromius wrote:
...therefore, you have to be really careful about heating it up or it will shatter. I learned this the hard way back in the experimentation
days, although fortunately the only result was a mess.
I have no idea why the government is against people doing this without a permit.
No idea...
Quote:
Quote:
Distilling alcohol?
does anybody know where i can find the regulations regarding
production of distilled spirits for personal consumption.
You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes
and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled
spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal
penalties.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that
make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use.
Some of these requirements are paying excise tax, filing an
extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment
to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing
a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed
records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19.
Spirits may be produced for non-beverage purposes for fuel use
only without payment of tax, but you also must file an application,
receive TTB's approval, and follow requirements, such as
construction, use, records and reports.
Under Federal rules administered by TTB, it depends on how you
use the still. You may not produce alcohol with these stills unless
you qualify as a distilled spirits plant (see earlier question).
However, owning a small still and using it for other purposes is
allowed. You should also check with your State and local authorities
- their rules may differ.
A still is defined as apparatus capable of being used to separate
ethyl alcohol from a mixture that contains alcohol. Small stills (with a
cubic distilling capacity of a gallon or less) that are used for
laboratory purposes or for distilling water or other non-alcoholic
materials are exempt from our rules. If you buy a small still and use
it to distill water or extract essential oils by steam or water
extraction methods, you are not subject to TTB requirements. If you
produce essential oils by a solvent method and you get alcohol as a
by-product of your process, we consider that distilling. Even though
you are using and recovering purchased alcohol, you are separating
the alcohol from a mixture -distilling.
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
In the early teens there was a certain amount of competition over what would fuel Ford cars. The T’s would run on either gas or ethanol. It was in Standard Oil’s interest to support prohibition. The gasoline infrastructure was entrenched by the 1930’s and Standard Oil reversed its position on social grounds.
The government’s interest in a tax on ethanol goes all the way back the Whisky Rebellion. Draconian taxes on ethanol production were seen as a sin tax. Remember, the power to tax is the power to destroy.
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
steam_cannon wrote:
Why did you use a jug and not a modified pressure cooker? Pressure cookers seem to work pretty well..
+1
That's a pressure cooker bottom. Just put a fitting on the lid to connect it to the copper tubing and you can distill water to your heart's content. Just be sure there's no alcohol in the water you're distilling because that would get distilled too and the BATF might be very unhappy. _________________ "I was born in a deep forest
I wish I could live here all my life
I am made from stones and roots
My home, these woods and roads
All my life I loved this sound
Of the woods all around
Eagles fly where the winds blow free" -Korpiklaani
I've visited both of those sites and found them informative and useful. Homedistiller.org has a lot of information on the process of distillation in general, which is just interesting to know, even if you buy all your distilled liquor at the liquor store (like I do).
The other site talks about making a reflux still, which is like having many pot stills (the design I used) in one. It uses a long column packed with some inert material to pass the vapors up through. The hotter vapors rising from below heat the liquid that condenses higher in the column, causing them to revaporize and move farther up. I guess the idea is to control the temp at the top of the column so that is just slightly higher than the boiling point of the substance you want so that whatever makes it out into the condenser is almost pure. It will work for alcohol, and petroleum is actually refined in a similar manner. I didn't really have use for this type of still because its basically for making fuel or high grade ethanol.
steam_cannon wrote:
2.) a boiler to heat the mixture you wish to separate
Why did you use a jug and not a modified pressure cooker?
Pressure cookers seem to work pretty well...
bromius wrote:
Nice selection of tea [/quote]
Haha, yeah, I'm mostly a tea drinker. Although of late I've enjoyed the coffee as well.
I chose to use the glass jug for several reasons. I did consider using my pressure cooker, but the compression fittings I bought wouldn't fit it. One size was a little too big, the other a little too small. Also, the hole in the top of the pressure cooker is really small and I wasn't sure if I could get enough vapor through there to make the thing practical, and if I could, I was worried about blowing the safety valve.
Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Distillation and Still Design
bromius wrote:
Also, the hole in the top of the pressure cooker is really small and I wasn't sure if I could get enough vapor through there to make the thing practical
You can.
Quote:
and if I could, I was worried about blowing the safety valve.
You shouldn't be building up nearly enough pressure to blow a safety valve. If you are, something is clogged. A still should operate at much lower pressure than a pressure cooker. If you blow a safety valve, be happy because you would have otherwise blown up your kitchen. _________________ "I was born in a deep forest
I wish I could live here all my life
I am made from stones and roots
My home, these woods and roads
All my life I loved this sound
Of the woods all around
Eagles fly where the winds blow free" -Korpiklaani
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Now, this is not quality glass like Pyrex or anything along those lines. Therefore, you have to be really careful about heating it up or it will shatter. I learned this the hard way back in the experimentation days, although fortunately the only result was a mess. The solution I came up with was to put a large pot on the burner, then add a layer of salt about 1/3 of an inch thick on the bottom, then place the boiler bottle on top of that. Then I pour more salt in around the bottle, so the bottom three inches or so of the vessel are covered. This helps distribute the heat more evenly to the sides of the boiler. I also increase the heat applied slowly. I increase the heat gradually over the course of about an hour until I hit the maximum level I intend to use. That gives the glass time to expand gradually and uniformly, helping to avoid any unpleasant ruptures.
