DWelsh Posted February 7, 2017 Posted February 7, 2017 I have about a gallon of ethanol that may be contaminated with a small amount of copper sulfate. I am wondering if anyone in these forums can tell me how I can remove the copper sulfate completely (not just the copper ions). I have the means to re-distill the ethanol if distillation will leave the leave the copper sulfate behind. Any information is appreciated.
hypervalent_iodine Posted February 7, 2017 Posted February 7, 2017 Distillation should work, but I'm curious to know what you mean by redistill? Have you already distilled it and then you found copper sulfate? Where has it come from? 1
Sensei Posted February 7, 2017 Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) I have about a gallon of ethanol that may be contaminated with a small amount of copper sulfate. If you do, what we think you do, it's rather Copper Acetate, not Copper Sulfate.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_acetate BTW, Copper Sulfate is insoluble in pure ethanol: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_sulfate (but you don't have 100%) You could also have too high temperature during distillation, acetic acid has boiling point 118 to 119 °C.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetic_acid Once it evaporated and condensed on Copper pipes in Graham condenser, it reacted with it, giving bluish liquid in final container. When you have mash to distill, take 10 mL-20 mL from it, and add Sodium Bicarbonate, readily available in any market as Baking Soda, NaHCO3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate If after adding it to solution, there are visible carbon dioxide gas bubbles, you have the most likely acetic acid. CH3COOH + NaHCO3 -> CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O Distillation should work, But this time with Dephlegmator and glassware equipment.. Edited February 7, 2017 by Sensei
DWelsh Posted February 7, 2017 Author Posted February 7, 2017 If you do, what we think you do, it's rather Copper Acetate, not Copper Sulfate.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_acetate BTW, Copper Sulfate is insoluble in pure ethanol: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper(II)_sulfate (but you don't have 100%) You could also have too high temperature during distillation, acetic acid has boiling point 118 to 119 °C.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetic_acid Once it evaporated and condensed on Copper pipes in Graham condenser, it reacted with it, giving bluish liquid in final container. When you have mash to distill, take 10 mL-20 mL from it, and add Sodium Bicarbonate, readily available in any market as Baking Soda, NaHCO3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate If after adding it to solution, there are visible carbon dioxide gas bubbles, you have the most likely acetic acid. CH3COOH + NaHCO3 -> CH3COONa + CO2 + H2O But this time with Dephlegmator and glassware equipment.. Thank you for the thorough input. I will definitely be testing for acetic acid from now on using the baking soda method. I feel like copper acetate makes more sense, since I used a vinegar mixture to wash the distilling equipment and then rinsed well before distilling. 1
Sensei Posted February 7, 2017 Posted February 7, 2017 (edited) If you will make Sodium Acetate (or other acetate), don't throw them away They will grow as nice crystals.. You can sell them on eBay etc. I feel like copper acetate makes more sense, since I used a vinegar mixture to wash the distilling equipment and then rinsed well before distilling. I feel like you should start using fermentation lock.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermentation_lock http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=fermentation+lock Edited February 7, 2017 by Sensei
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