Fractional home distillation 4/5, фракционная дистилляция 4/5

[AirborneSS]

I think that the reason why the hydrometer registers 95% and not higher is that ethanol forms an azeotrope with water at that concentration. The solution distills in a set 95-5 percent proportion of ethanol to water, and the only way to get absolute ethanol is to pull the remaining water out with a desiccant like anhydrous MgSO4.

[lexichronicle2]

@AirborneSS that's not the only way.

you can add entrainers to split the azeotrope, or do it under vacuum (below around 80mBar) and the ethanol alone should come off.

problems with those methods;

1.) the entrainer is usually toxic, so not something you want near drinking alcohol

2.) alcohol liquefies at a much lower temperature under vacuum, so need an ice cooled condenser at least

[kingearwig]

get rid of some of that plastic

[santeryi9]

@kingearwig Already done, just check the following video: "Throw your old still away"

[MCLaneous]

Geez theres alot to this, You are a very intelligent man!

[snakeplisssken]

"if you still feel unpleasant taste in your spirit...its not very good" very informative

[santeryi9]

Strongly agree.

[guned6666]

Thermometer readings are not reliable, not reproduceable and provide only a guideline. Separation of fractions should be done by taste and smell.

[kvareran]

why dont you use a thermometer to mesure the steam temperaturer and collect the right fraction that way. Should give more acurate fractions? Get whrid of some of the guess work in the calculations