Fuel vs Chemical vs Food Grade Alcohol

Basics

• This page goes over the relevant distinctions between:
  • Fuel Alcohol
  • Food Grade Ethanol and similar Distilled Drinks
  • Alcohols or co-produced products for use as chemicals

Fuel Alcohol

• In most cases (short of jet/rocket engines where small variations in composition can have major consequences) this is the lowest concern variety
• Composition/Contaminates are of little issue, outside of perhaps effecting Energy Density , and possibly creating unusual Pollutants (if chlorine or some metal is introduced somehow etc)
• Water Content is the main issue

Food Grade Ethanol

• This is probably one of the most strict specification (along with medical use/aerospace fuel) due to the fact that if errors are made, major health issues such as Methanol Poisoning can occur
• Also keeping things clean and sterile is important

Chemistry Grade Alcohol (And Co-Products)

• Similar in process to Food Grade
• Main difference is the desire for chemical purity
• This can be done via post processing, mainly:
  • More distillation (in a Cascade or in a batch system (see Double Distilled Water ) )
  • Vacuum Distillation
  • Molecular Sieve

Internal Links

• Distillation Safety
• Still