FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | |
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INDEX
1 Anti-septic properties
2 Coloured methylated spirits
3 Ethanol gel fuel
4 Ethanol in aerosols
5 Excise duty
6 Feints
7 Proof spirit
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Yes, there are formulations available that are marketed as antiseptics and sanitisers with ethanol as the active ingredient. The formulations vary in ethanol content from about 70% to 90%.
2 A) Is it dangerous to drink coloured methylated spirit?
B) Would passing it through bread help?
C) Why is it called methylated spirit?
A) Yes. Methylated spirits has been denatured (rendered unfit for human consumption) by the addition of denaturants at the point of manufacture. The denaturants and their addition rates are legislated, i.e.,
· 3.5% normal butanol
· 1.5% benzine
· 0.375% mineral naptha per 100 litres
· 2 grams bitrex (denatonium benzoate) per 100 litres
· 0.15 grams methyl violet per 100 litres
B) No. Bread is alkaline. The methyl violet is an indicator which loses its colour in an alkaline medium, so the blue colour is removed on passing though bread, but the other denaturants remain. The methyl violet is only added to assist in identification.
C) Originally methanol was used as the denaturant and hence “methylated”. It was later substituted by the other denaturants (above) which are less toxic.
3 What is ethanol gel fuel and why is it used?
Ethanol gel fuel is a jelly like combustible material which contains about 80% ethanol and is used as a safe heating fuel. It function is similar to that of paraffin in this application, but is much safer. If spilled or knocked over while burning, it does not spread and can be more easily extinguished.
4 Why is ethanol used in aerosols and what is its function?
An aerosol is small pressured vessel containing a product which is ideally applied in a spray form. The propellant, which provides the pressure, is normally butane or a mixture of propane and butane. The ethanol is used as a solvent for the active ingredient in the spray. The grade of ethanol used is anhydrous (also called absolute alcohol), as the formation of rust (if water was present) cannot be risked in this pressure vessel. Previously chloro-fluoro-carbons were used as the propellant, but this has ceased because of ozone degradation.
5 What is excise duty?
Excise duty is effectively a consumption tax that is levied on various categories of liquor and at varying duty levels. It will earn the fiscus approximately R 33.4 billion on all liquor in the 2022/23 financial year.of which spirits will contribute R10.4 Bn
6 What is /are feints?
During the fermentation process, side reactions give rise to very small quantities of by-products such as aldehydes, esters, methanol, etc. These must be removed to purify the ethanol. As they have boiling points lower than the ethanol / water azeotrope , they can be removed at the top end of the distillation column(s) and in this industry, these light ends are called feints.
7 What is proof spirit?
The origin and meaning of “proof” is explained on the page Measurements.