No registration or passwords; no pop-up ads -- just aloha, fun, & answers.
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate earns from qualifying purchases).
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Advertise
 
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
pub  Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989



-----

Need information for methanol recyling.




2000

We are a gold and silver jewelry manufacturing company and use methanol [affil links], isopropanol and acetone [on eBay or Amazon] in our process. We generate about 10 gallons of methanol and about half a gallon each of acetone [on eBay or Amazon] and isopropanol as waste. Presently we are incinerating the spent solutions in a burner.

I would appreciate, if somebody knows of any method where I could recycle the solutions by distillation or any other techniques.

Ajit Menon
Landstroms - Rapid City, South Dakota



Unfortunately, these are by definition, haz waste. You need a license to treat (incinerate) it.

Recovery by distillation is probably a viable option. This is legal, as it is recovery, rather than treatment.

The biggest problem will be the condensing coil. you will have to run chilled water or similar thru it to get the surface of the coil below the condensing (boiling) temp of each solution. Acetone is very volatile at room temp.

Commercial stills are available.

Safety is an issue. Do some homework on it.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2000



All three solvents are infinitely soluble in water and form binary azeotropes (constant boiling mixtures) water. If you pick up water, distillation will not remove it. This is why grain alcohol for consumption never exceeds 180 to 190 proof.

You will not get pure alcohol if there is significant water contamination.

Charles R. Reichert CEF-SE
- Seattle, Washington
2000


What Charles says is true. In a commercial facility or lab, a fractional distillation unit is used. In poor man's language this involves using a longer coil so that a great amount returns to the boiling mixture. It is possible to control the "cut" to 0.1F which gives a great consistency, separating the pure solvent from the azeotrope. I rather doubt if his operation requires "pure" solvents, just clean ones.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2000




(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

 
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g, Train'g
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2024 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"