[jump /injack]

Originally Posted by Gray Wolf

As noted, a compound refluxing still will run it back up to the azeotropic 95.6%, or under vacuum closer to 99%.

Joe tells me that Dri rite can be used to dry ethanol.

"The quantity of DRIERITE necessary to dry a particular batch of liquid must be sufficient to absorb all of the water available as determined by a sample analysis. DRIERITE has a theoretical chemical capacity for water of 6.6%; however, in liquid phase drying, we recommend that 5% be used as a design capacity for the entire column. In other words, 100 pounds of DRIERITE should be used for each 5 pounds of water to be absorbed. 
In addition to the above consideration, the size of the drying column or desiccant bed may have to be determined by the flow rate of the liquid to be dried if this flow cannot be adjusted." More at:
https://secure.drierite.com/catalog3/page18.cfm

This DRIERITE seems like the way to go and its re-useable. Not talking about a lot of water in 190, an easy computation.

[RegisPhilburn1]

3a molecular sieve beads are very efficient at drying ethanol. You can get them food grade too. Also reusable.

[pseudostelariae]

this works quite well. i've been reclaiming about 75% of the everclear used and depending on how long i soak/stir and whether or not i do a quick wash with frozen material/alcohol or just simmer material and winterize before distillation i've been yielding about 10% clear golden oil on QWET and over 20% of dark, almost black oil from the runs i simmered/winterized. i'll post more exact numbers and lab reports once everything has been tested.

[smokegold]

Is it legal to operate a counter top still for this purpose in the US?

[ghostmade]

^^^good question

[Gray Wolf]

Originally Posted by smokegold

Is it legal to operate a counter top still for this purpose in the US?

Joe likes his Megahome still.

There is wiggle room for a still under a gallon capacity and for use in a lab or essential oil production, but the laws were written to insure that Uncle gets his drinking liquor taxes.

If you were to start selling alcohol, you could count on them being on your doorstep. They would have to be pretty bored, want you badly, or be looking for charges to add on, to be concerned about you recovering tax paid alcohol without paying the taxes one more time.

The laws governing who can get a distillers license, don't allow residences, because of fire safety ordinances.

[G.O. Joe]

Public safety might have been what the federal government said they had in mind when enacting 27 CFR 19.51, but the thought of fire probably never occurred to the author.

There is a lot of alcohol law to run afoul of just in 27 CFR, so even if you think you qualify as an industrial user not requiring licensure, the authorities will probably think otherwise.

[Gray Wolf]

Originally Posted by G.O. Joe

Public safety might have been what the federal government said they had in mind when enacting 27 CFR 19.51, but the thought of fire probably never occurred to the author.

There is a lot of alcohol law to run afoul of just in 27 CFR, so even if you think you qualify as an industrial user not requiring licensure, the authorities will probably think otherwise.

Here are a couple of good links on both subjects!

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/19.51

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/5171

[Medfinder]

Off brand 63 dollar counter top water distiller.

Used 1.75 of cheap vodka.

The trickle started within 15 minutes.

when the trickle stops to a drip that's distilled water. 1.75 cheap vodka at end had yellow impuritys that cleaned out with rag.

95 percent ehtyl amount approx .82 liter recovered.

[dybert]

I've literally distilled hundreds, if not thousands of gallons of ethanol through them.