[Halma]

I'm trying to purify some methanol.  I plan on distilling it, but I've heard that you can only get it about 95% pure that way.  But I've also heard that you can get it up to 99% if you use something to absorb the water.

I have some sulfuric acid that I got from a hardware store.. I know it can be done, but can anyone tell me how?

By the way, would it help if I distilled it 2-3 times instead of once?

Thanks in advance.

[Mitch]

Distillation in the presence of molecular sieves will do the trick, please search old forum posts this has been discussed previously.

[Donaldson Tan]

A molecular sieve is a material containing tiny pores of a precise and uniform size that is used as an adsorbent for gases and liquids.

Molecules small enough to pass through are adsorbed while larger molecules are not. It is different from a common filter in that it operates on a molecular level. For instance, a water molecule may be small enough to pass through while larger molecules are not. Because of this, they often function as a desiccant. Molecular sieve can adsorb water up to 22% of its own weight.

Often they consist of aluminosilicate minerals or synthetic compounds that have open structures through which small molecules can diffuse, such clays, porous glasses, microporous charcoals, active carbons etc...