[Jaruj]

Hi, I need help in separation of denaturated alcohol 95% from impurities. It contaiins denatonium benzoate (bitterant), gasoline and kerosene. I have tried to distill it, but  I got alcohol still contamined with gasoline  and kerosene. Probably it is azeotrope.

So I have been thinking about some ways, to add some solvent, in that is soluble only ethanol or impurities (I mean solvent accesible for amateur chemist). Then simply separate layers. The send way is to mix that ethanol with water, it will form white emulsion, wait to settle the impurities, and it is done. But then next problem occurs as ethanol becomes contamined with water. Is it possible to obtain  >98% ethanol? Could I use salt to dissolve in water to increase boiling point of water, to prevent azeotrope? Or add calcium oxide, or what?

Help me please!

(and sorry for my English, I am foreigner)

[Enthalpy]

What you try to do would be illegal in many countries, so you might want to check the law where you live.

Gasoline and kerosene consist of a very wide variety of compounds covering all boiling points in that vicinity, so by distillation, you'll always keep some.

If you get to the point where only water and ethanol remain, that's a known situation.

[Arkcon]

Like Enthalpy: said, what you're suggesting is illegal in just about any country that has laws.  There's no good reason to perform this separation, you can easily purchase absolute ethanol, so long as you have a license to do so.  Illicit preparations aren't allowed on the Chemical Forums, please read the forum rules.

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