DIY hand sanitizer in a still?

WearyTraveler

I’ve got an electric still that I used to distill water for Ms. WT’s craft supplies.  I’ve seen a bunch of commercial distilleries making sanitizer.  Is there a way to use the still to make sanitizer without having to use liquor?  Or do I have to get a few bottles of rot gut vodka and distill to 90% (not 90proof)?

chiefr

Why not, depending on its purity ethanol or ethyl alcohol would work fine. 

SW0320

I was listening to the radio this morning and they said 75% of the craft distallaries have shifted production over to make hand sanitzer with any 60% or greater proof alcohol that they have on hand

WearyTraveler

I know - but as far as ingredients. I figure rot gut vodka would be cheaper than black market sanitizer. Is there anything bother than sugar, yeast and a couple weeks that we can use?

Rocky Raab

An alcohol still has to operate at a lower temp than a water still. Ethanol boils at (IIRC) 140 degrees, so you'd not want your home still to heat up to very much more than that. Or else, you'd get too much water out along with the alcohol. To concentrate the ethanol, you want to leave the water behind.

Moonshiners get some pretty high-proof stuff, but I don't know if they get that result with the first distillation, or if they have to make one "run" from the mash and then others to concentrate what they got the first time.

Marc1301

Methanol is quickly absorbed through the skin, and can reach toxic levels. The reason it isn't used in sanitizer.