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Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/08/2011 10:51 AM

Hi am an engineer in Kenya in an ethanol production plant (distillery). My problem is how to dispose or make good use of technical alcohol as our storage capacity for this product is getting exhausted.Any one with practical knowledge of how to utilize this by product, Please assist.

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#1

Re: Uses of technical alcohol

06/08/2011 11:24 AM

Is "technical alcohol" the same as what we call "industrial alcohol", which is, iiuc, also known as "denatured alcohol"?

If you can't use it at your plant, see if you can sell it--it can be added to gasoline iiuc, so it must have some commercial value. Some links (and a quotation) to get you started:

From http://liq.wa.gov/publications/IndAlcoholinfosheet.pdf:

WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

Industrial alcohol is distilled ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH), normally of high proof, produced and sold for other than beverage purposes. It is usually distributed in the form of pure ethyl alcohol, completely denatured alcohol, specially denatured alcoholand proprietary solvent blends.

Pure ethyl alcohol is used in laboratories and in industry for its sanitizing, cleaning and solvent properties. Many medicines, food products, flavorings and cosmetics could not be produced without it. It is used to process vaccines, compound tonics, syrups, tinctures, liniments and antiseptics as well as being vital in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals such as chloroform, atabrine and barbiturates. It is used in the production of adhesives, cosmetics, detergents, explosives, inks, hand cream, plastics and textiles. There are literally hundreds of products and uses for this chemical.

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#5
In reply to #1

Re: Uses of technical alcohol

06/08/2011 5:30 PM

What is "gasoline iiuc"?

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Uses of technical alcohol

06/08/2011 6:05 PM

Sorry, the entire phrase should have been: " it can be added to gasoline, iiuc," (with an extra comma after gasoline--iiuc is a common abbreviation for "if I understand correctly", but not as common as I thought, apparently. ;-)

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#2

Re: Uses of technical alcohol

06/08/2011 11:50 AM

Ask the Italian wine makers how to use it…………..

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#3

Re: Uses of technical alcohol

06/08/2011 12:05 PM

Are there any fraternities at the colleges in Kenya? They'd pay you to help dispose of it.

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#4

Re: Uses of technical alcohol

06/08/2011 1:18 PM

In addition to rhkramer's suggestion, it looks like you may be able to sell it through here.

There is a supplier link on the lower right side of the page.

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#7

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/09/2011 3:51 AM

Kenya is a poor country and I'm sure if you approached the government they could maybe pipe/containerize the ethanol and distribute as fuel for domestic stoves or heaters, provide energy and thereby reduce the amount of trees being cut down for fuel.

This is only a suggested solution as I do not know if this product is chemically as stable as LP gas for instance

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#8

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/09/2011 7:23 AM

Okay you work in a ethanol production plant and you want to dispose or get rid of your product because the storage available is taxed(close to capacity).

1) Slow production to demand.

2) hire a better sales force

Unless I am miss understanding your problem. Is what you are calling technical alcohol waste not fit for human consumption do to some contamination? First I would address the issue of why so much is being contaminated. Identify the contamination can it be distilled out. Even if it can't there is a market for Ethanol as a solvent or fuel. And as a fuel you may want to look at your own power generation for your plant.

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/09/2011 10:26 AM

This is considered as a by-product and normally its marketability is low hence we are forced to store.Is there a better way of going about it or adding value to it so that we can easily sell it.

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/09/2011 10:43 AM

As kramarat has suggested, try posting its availability on alibaba.

You never answered as far as I can remember--is it denatured--i.e., poisoned or otherwise not fit for human consumption?

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#11
In reply to #9

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/09/2011 3:01 PM

If it's a by product then it's not ethanol? Then what is technical alcohol?

As far as what to do with I'm at an impasse. Don't know what your trying to sell.

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#12

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

06/10/2011 3:49 AM

It has a calorific value. Any use as heating fuel?

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#13

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

08/10/2011 4:42 AM

Rocky, you can burn with your bunker oil, or fuel material, sell, or ferment to vinegar or chemically convert to acetic acid.

Please communicate with me through this email address:<email removed> for possibilities.

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#14

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

09/03/2022 8:32 AM

Use it to make windshield washer,windshield de-icier,window cleaner,fuel additive (gas dryer).I once managed a private label company that used side/stream alcohol for many such purposes,and it provided a means to harvest value from what was considered waste.

5%/water alcohol for summer windshield mix,50%/water for winter mix.

It would be simple to set up another process line,or sell it to private label companies that make these products that would buy it in bulk.

You are sitting on a lot of potential money.Send me your contact information via a private message,and I will contact several such companies to see if they are in need,and if the total cost,including shipping,is viable.One such company has it's own bulk tanker.

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#15

Re: Uses of Technical Alcohol

09/03/2022 5:50 PM

When a supplier refers to alcohol as being “technical grade alcohol”, they simply mean it is not food grade. This grade of alcohol is not to be used for food, drug, or medical purposes, but is perfectly fine for industrial use, general cleaning, and even as a solvent ingredient in various non-food products.

What should technical grade alcohol be used for?

  • General Cleaning – Technical grade alcohol can be used for cleaning a variety of different products and surfaces. Some common uses are as glass cleaner, ink stain removal, mold, and mildew clean up, and cleaning of the metal surface.
  • Industrial Degreasing – Another common use of technical grade alcohol is for industrial cleaning and degreasing. Many manufacturers use technical grade alcohol to degrease and clean their machinery after use to prevent the build-up of debris.
  • Ink Manufacturing – Technical grade alcohol is also a common solvent ingredient used in the production of products like ink for printers, pens, markers, etc.
  • Paint Removal – Technical grade alcohol is also a key ingredient in many paint thinners, or can be used by itself to strip or remove paint from various surfaces.

Put your R&D people together with your marketing people...I find the best use is for killing Mealybugs...

https://ecolink.com/info/what-does-technical-grade-alcohol-mean/#:~:text=When%20a%20supplier%20refers%20to,in%20various%20non%2Dfood%20products.

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Anonymous Poster (1); Dali (1); HiTekRedNek (1); kramarat (1); lyn (1); ozzb (2); PWSlack (1); rhkramer (3); rocky (1); Romy Kehyeng (1); SolarEagle (1); Usbport (1)

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