The big question

The first question which surfaces once we are thinking about distilling alcohol is: 

will my home made Booze be safe or will I go Blind???

In many articles in the press and sometimes even on the news, we are informed that distilling alcohol in a non-correct way will case serious health problems like turning blind or even fatal liver damage which might cause your life.....

In general, we are speaking about "alcohol". We need to precise this term as there are several different materials during fermentation. Luckily for us, these different alcohols have a different boiling point, which allows us te seperated teh various components into toxic and non-toxic components.

 Ethanol versus Methanol - what is what....?

• Ethanol is the alcohol which we are aiming for. This will not cause any health issues if consumed in a sensible quantity.

• Methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol) is the alcohol which is the one which is toxic and should therefor not be consumed. Methanol is the simplest alcohol, containing one carbon atom. It is a colorless, tasteless liquid with a very faint odor and is commonly known as "wood alcohol." A few teaspoons of 100% pure methanol can cause blindness and a few tablespoons can be fatal, if the exposure is not treated.

It should be noted that the human body can metabolize and eliminate low concentrations of methanol with no ill effects. (Methanol is present in many cooked vegetables, and the artificial sweetener in diet soft drinks breaks down into methanol during digestion.) Methanol becomes poisonous only when it overwhelms the body's capacity to remove it. Toxic effects do not occur until several hours after exposure. Effective antidotes to methanol poisoning are readily available and can be administered during this interim period.

Methanol is formed by.....

• Methanol is formed when fermenting beverages high in pectins. 
  Pectin (E440) is a structural polysaccharide, found in fruit and vegetables and mainly prepared from citrus peel. In the food industry, Pectins are mainly used as gelling agents, but can also act as thickener, water binder and stabilizer.

PECTIN RICH FRUITS are: apples, plums, grapes, berries etc. 

• Methanol is NOT or in extremely low quantities formed during fermentation of GRAIN and/or SUGAR based washes.

To conclude: the hazardous material report on Methanol

“Moonshiners” have used methyl alcohol for years because of its similarity in taste to ethyl alcohol and increase in alcohol volume.  There are several industrial uses for methanol such as in the manufacture of plastics, soaps, inks and cleaning products, as well as a solvent for many materials.
 
Methanol is a clear, colorless liquid with the sweet and pungent odor of alcohol.  It is also completely soluble and non-reactive in water.  The boiling point of methanol is 148.1degrees F and its freezing point is -144 degrees F.  The odor of methanol can be detected at 100ppm.
 
Some general hazards of methanol are that it will react with strong oxidizers, chloroform and strong corrosives such as sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide.  It is also flammable and produces vapors that, if allowed to accumulate, could produce an explosion when ignited.  Methanol also burns somewhat “cleanly” which means it gives a pale blue flame that can be difficult to see in bright sun-light.
 
There are many health hazards associated with methanol whether through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.  Methyl alcohol is a chemical poison that interrupts vital nerve impulses through attacking the optic nerve and possibly causing blindness, if not death.  Consumption of a 1/4 oz. or more may be fatal.  At high air concentrations (50,000 ppm) for an hour or longer, methanol will cause optic nerve damage, central nervous system depression, or death.
 
Ingestion is the most common form of methanol poisoning.  If ingestion does occur and the victim is conscious, administer a concentrated solution of salt water, and induce vomiting only if medical attention isn’t immediately available.  If the victim is unconscious, keep the person warm and seek medical attention immediately.
 
Methyl alcohol also has distinct narcotic properties.  Inhalation of high vapor concentrations can produce drunkenness, drowsiness, light-headedness, blurred vision, blindness, unconsciousness and death.  In some cases, the effects may be delayed 24 hours or longer.  If enough methyl alcohol vapors have been inhaled to produce symptoms of intoxication remove the person to fresh air immediately and keep the person calm and warm.  Artificial respiration must be administered if breathing has become difficult or stopped.
 
Contact of the liquid with the skin and eyes should be avoided.  Repeated contact with the liquid will cause defatting of the skin and irritation of the skin and eyes.  If skin contact has occurred, remove contaminated clothing and wash affected areas of the body with large amounts of water.  In the case of eye contact, eyes should be flushed with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting the lids occasionally.

The best protection against eye and skin contact to methyl alcohol is the use of splash-proof goggles and gloves.