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DIY methanol detector for drinks (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 1 year ago by Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de to c/diy@beehaw.org

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We are going to Vietnam this year for holiday and I've read horror stories of poorly distilled alcohol in cocktails and such. Several tourists have died from methanol poisoning.

Would it be feasible to build a small detector for methanol? I'm okay with either a small chemical identification test or something like an IR spectrum analysis.

There are commercial test kits for professional laboratories but I need something affordable for regular consumers.

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[–] derGottesknecht@feddit.org 0 points 1 year ago

Yeah, ethanol doesn't get turned into methanol by distillation. But fermentation produces both and one purpose of distillation is separating them. Thats why you have to remove the foreshot. An incompetent distiller can still cost you your eyesight or even life.