How to Increase Alcohol Content in Vodka for Disinfectant Wipes

Are you in a small town where access to disinfectant wipes is limited, and you can't find alcohol wipes at the local store? Many people find themselves in this situation and are looking for alternatives to keep themselves and their environment clean. One solution is to create your own alcohol wipes using vodka, but first, you need to increase the alcohol content. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of extracting and increasing alcohol concentration to make your own high-proof vodka, which can then be used to create non-alcoholic wipes that work similarly to the commercial ones.

Why Increase Alcohol Content?

The vodka you mentioned has a 43% alcohol by volume (ABV), which is not sufficient for disinfectant purposes. For effective disinfectant wipes, you need at least 60% ABV. Everclear or moonshine are higher in alcohol content, typically around 95%, making them better substrates for distillation. However, as you will see, there are other options available.

Understanding the Process

Distillation is the process of separating components of a mixture based on their boiling points. In the case of alcohol, this means heating up the vodka (or another alcoholic beverage) until the alcohol evaporates and can be collected at a lower temperature than water. It's important to maintain the right temperature to prevent evaporation of water, as pure ethanol cannot be obtained without it boiling with water to form an azeotropic mixture at 95.5% ethanol and 4.5% water.

The Dangers and Precautions

Distilling alcohol is not only complex, but it also poses several risks. Ethanol fumes are flammable and can make you feel drunk even when concentrated. Therefore, you should perform this process in a well-ventilated area, ideally outdoors to minimize exposure and fire hazards. Safety equipment, such as goggles and gloves, should also be worn to protect yourself.

Setting Up a Simple Distillation Lab

To distill your alcohol, you will need the following components:

An enclosed vessel to hold your substrate (vodka or other alcoholic liquid). A pipe with a cooling mechanism to condense the vaporized alcohol back into a liquid. A second vessel to collect the concentrated alcohol.

The basic setup involves heating the vodka in the first vessel until the alcohol vaporizes, rises, cools, and then condenses in the pipe. The condensed alcohol then drips into the second vessel. It's crucial to maintain the temperature around 78°C (172°F) to ensure that the water doesn't evaporate along with the alcohol.

Alternative Solutions

Instead of going through the trouble of distilling vodka, you may consider purchasing a higher-proof grain alcohol, such as Everclear or moonshine. These spirits are already at a much higher alcohol content (95% for Everclear), making them more suited for creating disinfectant wipes.

Additionally, it's important to question why you need pure alcohol. Many liquor stores sell grain alcohol that is the precursor to spirits like Everclear or whiskey, and it is significantly less expensive. If you do not have access to these, purchasing grain alcohol may be a simpler and more convenient option.

Legal Considerations

It's worth noting that owning a distillation apparatus, or still, can be illegal in some states. In these cases, it may be a felony. Therefore, it's crucial to research and understand the legal regulations in your area before attempting to distill alcohol.

Summary

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to increase the alcohol content in vodka for disinfectant wipes, consider the practicalities and risks involved. While distillation can work, it is a complex and potentially dangerous process. Instead, you may want to use Everclear or purchase a higher-proof grain alcohol from a liquor store. If you do decide to distill, ensure you have the proper setup, maintain safety precautions, and fully understand the legal implications in your area.

Remember, soap and water can also be an effective method for regular hygiene and cleaning. With the right precautions and knowledge, you can find a viable solution to your needs.