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[Reelya]

The strength of the drink isn't the main issue.

The real issue is whether there's methanol in that.

[IcyTea31]

He has tried it himself, and got no symptoms, so probably no methanol.

Also probably whatever the chemistry student used to try to measure the ethanol would probably also have noticed any methanol.

[Trekkin]

Also probably whatever the chemistry student used to try to measure the ethanol would probably also have noticed any methanol.

There are so many bad assumptions in this sentence that rather than correct them I'm just going to wait to see what happens. Do let us know how it goes.

[Greiger]

My WTF,

I know so little about alcohol I thought ethanol was what they put in gasoline to make it more efficient and I thought methanol was what made alcohol alcohol.  It's probably a good thing I got addicted to Dr Pepper early and had no room left in my cups to get a taste for alcoholic drinks.

[ChairmanPoo]

My WTF,

I know so little about alcohol I thought ethanol was what they put in gasoline to make it more efficient and I thought methanol was what made alcohol alcohol.  It's probably a good thing I got addicted to Dr Pepper early and had no room left in my cups to get a taste for alcoholic drinks.

Yes!  That way it will be diabetic rhetinopathy destroying your eyesight, not methanol

[wierd]

But you STILL get liver damage, AND you also get diabetic neuropathy in your legs and other extremities!

(Also, they add ethanol to gasoline to make the corn lobbyists shit rainbows, not because it improves octane.  For that, they add nasty ethers.)

[Kagus]

Are there any decent, cheap tests for methanol? I thought the rule was to just toss the first pint or so that came out, to be on the safe side.

And if it's been distilled, then it's not really wine any more. And unless they managed to get some sort of super extreme X-Man mutant yeast, it's probably no stronger than, at most, 14%.

[wierd]

Should be possible to test for...

Ethanol dehydrogenase impregnated strip, with indicator for formaldehyde.


If such a thing does not already exist, it should be pretty painless to make yourself with the right materials.

[Reelya]

Heat the drink up to 70 degrees celsius. Ethanol boils at about 78, Methanol at about 65.

[wierd]

For things like wines, that could severely damage the flavor.

For distilled liquors though, yeah--- that's the captain obvious answer.

[Trekkin]

Should be possible to test for...

Ethanol dehydrogenase impregnated strip, with indicator for formaldehyde.


If such a thing does not already exist, it should be pretty painless to make yourself with the right materials.

I'd really like to know how you think an amateur garage chemist (let's be generous) can make this, setting aside all the reasons it won't work.

[Kagus]

I remember watching a video of a "survival chemist" claiming that he'd managed to synthesize nitric acid using only household/post-apocalyptic tools and materials. He confirmed the substance was nitric acid by huffing the vapors.

*huffing continues*

[IcyTea31]

There are so many bad assumptions in this sentence that rather than correct them I'm just going to wait to see what happens. Do let us know how it goes.

The wine turned out to be safe to drink, and fairly good for a sweet (if potent) wine. Around what you'd expect from a commercially available wine.

[wierd]

Well, since you asked so nicely..

There's this nice, and more importantly, inexpensive kit from amazon to test for activity of the enzyme in question... (Which can assure calibration of test strips after making them)

https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Assay-Kit-DADH-100/dp/B00PA0YJ3Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540068856&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=alcohol+dehydrogenase&dpPl=1&dpID=41FEM3kGEDL&ref=plSrch

The enzyme itself, derived from yeast, is also reasonably inexpensive (as lab supplies go anyway)

https://www.amazon.com/J65869-WEX-Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Yeast-Each/dp/B0732FSG1P/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1540068856&sr=8-14&pi=CB1275522461_AC_SX118_SY170_QL70&keywords=alcohol+dehydrogenase

Formaldehyde dip stick indicators

https://www.amazon.com/Formaldehyde-Dip-stick-Detector-12/dp/B00H3QZD1K/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1540069508&sr=8-17&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=formaldehyde+test+kit

And of course, one can get the glassware, distilled water, lab heating tray, and calibrated thermometer there as well, but sure.

I mean, why wouldn't diagnostics for evolution of formaldehyde in solution when alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme is present work to find methanol, I mean, its well established chemistry and all.

Basically Trekkin, I am calling you on this one. You can get all the shit you need from amazon, delivered.

[Dunamisdeos]

Came across the guy on facebook again who thinks that the ice cream truck, people driving by with the radio on, and birds singing outside his window are CIA spies.