The second distillation of alcohol raw material is a crucial stage in moonshine production, allowing to purify the drink from harmful impurities and increase its strength to a level close to absolute alcohol. However, without accurate calculations, even experienced moonshiners risk spoiling the product. Learn how to use the moonshine second distillation calculator for proper dilution, heads and tails selection, and improving the quality of the distillate.
Why is the second fractional distillation necessary?
The second distillation of alcohol raw material solves two tasks:
- Purification - removal of fusel oils and methanol.
- Concentration - increasing the strength to 80-90%.
Without fractional distillation (fraction separation), achieving purity and strength is impossible. Here the moonshiner's calculator comes to the rescue, calculating: - Volume of water for diluting alcohol raw material.
- Amount of heads fractions (first 10-15%), containing methanol.
- Moment to switch to collecting 'tails' with low strength.
How does the moonshine second distillation calculator work?
Specialized calculators (e.g., 'moonshiner's calculator for the second distillation of moonshine') take into account:
- Initial strength of alcohol raw material.
- Target alcohol percentage after dilution (usually 20-30%).
- Volume of heads fractions - 50-100 ml per 1 liter of alcohol.
If you have 5 liters of alcohol raw material with a strength of 60%, the calculator will suggest:
- Add 2.5 liters of water to reduce the strength to 30%.
- Collect 250-500 ml of 'heads' before the main distillation.
Stages of fractional distillation of alcohol raw material
- Dilution - use the 'moonshine dilution calculator after the second distillation' to achieve optimal strength (not exceeding 30%).
- Heads selection - the first 10-12% of the distillate contains methanol. The volume of heads during distillation can be calculated by the formula: 50 ml per 1 kg of sugar in the mash.
- Collecting 'heart' - the main fraction with a high ethanol content.
- Tails fractions - when the strength in the stream drops below 40%, the collection is stopped.
When working with a column or a dephlegmator ('fractional distillation of alcohol raw material in a column'), the accuracy of calculations increases - the equipment allows for clearer fraction separation.
Why is heads and tails selection important?
- Heads - contain acetone and methanol. Their consumption is dangerous for health.
- Tails - include fusel oils, which cause cloudiness and unpleasant odor.
The fractional distillation calculator of alcohol raw material helps minimize the loss of quality alcohol by accurately determining the boundaries of fractions.
Conclusion
Using a calculator for the second fractional distillation is not a whim but a necessity for those who want to obtain a pure and strong distillate. Remember: even a small miscalculation in the volume of heads or dilution degree can spoil the entire product. Trust the numbers, experiment with equipment (dephlegmators, columns), and your moonshine will be worthy of the title 'absolute alcohol'.