You could do that. The metallic Potassium would react quicker (and
safely) though you are right to avoid the metallic sodium. The other
advantage of the metallic potassium is that it will react with the water
as well as the alcohol. The end result is a mixture of KOH and
CH3CH2OK. The potassium salt of the alcohol is even more potent than
the KOH as a base. The reaction would generate hydrogen gas which could
be captured and used elsewhere (or sold) and you would be able to
determine an endpoint very easily (keep adding the metal until you have
some metal in the bottom of the container, and all of your water is gone
and your alcohol is now a very potent base). Then all you would need
to do would be to add your vegetable oil and process it to biodiesel.
You end up with ethyl-ester biodiesel, glycerine, and potassium
hydroxide (fairly pure potassium hydroxide which could be used
elsewhere).
jmwelter wrote:
> Hey,
> I know many of you on the list as well as I have been trying to
> find ways to dry alcohol without using zeolites, etc... there has
> been the suggestion of using metallic potassium or sodium (very
> dangerous) but what I was thinking is that maybe using a K2O or Na2O
> (potassium or sodium oxide - not hydroxide) to consume the water?
> Since when left out in the open, the two oxides will absorb water to
> become KOH and NaOH respectively, why not use them to make KOH or
> NaOH in the solution?
>
> JEFF
>
>
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