Brewing Hand Sanitizer Using Brewing Equipment?

[eddieg115]

Given the state of the world and supermarkets being sold out of every cleaning/sanitizing item, I was wondering if its possible to make hand sanitizer using brewing equipment?

 

[jtrux]

Given the state of the world and supermarkets being sold out of every cleaning/sanitizing item, I was wondering if its possible to make hand sanitizer using brewing equipment?

Easiest homemade hand sanitizer is 1/3 cup aloe, 2/3 cup everclear 1/2 tsp olive oil. A few drops of essential oil of your choice. Trick is alcohol content of final product needs to fall btw 60-80 abv. Below 60% it becomes ineffective and surprisingly above 80% also becomes ineffective. I made a batch recently. Comes out a little watery. Thinking of adding a small amount of Xanthan gum as thickening agent.

 

[doug293cz]

For sanitizer you need an ABV of at least 60%, and for "hospital grade" 70% ABV. No yeast will tolerate that level of alcohol. The only way to get those concentrations is by distillation, which is illegal, but it times of crisis, you do what you have to in order to survive.

Should you have the capability to distill, a simple sugar wash is the easiest way to get neutral spirits. A reflux still is better for high ABV than a pot still.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

Easiest homemade hand sanitizer is 1/3 cup aloe, 2/3 cup everclear 1/2 tsp olive oil. A few drops of essential oil of your choice. Trick is alcohol content of final product needs to fall btw 60-80 abv. Below 60% it becomes ineffective and surprisingly above 80% also becomes ineffective. I made a batch recently. Comes out a little watery. Thinking of adding a small amount of Xanthan gum as thickening agent.

This recipe requires the ~190 proof (95% ABV) Everclear to be effective. The 151 proof Everclear will be diluted too much at 2/3 to 1/3.

Brew on

 

[jtrux]

This recipe requires the ~190 proof (95% ABV) Everclear to be effective. The 151 proof Everclear will be diluted too much at 2/3 to 1/3.

Brew on

Thanks for clearing that out. In our area, I’ve only ever seen the 190 proof stuff so I was unaware of the weaker stuff. I actually made mine out of the generic stuff called Diesel 190.

 

[brownni5]

Weird - I was lying in bed last night wondering this same thing. My though was whether one could freeze concentrate enough to get to 60% alcohol. Freeze concentration, as I understand it, is legal. Disclaimer: I have no interest in doing this, just curious really.

 

[doug293cz]

Thanks for clearing that out. In our area, I’ve only ever seen the 190 proof stuff so I was unaware of the weaker stuff. I actually made mine out of the generic stuff called Diesel 190.

I didn't know about the 151 Everclear either, until I saw a bottle in a video - about making hand sanitizer.

Brew on

 

[pdxal]

Freeze concentrating, "jacking" would be really tough to get to 60%. People making applejack at home can get their cider to approximately 25% with home deep freezers.