Methanol CH3OH aka wood alcohol. It is produced primarily by fermenting wood and other sources of cellulose like (fibers from fruit skin). Glucose, Sucrose, Fructose, and Maltose breaks down by yeast into ethanol C2H5OH. Another source of methanol is illegal distillation. Being lighter in molecular weight, methanol evaporates first in the moonshine still and is produced in the first distillate. Unscientific and crude distillation is banned because of frequent poisoning from unregulated stills making desi daru.
Methanol breaks down in the body forming formic acid (ant venom). Its build-up can cause liver failure, nerve damage (leading to blindness), and kidney/renal failure. 20-50ml of methanol is considered fatal. As per WHO, guidelines it is 6.70. The following test is recommended to test for dangerous levels of methanol in your homebrew:
Methanol Testing Market in India
Methanol Testing
Equipment
- test tubes
- droppers
Materials
- 1 ml Sulphuric Acid Diluted 1:1 (specific gravity 1.83)
- 0.1 ml sodium dichromate (25gm/L) you can use potassium dichormate as well
- 10 mg Chromotropic acid (Solid)
Instructions
- Add 0.1 ml of potassium dichromate reagent to 1 ml of sample and allow to stand at room temperature for 5 minutes.
- Add 0.1 ml of ethanol and about 10 mg of chromotropic acid and gently add sulfuric acid down the side of the tube so that it forms a separate layer at the bottom.
- A violet colour at the junction of the two layers indicates the presence of methanol.
- This test is accurate if Methanol levels are more than 50mg/L. Note Formaldehyde also gives a positive result in this test. (but again that is a poisionous chemical used for embalming and preserving specimens in biology labs)
Notes
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What about wine ? Do I have to worry?
as long as you are not distilling it should be fine
I have gone through some article like
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5028366/#!po=0.515464
Which says that there is a possibility.
And one more question Most of the articles says that pectic enzyme causes methanol generation in wine, can you explain that.
It is produced during all forms of fermentation as a side product, but as long as its accompanied by ethanol it isn’t gonna be a problem. When you distill alcohols, they concentrate as they separate. You could distill out pure methanol and drink it. That will be harmful, very harmful.
Thanks Austin
Is Methanol Testing required while making litchi cider
no sir. Methanol is produced only when you distill or ferment wood.