[Bioconversion] How do you make Methanol along with Charcoal?

[Harmon Seaver]

   Making the charcoal in the steel barrels is easy enough, a least if
they have removable tops, but methanol I don't know. I thought from
previous discussions that methanol was a rather difficult process not
easily done without a big refinery setup, but I could be wrong. Have
you seen the portable charcoal kiln that Dr. Karve designed? It uses a
number of steel drums surrounded by a light steel wall with a
removable steel top, you fill the drums and then pile some other
burnables around the drums and light it. Very little smoke.


On 4/24/06, Carefreeland at aol.com <Carefreeland at aol.com> wrote:
> Let's get this list up and working.  I am planning on making charcoal with
> endless Hurricane Katrina waste wood.  I have my choice of wood type and a site
> to experiment on. I have very few tools to work with.
>        I am spending typically up to half of the money I earn each trip, on
> fuel to drive 850- 950 miles each way.  If I could make even a small percentage
> of Methanol to blend with gasoline to fuel my trucks and cars, I would have a
> ready market. It takes 100 gallons of fuel to make the round trip either in
> my station wagon or my 3/4 ton pickup. It takes 175 gallons of fuel to go the
> long and flat route hauling my Bobcat with tree shear.
>        If I could divise a way to distill off even a small percentage of the
> offgas and seperate the methanol it would be worth it. Making methanol would
> not even require a permit.
>        Eventually, I'd like to buy a little diesel Volkswagon to commute
> with. I can burn biodiesel. As it is, I have been subsidising my travel with a
> little Mississippi hardwood for firewood. The quarenteen is limited to Lousianna.
>
>        On my last trip I didn't even have to cut some fresh healthy wind
> damaged Live Oak. It was already being cut by a tree service and put out to the
> curb for FEMA crews to haul off. They were working across the street from where
> I was working in Gulfport. Just loaded up on my way out of town. If I had time
> to wait they would have loaded me with a Bobcat.
>         There is a place that advertizes steel barrels for sale.
>         Anybody have ideas where to start?
>
>                 Dan Dimiduk
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--
Harmon Seaver