Synthetic Production of Ethyl Alcohol: Legal?

Factual Questions
1

This is directly related to the “Formenting [sic] Water” thread started by Hayduke Lives! a little while ago.

In that thread it was mentioned that distilling sugar wine (a sucrose solution brewed with yeast to create a dilute ethyl alcohol solution) is illegal in this country, and so that closes the door to homebrew spirits.

Or does it? Certainly, I thought, there must be a way to create alcohol without needing any of the traditional trappings of microbes and sugars. I posed that question in the abovementioned thread, but (AFAIK) it was never answered.

I stumbled across a three-step process to create methyl alcohol from methane in General Chemistry by Linus Pauling (ISBN 0-486-65622-5). I feel reasonably certain that the same method could be applied to ethane with the yield of ethyl alcohol. It would obviate the need for brewing and distilling, and it would produce pure ethyl alcohol (if I am correct in my assumption).

Would it be legal for me to test my assumption in my own home? Could I buy all of the needed chemicals and run the reactions (relatively straightforward ones, actually) in my own home without needing any licenses if I didn’t sell the product?

Is this an end-run around anti-brewing, anti-distilling laws using first-year chemistry?

2

You can make synthetic ethanol directly out of ethylene, if you don’t mind drinking a petroleum product. In fact, you probably don’t: synthetic ethyl alcohol has long been widely used in drugs, vinegar and other food products according to the FDA. Ick. Making it yourself for personal consumption would be very dangerous, in that there’s still a high probability even absolute alcohol could contain 2-propanol, methanol and benzyne.

So is it legal? I hate to say I don’t know; there could be some kind of loophole, since it isn’t really distillation. I’ll try to look it up just out of curiosity, but kids, don’t try this at home.

3

Making ethylalcohol from ethene is not so easy. Partial oxidation needs very precise control and you can end up blowing up your house trying to oxidize ethene assuming you somehow manage to steal ethylene.

4

I am reasonably sure the laws restrict the “making” or “production” of ethyl alcohol, not the “methods” of making it.

Distilling is a very common industrial process and is probably not restricted (taxed) by the government.

There is probably even a strength (percentage or proff) limit to keep you from getting arrested when an apple falls off a tree and frements naturally.

5

A few years ago, i read that the FDA (which routinely analyzes ALL liquors and foodstuffs imported into the USA) found out that the Russians were trying to sneak in vodkas which were synthesized! All quality vodkas are distilled from grain or potatoes, but this swill was synthesized from natural gas! Arrgghhh! It must have contained fusel oils, benzine, and all kinds of crud! Wouldn’t want to drink that stuff!

6

Yep, sythetic ethanol in beverage alcohol is a big FDA no-no.

7

I read something similar several years ago. Not that the Russians were trying to export the stuff to the U.S., but that they were producing it for domestic consumption. I haven’t been able to find out anything about it since.

8

If you think synthetic alcohol has “oil taste”, its not ture :

FROM FDA Compliance Guide :

However, the FDA does require product manufactures not to call synthetic alcohol as grain alcohol in their labeling.

The vinegar you use is quite likely made from petroleum feedstock, did you ever feel that ?

Also, even natural alcoholic drinks have chemicals in them which you don’t wanna even know about :d.

So although our society prefers the alcohol from the faeces of living organisms, synthetic alcohol is not necessarily bad.