Methanol was traditionally produced by decomposing wood. In the natural world, it is emitted when organic matter rots, but to make it yourself you need to use "destructive distillation." This method was very popular during American Prohibition when it was used to produce illegal liquor. The wood breaks down when heated, forming charcoal and alcohol vapors, which can then be condensed on a cool surface to form liquid methanol. The following instructions show how to do this on a small scale.
- Test tube
- Wood shavings (preferably hardwood, e.g., beech, birch)
- Test tube nozzle
- Bunsen burner
- Glass beaker
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Instructions
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1
Place the wood shavings into the test tube, and place the nozzle over the end.
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2
Put the beaker in place over the end of the nozzle, so that the gases emitted can fill it.
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3
Elevate this system and heat the test tube with the Bunsen burner (try to keep the beaker as cool as possible).
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4
Collect the methanol in the beaker. The gases that are produced from the decomposing wood will condense on the sides of the beaker and form a brown-colored liquid, wood methanol.