Water Desalinizer survey

**Batch** · 03-23-2010, 08:02 PM

There has been some news about desalination by ion concentration polarization.

http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=15433.php

**Rick** · 03-23-2010, 08:11 PM

Yeah. What he said. What?

**Ken** · 03-23-2010, 08:13 PM

Good info in that link. Thanks, Batch!

**Rick** · 03-23-2010, 08:17 PM

Who'd a thunk it? That's pretty cool. You could use a solar panel to power one on a smaller scale. All you would need to do is supply power to the anode and cathode. Good post, Batch!!

**randyt** · 03-23-2010, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ken

UNITED STATES CODE
§ 5601. Criminal penalties

(a) Offenses Any person who—

(1) Unregistered stills has in his possession or custody, or under his control, any still or distilling apparatus set up which is not registered, as required by section 5179 (a); or

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/5601.shtml

can you clarify something for me? how do these pot stills fall in with this law? the pot stills i see for sale on e-bay and places like that.

**Batch** · 03-23-2010, 09:02 PM

I'm not a lawyer. But, it is unlawful to own a still or materials to build a still or materials to produce ethyl alcohol without a permit.

But, in order to get the permit to build the still you must first, uhhh, build the still.

You can buy a still already made for the specific purpose of making ethanol online.

Water distillers are widely available and while they can be used for making shine. They lack greatly and are usually not very useful for distilling alcohol.

You want a water distiller to heat the contents to 212 degrees. You don't want that in a moonshine still. It waters down the hootch!

**Ken** · 03-23-2010, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by randyt

can you clarify something for me? how do these pot stills fall in with this law? the pot stills i see for sale on e-bay and places like that.

Really depends on the still and how subjective (or "non-objective") law enforcement chooses to be.

**randyt** · 03-23-2010, 09:13 PM

the reason i wondered is i have a old copper still that had belonged to my grandpa. he took it apart in the thirties so at this point it's not really a still. but for fun, not to use i thought about rebuilding it, strictly for fun, not for use. sheetmetal work is part of my trade so this would be a cool project for me. but i don't want to break any laws so i'll move on to something else, something legal.

**Batch** · 03-23-2010, 09:14 PM

Ken, I think they have to show you distilled alcohol or intended to distill alcohol.

[quote]5179. Registration of stills
How Current is This?
(a) Requirements
Every person having in his possession or custody, or under his control, any still or distilling apparatus set up, shall register such still or apparatus with the Secretary immediately on its being set up, by subscribing and filing with the Secretary a statement, in writing, setting forth the particular place where such still or distilling apparatus is set up, the kind of still and its capacity, the owner thereof, his place of residence, and the purpose for which said still or distilling apparatus has been or is intended to be used (except that stills or distilling apparatus not used or intended to be used for the distillation, redistillation, or recovery of distilled spirits are not required to be registered under this section).

**randyt** · 03-23-2010, 09:16 PM

you may be on to something, if i was to go ahead on my project it would strictly be for display purposes only.

**Batch** · 03-23-2010, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by randyt

the reason i wondered is i have a old copper still that had belonged to my grandpa. he took it apart in the thirties so at this point it's not really a still. but for fun, not to use i thought about rebuilding it, strictly for fun, not for use. sheetmetal work is part of my trade so this would be a cool project for me. but i don't want to break any laws so i'll move on to something else, something legal.

If you have a locking shed that is detached from the residential building the ATF will issue you a permit for the still to manufacture ethyl alcohol for running engines. It is a reasonably straight forward deal. You have to modify the "fuel" if it leaves the property to make it unfit for human consumption.

If you want more info let me know. I'll send you the links.

**randyt** · 03-23-2010, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Batch

If you have a locking shed that is detached from the residential building the ATF will issue you a permit for the still to manufacture ethyl alcohol for running engines. It is a reasonably straight forward deal. You have to modify the "fuel" if it leaves the property to make it unfit for human consumption.

If you want more info let me know. I'll send you the links.

i appreciate the offer but i got rid of my ffl cause i didn't like the idea of the atf showing up and nosing around. but i have to admit in the several years i had the license nobody ever showed up.

back to the still it is just a project for me to fool with, i have no intention of ever operating it.

**Ken** · 03-23-2010, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Batch

Ken, I think they have to show you distilled alcohol or intended to distill alcohol.

5179. Registration of stills
How Current is This?
(a) Requirements
Every person having in his possession or custody, or under his control, any still or distilling apparatus set up, shall register such still or apparatus with the Secretary immediately on its being set up, by subscribing and filing with the Secretary a statement, in writing, setting forth the particular place where such still or distilling apparatus is set up, the kind of still and its capacity, the owner thereof, his place of residence, and the purpose for which said still or distilling apparatus has been or is intended to be used (except that stills or distilling apparatus not used or intended to be used for the distillation, redistillation, or recovery of distilled spirits are not required to be registered under this section).

"Intent" is a very dangerous phrase. For example, in many jurisdictions, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is not a criminal offense. However, possession of three one-quarter-ounce bags (3/4 oz. total) may be a felony (possession with intent to distribute) because the "intent" to distribute may be "presumed" by law.

**Batch** · 03-23-2010, 09:43 PM

I understand not getting a permit. I ain't a big fan of the government in our personal business. But, folks do sell shine and the do sell weed and the feds do care about it. So, just be cautious.

**finallyME** · 03-24-2010, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Batch

You want a water distiller to heat the contents to 212 degrees.

This is pressure related. Change the pressure, and the temperature requirement changes.

**finallyME** · 03-24-2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Batch

There has been some news about desalination by ion concentration polarization.

http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=15433.php

When I came home yesterday we had a new National Geographic. Anyways, they featured three new ways to desalinate. I don't remember all the ways, but it looked interesting.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/bi...9/desalination

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/bi...salination-pg2