Editing Moonshine (section)

==Moonshine stills==
[[File:Nomiku (first generation).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|A [[thermal immersion circulator]], like this ''[[sous vide]]'' stick, is used to evaporate ethanol in [[#Plastic still|plastic stills]] or [[#Spiral still|spiral stills]].]]

In some countries, moonshine [[still]]s are illegal to sell, import, and own without permission. However, enthusiasts explain on internet forums how to obtain equipment and assemble it into a still.<ref name="brannaren">{{cite web |url=http://www.bryggforum.nu/download/spiralbrannaren.pdf |title=Spiralbrännaren |language=Swedish }}</ref> To cut costs, stainless steel vessels are often replaced with [[Moonshine#Plastic still|plastic stills]], vessels made from [[polypropylene]] that can withstand relatively high heat.

* A [[Moonshine#Column still|column still]], or a [[Moonshine#Spiral still|spiral still]], can achieve a vapor alcohol content of [[Rectified spirit|95% ABV]].
* Moonshine is usually distilled to 40% ABV, and seldom above 66% based on 48 samples.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Holstege |first1=CP |last2=Ferguson |first2=JD |last3=Wolf |first3=CE |last4=Baer |first4=AB |last5=Poklis |first5=A |title=Analysis of Moonshine for Contaminants |journal=Journal of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology |date=2004 |volume=42 |issue=5 |pages=597–601 |doi=10.1081/clt-200026976 |pmid=15462151|s2cid=97866750 }}</ref> For example, conventional [[Moonshine#Pot still|pot still]]s commonly produce 40% ABV, and top out between 60% and 80% ABV after multiple distillations. However, ethanol can be dried to [[Rectified spirit|95% ABV]] by heating 3A molecular sieves such as 3A [[zeolite]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Carmo |first1=M. J. |last2=Gubulin |first2=J. C. |title=Ethanol-Water Adsorption on Commercial 3A Zeolites: Kinetic and Thermodynamic Data |journal=Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering |date=September 1997 |volume=14 |issue=3 |doi=10.1590/S0104-66321997000300004 |language=en |issn=0104-6632|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burfield |first1=David R. |last2=Hefter |first2=Glenn T. |last3=Koh |first3=Donald S. P. |title=Desiccant efficiency in solvent and reagent drying 8. molecular sieve column drying of 95% ethanol: An application of hygrometry to the assay of solvent water content |journal=Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. Chemical Technology |volume=34 |issue=4 |pages=187–194 |language=en |doi=10.1002/jctb.5040340408 |date=1984|bibcode=1984JCTBC..34..187B }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Simo |first1=Marian |last2=Sivashanmugam |first2=Siddharth |last3=Brown |first3=Christopher J. |last4=Hlavacek |first4=Vladimir |title=Adsorption/Desorption of Water and Ethanol on 3A Zeolite in Near-Adiabatic Fixed Bed |journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research |volume=48 |issue=20 |pages=9247–9260 |doi=10.1021/ie900446v |date=21 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Simo |first1=Marian |last2=Sivashanmugam |first2=Siddharth |last3=Brown |first3=Christopher J. |last4=Hlavacek |first4=Vladimir |title=Adsorption/Desorption of Water and Ethanol on 3A Zeolite in Near-Adiabatic Fixed Bed |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie900446v |journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research |pages=9247–9260 |doi=10.1021/ie900446v |date=21 October 2009|volume=48 |issue=20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burfield |first1=David R. |last2=Hefter |first2=Glenn T. |last3=Koh |first3=Donald S. P. |title=Desiccant efficiency in solvent and reagent drying 8. molecular sieve column drying of 95% ethanol: An application of hygrometry to the assay of solvent water content |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jctb.5040340408 |journal=Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. Chemical Technology |pages=187–194 |language=en |doi=10.1002/jctb.5040340408 |date=1984|volume=34 |issue=4 |bibcode=1984JCTBC..34..187B }}</ref>

The preferred heat source for [[#Plastic still|plastic stills]] or [[#Spiral still|spiral stills]] is ''[[sous vide]]'' sticks; these control temperature, time, and circulation, and are therefore preferred over [[Electric heating#Immersion heater|immersion heater]]s. Multiple units can be used to increase the wattage. Also, ''sous vide'' sticks, commonly sold in 1200 W and generally temperature regulated up to {{cvt|90|C}} (ethanol boils at {{cvt|78|C}}), will evaporate the ethanol faster than an [[Electric heating#Immersion heater|immersion heater]], commonly sold in 300 W. [[Electrical injury]] may occur if immersion heaters are modified, such as if a {{cvt|35|C}} thermostat is removed from an [[aquarium heater]] (because doing so may break its [[waterproofing]]), or if an immersion heater is disassembled from an [[electric water boiler]].

===Evaporation stills===
{{also|Bathtub gin}}

====Plastic still====
A plastic still is a device for [[distillation]] specially adapted for separating [[ethanol]] and [[water]].{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} Plastic stills are common because they are cheap and easy to manufacture. The principle is that a smaller amount of liquid is placed in an open smaller vessel inside a larger one that is closed. A cheap 100 W [[immersion heater]] is typically used as heat source, but a [[thermal immersion circulator]], like a ''sous vide'' stick is ideal because it comes with a temperature controller. The liquid is kept heated at about {{cvt|50|C}} which slowly evaporates the ethanol to 40% ABV that condense on the inner walls of the outer vessel. The condensation that accumulates in the bottom of the vessel can then be diverted directly down through a filter containing [[activated carbon]]. The final product has approximately twice as much alcohol content as the starting liquid and can be distilled several times if stronger distillate is desired. The method is slow, and is not suitable for large-scale production.

===Boiling stills===

====Fractional distillation====
{{Main|Fractional distillation}}Fractional distillation is the [[Separation process|separation]] of a [[mixture]] into its component parts, or [[Fraction (chemistry)|fractions]]. [[Chemical compound]]s are separated by heating them to a [[temperature]] at which one or more fractions of the mixture will [[Vaporization|vaporize]]. It uses [[distillation]] to [[Fractionation|fractionate]]. Generally the component parts have boiling points that differ by less than 25&nbsp;°C (45&nbsp;°F) from each other under a pressure of one [[Atmosphere (unit)|atmosphere]].

=====Column still=====
{{Main|Column still}}
[[File:Column still.svg|thumb|left|[[Column still]] legend: {{olist |list-style-type=upper-alpha
    |Analyzer*
    |Rectifier*
}}{{olist
    |Wash
    |Steam
    |Liquid out
    |Alcohol vapor
    |Recycled less volatile components
    |Most volatile components
    |Condenser
}} *Both columns are preheated by steam.]]

A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of [[still]] consisting of two columns. A column still can achieve a vapor alcohol content of [[Rectified spirit|95% ABV]].

======Spiral still======
A spiral still is a type of [[column still]] with a simple slow air-cooled distillation apparatus, commonly used for bootlegging.<ref name="brannaren"/> Column and cooler consist of a {{convert|5|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} copper tube wound in spiral form. The tube first goes up to act as a simple column, and then down to cool the product. Cookware usually consists of a {{convert|30|L|adj=on}} plastic wine bucket. The heat source is typically a [[thermal immersion circulator]] (commonly runs at 1200 W), like a ''sous vide stick'' because it is hard to find 300 W [[immersion heater]]s, and it is risky to disassemble the immersion heater from an [[electric water boiler]] because it may cause [[electrical injury]]. The spiral burner is popular because, despite its simple construction and low manufacturing cost, it can provide [[Rectified spirit|95% ABV]].

====Pot still====
{{Main|Pot still}}

A pot still is a type of distillation apparatus or [[still]] used to [[Distillation|distill]] [[flavored liquor]]s such as [[whisky]] or [[cognac]], but not [[rectified spirit]] because they are poor at separating [[Congener (beverages)|congener]]s. Pot stills operate on a [[batch distillation]] basis (as opposed to a [[Coffey still|Coffey]] or column stills, which operate on a [[continuous distillation|continuous]] basis). Traditionally constructed from [[copper]], pot stills are made in a range of shapes and sizes depending on quantity and style of spirit. Geographic variations in still design exist, with certain kinds popular in parts of [[Appalachia]], a region known for moonshine distilling.

Spirits distilled in pots commonly have 40% ABV, and top out between 60 and 80% after multiple distillations.