Wait, could I just add water to the toluene-methanol mixture to separate it because methanol is miscible in water and toluene isn't?

No, the toluene that CycloKnight said he used was part of a combination paint stripper. I just want mine to be pure for purity's sake.

Washing it in my experience is a huge pain and I did not feel I had much luck with it.


Manganous Ammonium alum is a very useful item to have around - it has the ability to produce acids from alcohols and a few other things.
If it is concentrated, the organic acid will not dissociate very much if at all say you made acetic acid from ethanol - You could extract the acetic acid in something like ethyl acetate and than separate it out later.

The biggest problem I have found with it is the size needed to produce a decent amount of material, and the time needed for electrolysis. It is hard for me at least to effectively stir and heat at a certain temperature - a large mixture of acid and solvent.

Additionally, the electrolysis of the sulfuric acid knocked up with Mn salts can be rather dangerous and harmful since tiny bubbles that form at the electrodes kick up drops of the sulfuric acid solution. Mn salts can be dangerous if taken internally via inhalation or otherwise, and kills dopamine neurons I think.

I personally buy it from an industrial paint supplier... I've researched before hand what they used it for and learned their lingo lol...They were a bit suspicious at first asking me questions but they are now willing to sell it to me in 20l quantities, no questions asked, paid cash and without receipe...Otherwise it was impossible for me to find it where I'm located.

Anyone ever try the phenylalanine in NaOH solution.  That method always struck my curiosity.

I think there is discussion around on the forum about the phenylalanine and NaOH. It works from what I have heard but it may not be the best due to the benzaldehyde converting to benzyl alcohol and benzoate.

Manganism is a disease of the nervous system that causes tremors, odd movements, a mask–like face, and body stiffness. Some patients even experience hallucinations, confusion, and memory loss. Also known by the more descriptive name, “manganese poisoning,” manganism is caused by breathing in manganese. Welders develop the condition through their exposure to manganese–containing welding fumes.

-- http://www.welding-rod-dangers.com/illness/illness_manganism_detect.htm

I think it is relatively hard to get but just keep it in mind.

Despite not having it anymore - I prefer the MnSO4/H2SO4 mixture better than the MnSO4:NH4HSO4:H2SO4 mixture.
Not to sure why, but I have had better luck with it IMO.

So, I went out and bought the only paint stripper in town with toluene in it, but when I put water in, instead of it forming two layers like I expected it to, it formed what looks like a white precipitate. I'm still waiting to see if it will separate out, but I doubt it. Any ideas as to why THAT happened!? Here is the MSDS:

I as well have recently come across simular process but the one I seen isolated the aldahyde thru use of a biphasic mixture or hydrating the aldahyde to protect it.

But Benzoic acid is so much simpler to get then Toluene so if effective one should not even bother with Toluene at all