I found the problem with using either sodium acetate or just distilling from vinegar. If you are using sodium acetate and concentrated sulfuric acid there will be water, little water, but still water. The small amount of water is a big problem when distilling, and the point in which it comes over.
1. If you are just distilling from vinegar, you are likely to get a boiling point of 103C, not matter how many times you distill.
2. If you are using sodium acetate and sulfuric acid, and distilling you will first get a boiling point of 103c-105C, usually it will distill a little at 100c, and then reach 103c, which then proceeds very slowly to sustain 105c for most of the distillation. When most of the solution has distilled, it may or may not climb to 110c, if it does reach 110c; it may or may not reach the 116c-118c, which is the boiling point of pure acetic acid, “Glacial acid”. It is find and dandy but, you only get a few mL.
The answer to the problem is so fucking easy that it pissed me off, because I did at least 20 distills which half where slow fractional distills. Anyway the problem is solved by using mass amount of magnesium sulfate; well at least until the solution is clear. It can be tested by freezing it. Water/acetic acids will not freeze in the Refig., but if you get a freeze in 10 mins, you know you have it pure. I hope this information is useful, especially for those who like making there shit from scratch.
ADDkid
