I need large quantities of alcohol please.
March 30, 2020 8:40 AM Subscribe
Do you have access to large amounts of common household chemicals? I am part of a group making hand sanitizer in Detroit, Michigan, according to this guide. Production is going well, our quality control is high, and we've been able to produce, bottle and label about 1100 gallons, most of which is heading to hospitals, care facilities, nonprofits, and the homeless. But we're running out of sources for isopropyl alcohol. Help!
Our major bottleneck is alcohol. We've gone through about 1100 gallons of isopropyl alcohol in 55 gallon barrels that we bought from the cannabis industry here (which apparently they use as a solvent). Unfortunately, not everyone has been civic-minded, we've been dealing with price-gouging, and we are having difficulty sourcing more. We can working with either isopropyl or ethanol, and would ideally like to obtain a very large quantity of it. Space is not an issue, we could store a rail tank if we could get our hands on one. We also need hydrogen peroxide and glycerin, but the alcohol is the biggest issue.
If you are aware of chemical suppliers in the midwest who are working to support such efforts, please advise. If you know of industries that use these chemicals that are not using them now, please let us know. And if, in the glory of the internet, you have access to bulk quantities of these chemicals in the greater Detroit area, please let me know so we can keep this project going!
Our major bottleneck is alcohol. We've gone through about 1100 gallons of isopropyl alcohol in 55 gallon barrels that we bought from the cannabis industry here (which apparently they use as a solvent). Unfortunately, not everyone has been civic-minded, we've been dealing with price-gouging, and we are having difficulty sourcing more. We can working with either isopropyl or ethanol, and would ideally like to obtain a very large quantity of it. Space is not an issue, we could store a rail tank if we could get our hands on one. We also need hydrogen peroxide and glycerin, but the alcohol is the biggest issue.
If you are aware of chemical suppliers in the midwest who are working to support such efforts, please advise. If you know of industries that use these chemicals that are not using them now, please let us know. And if, in the glory of the internet, you have access to bulk quantities of these chemicals in the greater Detroit area, please let me know so we can keep this project going!
Have you spoken to any local-ish distillers? A number have switched to hand sanitizer production to use up stock, but any who haven't might be willing to cooperate with you.
posted by praemunire at 8:50 AM on March 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 8:50 AM on March 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
It's a precursor for paints and coatings, which suggests these manufacturing companies and possibly others serving the automotive industry.
posted by carmicha at 9:17 AM on March 30, 2020
posted by carmicha at 9:17 AM on March 30, 2020
I also came to suggest distillers. It's going to be very hard for a community group to get traction in already very heavily impacted supply chain. A cursory google search for distillers in Detroit shows several options. If you already have an operation up and running, partnering with them would be a great way to supply yourselves without having to tangle in a supply chain that's been under tremendous pressure for many weeks now.
posted by quince at 12:32 PM on March 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by quince at 12:32 PM on March 30, 2020 [1 favorite]
Nthing checking with the distilleries, but maybe you've already done that (or you are one). I know that Detroit City Distillery and Two James Distillery are both making hand sanitizer, as is the Ann Arbor Distilling Company, so I suppose the options are either that they'd be happy to share their sources with you, or they want to protect their own supply, but at least it would be a start.
posted by Preserver at 6:12 PM on March 30, 2020
posted by Preserver at 6:12 PM on March 30, 2020
You may have seen this possible resource?: the database of distillers at www.disinfectconnect.com. Their intention is to "link organizations in need with distilleries producing disinfectant."
posted by doggerel at 8:13 PM on March 30, 2020
posted by doggerel at 8:13 PM on March 30, 2020
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posted by andythebean at 8:49 AM on March 30, 2020