dry alcohol - it's hard, not giving smoke fuel, which is directly to alcohols has nothing to do.This substance is produced mostly in the form of large tablets, the burning time of one tablet is prmerno 12-15 minutes.Dry alcohol consists of two components: hexamethylenetetramine (also called hexamine) and a small amount of wax.There was this kind of fuel due to the efforts of Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov - the great Russian chemist, who not only synthesized a number of organic compounds, but also created a theory of the structure of different chemicals.It was this scholar in 1859 received a new substance by the reaction of formaldehyde with an aqueous solution of ammonia, which later became known as methenamine.
interesting fact is that in Russia, methenamine until June 1, 2010 was actively used in the food industry: it was used as a preservative for eggs and fish, and has been registered as an agent E239.Later this preservative recognized hazardous to health, methenamine because the interaction of the acid is converted to formaldehyde, which causes the emergence and growth of cancers, that is, in fact, is a carcinogen.So now methenamine it is used mainly for the production of useful products such as dry fuel.
Despite the fact that people today are surrounded by all the benefits of civilization, it is a lot of fuel found its applications.Dry alcohol is used for cooking and heating food in field conditions, which is especially important for areas where you can not find a fossil fuel (mountains, rocky land, steppe, etc.).This fuel is still set of individual rations of soldiers in almost all armies of the world.For kindling fires in wet weather can also be used dry alcohol.The price of fuel (which is especially nice) is low, the packaging of tablets can be bought for 25 rubles.This is a very good option as the most expensive dry fuel can cost about 150 rubles.For cooking dry alcohol use is difficult (for cooking a full meal takes a long time), but it is suitable for warming up perfectly: for example, it is possible to heat a can of food or boil a cup of tea.It is best to stir up dry fuel in a special metal stand.
advantages of this type of fuel is quite clear: tablets are light and compact, does not take up much space, they can take with them even hiking, unlike, say, petrol or gas burners.Tablets are very easy to use, so they have a pretty wide range of applications.But dry alcohol has a number of negative qualities: flame is very sensitive to the wind, so you may need a special screen.In addition, this fuel when wet starts to smoke, sparks and release an unpleasant odor.But these disadvantages are not as significant, particularly when compared with the advantages offered by the use of solid fuel.
