Isopropyl alcohol - natural steriliser / toxic tramp juice?

[GabrielKnight]

[QUOTE=*USposter*;910485]Wait, are you in the UK? Then you're getting into "surgical spirits", etc. and all the ones I've seen over there are ethanol with dyes and perfumes (and sometimes methanol) added so you don't drink it. So, if you're not in the States, Isopropyl alcohol is not really an option for you. Here, it's just alcohol and water.

EDIT: I don't see why you couldn't use surgical spirits for small items as long as it was rinsed with pre-boiled water. If you're British, I know you have an electric kettle, so that should be easy.[/QUOTE]


On a US homebrew site it was suggested to avoid rubbing alcohol from UK sources for the above reasons (spoiled so it won't be abused). What's the score? Is this sort of thing pure or not? Is it safe to use to sterilise small items?
RUBBING ALCOHOL - 70% IPA, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, 5 LITRES on eBay, also, Other Tattoos Body Art, Tattoos Body Art, Health Beauty (end time 20-Nov-08 07:20:44 GMT)

ISOP' alcohol is described in wiki as well:
Isopropyl alcohol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But its way over my head - I got good grades, but a D in chemistry : ( Is Isop' alcohol in the UK the same as high % drinking alcohol as we know it?
Ultimately,
a) is it natural?
b) can it sanitize brew-kit?
c) is it safe to drink grog that's been in contact with it?

[Aleman]

I but IPA (IsoProylAlcohol) from Maplins and it is pure IPA (Used for cleaning grease from electronic components).

IIRC Rubbing Alcohol is Ethanol . . . which yes you are not allowed to buy . . . actually you can but getting hold of it isn't easy and its damn expensive (Try a lab chemical supplier)

I use IPA for surface sanitation, and do not let massive quantities come into contact with wort/beer . . . it is produced by yeast during fermentation though . . . an excess could lead to a banana like aroma/taste in your beer as it is one of the precursors of amyl acetate

[steve_flack]

as it is one of the precursors of amyl acetate

Is it? Isoamyl has 5 carbons where as isopropyl has 3.

[Aleman]

The mechanism is that it combines with acetic acid (IIRC) to form amyl acetate . . . I would have to go and check the reference though

Edit: Shit! No its a reaction between Pentan-1-ol and Ethanoic acid, that's the problem with references not using the IUPAC names.

IPA is still found in beer as a by product of fermentation though