How to Make "Sterno™"

A solid camping fuel like Sterno™ or Magic Heat™ was discovered several years ago when a group of campers forgot to pack fuel for their camp stove. Because the area prohibited use of campfires, the campers needed to use an alternative fuel source. One of the campers made a gel that they could use as a solid fuel. To make this gel, chalk was crushed and mixed with vinegar. The resulting mixture was filtered through a napkin and the liquid collected was heated using a solar reflector. Some rubbing alcohol was poured into the solution to form a gel which burned.

You can repeat this process and make their own gelled fuel at home with alcohol and calcium acetate (C4H6CaO4). Either methanol or ethanol can be used for fuel. Calcium acetate (C4H6CaO4) can be purchased or made by slowly dissolving calcium carbonate (eggshells or chalk) in vinegar, filtering, and allowing to dry

Here's how to do it…

Step 1: Place about 1 oz. of chalk (or egg shells) in a mortar and pestle and grind to small pieces. Transfer chalk to pint container and add 4 oz of vinegar. Stir for 5 minutes.

What’s Happening: A reaction between chalk (calcium carbonate) and vinegar (acetic acid, dilute) to produces carbon dioxide, water and calcium acetate

Step 2: Pour the chalk-vinegar mixture into the funnel lined with a coffee filter and collect the liquid in a pint container.

What’s Happening: Filtration of unreacted chalk from the mixture to leave a solution of calcium acetate in water

Step 3: Pour 2 oz of the liquid into the dish. Gently heat the dish with a Bunsen burner until the volume is reduced by half. Turn off burner and allow concentrated solution to cool.

What’s Happening: Removal of excess water will concentrate the calcium acetate in the solution

Step 4: Add 1 oz. of alcohol to liquid in dish. DO NOT STIR! The gel should form rapidly. Pour off any excess alcohol.

What’s Happening: Mixing alcohol with calcium acetate will form the gel fuel

Original at:http://www.survivalschool.com/articles/Fire_Making/How_to_Make_Sterno.htm