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The torpedo grade ethanol (fuel grade alcohol generally) necessitates quality control than ethanol for consumption because it has to pair with a precise number

The torpedo grade ethanol (fuel grade alcohol generally) necessitates quality control than ethanol for consumption because it has to pair with a precise number of oxygen molecules (which in the case of a torpedo are pre-allocated so you can't just tolerate it running lean or rich without a huge change in range) and produce known energy in the process and calling a bunch of subs and ships back to have their ethanol tested because you put out a bad batch is a way bigger PITA than telling a bunch of distributors to trash product and collect a refund. If unsafe for humans amounts of methanol in the product was tolerable for the torpedos they would have just done that to prevent consumption. The cleanliness and hygiene controls along the way are going to be lesser. It's not like it's being made in a food factory.

vanderZwan 2y ago
> The cleanliness and hygiene controls along the way are going to be lesser. It's not like it's being made in a food factory. Sincere question: isn't "hygiene" usually referring only to bacteria, viruses and other organic contamination? Don't get me wrong, I'm with you that I'd worry about contamination with all kinds of other toxic stuff.
- dec0dedab0de 2y ago
  No, hygiene means anything done for the purpose of maintaining good health. It is commonly used as a synonym for cleanliness.
- wildzzz 2y ago
  Probably more like trace amounts of heavy metals and other things like benzene or residue from other substances from the vessels. Stuff that would be awful to consume but likely won't make much of a difference in fuel. Like with anything else, the price will increase for how ever pure you need the substance to be. Using alcohol as a solvent doesn't require much purity, any other alcohols in the mix will still do the job. If you want to be able to drink it, then the alcohol needs to be as pure as possible.
- crazygringo 2y ago
  You really got me wondering about that. I can't find a definitive answer, but Wikipedia certainly suggests it is: > The terms cleanliness and hygiene are often used interchangeably, which can cause confusion. In general, hygiene refers to practices that prevent spread of disease-causing organisms. Cleaning processes (e.g., handwashing) remove infectious microbes as well as dirt and soil, and are thus often the means to achieve hygiene. > Home hygiene pertains to the hygiene practices that prevent or minimize the spread of disease at home and other everyday settings such as social settings, public transport, the workplace, public places, and more. Hygiene in a variety of settings plays an important role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene It does seem like hygiene controls are going to be concerned exclusively with infectious disease, while cleanliness is going to prevent broader contamination of anything toxic.

vanderZwan 2y ago

> The cleanliness and hygiene controls along the way are going to be lesser. It's not like it's being made in a food factory. Sincere question: isn't "hygiene" usually referring only to bacteria, viruses and other organic contamination? Don't get me wrong, I'm with you that I'd worry about contamination with all kinds of other toxic stuff.

dec0dedab0de 2y ago
No, hygiene means anything done for the purpose of maintaining good health. It is commonly used as a synonym for cleanliness.
wildzzz 2y ago
Probably more like trace amounts of heavy metals and other things like benzene or residue from other substances from the vessels. Stuff that would be awful to consume but likely won't make much of a difference in fuel. Like with anything else, the price will increase for how ever pure you need the substance to be. Using alcohol as a solvent doesn't require much purity, any other alcohols in the mix will still do the job. If you want to be able to drink it, then the alcohol needs to be as pure as possible.
crazygringo 2y ago
You really got me wondering about that. I can't find a definitive answer, but Wikipedia certainly suggests it is: > The terms cleanliness and hygiene are often used interchangeably, which can cause confusion. In general, hygiene refers to practices that prevent spread of disease-causing organisms. Cleaning processes (e.g., handwashing) remove infectious microbes as well as dirt and soil, and are thus often the means to achieve hygiene. > Home hygiene pertains to the hygiene practices that prevent or minimize the spread of disease at home and other everyday settings such as social settings, public transport, the workplace, public places, and more. Hygiene in a variety of settings plays an important role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene It does seem like hygiene controls are going to be concerned exclusively with infectious disease, while cleanliness is going to prevent broader contamination of anything toxic.