The Methylated Spirits Regulations 1987

Mixture of spirits with denaturants, markers and dyes

15.—(1) The 3 classes of methylated spirits referred to in regulation 14 above shall be manufactured by mixing denaturants with spirits and other goods in the following proportions—

(a) in the case of industrial methylated spirits, with every 95 parts by volume of spirits there shall be mixed 5 parts by volume of wood naphtha;

(b) in the case of mineralised methylated spirits, with every 90 parts by volume of spirits there shall be mixed 9.5 parts by volume of wood naphtha and 0.5 parts by volume of crude pyridine, and to the resulting mixture there shall be added mineral naphtha (petroleum oil) in the proportion 7.5 litres to every 2,000 litres of the mixture and synthetic organic dyestuff (methyl violet) in the proportion 3.0 grammes to every 2,000 litres of the mixture;

(c) in the case of denatured ethanol, with every 999 parts by volume of spirits (which shall be of a strength not less than 85 per cent) there shall be mixed 1 part by volume of tertiary butyl alcohol and to the resulting mixture there shall be added “Bitrex” in the proportion 10 microgrammes per millilitre.

(2) Wood naphtha, crude pyridine, mineral naphtha, tertiary butyl alcohol, “Bitrex” and dyes used in making methylated spirits in accordance with these Regulations shall, unless the proper officer otherwise permits, conform to the requirements of the Schedule to these Regulations.

(3) Water may be mixed with spirits before methylation or with methylated spirits, but the quantity of water added must not reduce the proportion or quantity of denaturants in the resulting mixture below the proportions or quantities given above for the appropriate class of methylated spirits. For the purpose of ascertaining the proportion or quantity of denaturants in any such mixture the water shall be treated as if it were spirits.