Final answer:
Purifying ethanol contaminated with methyl acrylate is challenging due to their similar boiling points. Alternative methods such as chemical conversion or selective adsorption can be considered, but consulting a professional chemist or engineer is advisable to ensure safety and efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student has inquired about purifying ethanol contaminated with methyl acrylate. Since traditional distillation is challenging due to the similar boiling points of ethanol and methyl acrylate, alternative purification methods must be considered. One such method is extracting methyl acrylate using its chemical reactivity, rather than relying solely on physical properties. For instance, a chemical reaction might convert the methyl acrylate into a less volatile substance that could be more easily separated from the ethanol.
However, any such chemical process would need to be developed with care, considering safety, the compatibility of reagents with both substances, and the efficiency of the purification. For such a process, consulting a professional chemist or chemical engineer would be advisable.
To look at various separating techniques, fractional distillation under a pressure different from atmospheric pressure could be another option, albeit more complex and potentially requiring specialized equipment. Another alternative could be adsorption, where certain materials might selectively bind to methyl acrylate, removing it from the ethanol.