Making Ethanol Flashcards
What are the 3 ways that Ethanol can be produced?
- Fermentation
- From Biomass
- From Ethane and Steam
How does Fermentation make ethanol?
By using yeast to convert sugars into ethanol
What is the word equation for fermentation producing ethanol?
Sugar –(yeast)–> ethanol + carbon dioxide
What acts as a catalyst for fermentation and where is it found?
An enzyme called Zymase, which is found in the yeast cells
What is the optimum temperature for fermentation?
30 degrees celcius
What can’t fermentation be colder or hotter than its optimum temperature?
BEcause if it’s too cold then the reaction slows down, and if its too hot then Zymase will denature
What is the optimum pH for Zymase and why?
pH 4
If it is too acidic or alkali then it will stop working
Why is it important to prevent oxygen getting into the fermentation process?
Because oxygen converts ethanol into ethanoic acid which lowers the pH and can stop the enzyme working
At what concentration does the fermentation reaction stop and why?
10-20%
Because the yeast gets killed off by the ethanol
How is the ethanol solution made from fermentation concentrated?
By distillatin
Describe the process of Distillation with ethanol
- Ethanol is heated in a fractioning column and made to boil so the vapour travels up the column, cooling as it goes
- The temperature is such that anything with a higher boiling point than ethanol cools to a liquid and condenses back to the bottom, meaning that only pure ethanol vapour reaches the top
- It flows into a condenser where it is collected
Will the raw materials for fermentation run out?
Sugar beet grows quickly so it won’t
How good is the atom economy for fermentation?
It has a low atom aconomy because of the waste CO2 produced and the enzyme is killed off by the ethanol, meaning it is less efficient
How are the waste products dealt with after fermentation?
CO2 is released without any processing
What are the energy costs for fermentation?
Energy is needed to maintain the optimum temperature