PDF chapter test TRY NOW
How is ethanol manufactured from sugarcane?
Ethanol is generally referred to as . All alcoholic liquids and some cough syrups contain ethanol. The molecular formula for ethanol is \(C_2H_5OH\).
Ethanol is prepared in industries via the , obtained through sugar from sugarcane. Molasses is a dark coloured syrupy liquid left after the crystallisation of sugar from the concentrated sugarcane juice. Molasses contain approximately \(30\) % of , which cannot be separated by using crystallisation.
Sucrose is therefore converted into ethanol by using the subsequent steps:
- Dilution of molasses
- Addition of nitrogen source
- Addition of yeast
- Distillation of 'Wash'
a. Dilution of molasses:
Molasses is first diluted with to decrease the concentration of sugar to approximately \(8-10\%\).
b. Addition of nitrogen source:
During the fermentation process, the nitrogenous matter that is present in molasses acts as food for yeast. is added if the nitrogen content of the molasses is poor.
c. Addition of yeast:
The solution extracted in addition of source is collected in large ‘fermentation tanks’, and yeast is mixed. The aggregate is preserved at \(303K\) for some days. All through this period, the enzymes invertase and found in yeast result in the conversion of sucrose into ethanol.
i. \(Sugar + Water \xrightarrow{invertase} Glucose + Fructose\)
\(C_{12}H_{22}O_{11} + H_2O \xrightarrow{invertase} C_6H_{12}O_6 + C_6H_{12}O_6 \)
ii. \(Glucose or Fructose \xrightarrow{zymase} Ethanol + Carbon dioxide\)
\(C_6H_{12}O_6 \xrightarrow{zymase} 2C_2H_5OH + 2CO_2\)
The fermented liquid from this process is called as '.
d. Distillation of wash:
The fermented liquid (i.e.wash), containing \(15\)% to \(18\)% alcohol, is now subjected to fractional distillation. The primary fraction drawn is an aqueous solution of ethanol \(95.5\)% of ethanol and \(4.5\)% of water. This proportion of ethanol and water is known as .
Rectified spirit is then refluxed over quicklime for about \(5\) to \(6\) hours and then allowed settling for \(12\) hours. Pure alcohol (\(100\)) % is obtained on the distillation of the above mixture. This is known as .
Register for free to see more content