Industrial Production of Ethanol from Sugar Cane

Research Task
1. The reliability of a resource documents depends on the information given in the text. For example,
in scientific reports, they undergo peer review. This is where other scientists experienced in the
same area examine the report to ensure the overall experiment and result was reliable and valid.
They also certify that the conclusion of the experiment is unbiased. As a result, the information
written in these reports are acknowledged to be reliable based on its reliable experiment and
objective conclusion.
2. To determine the validity of my research data, I browsed through numerous websites and articles
on the same topic. I found that all the information found was accurate and very similar, and thus
ensures the validity of my research data.
Industrial production of ethanol
1. The industrial production of ethanol involves the fermentation of glucose. This glucose can be
obtained from sugar cane.
Firstly, the sugar cane is passed through a hammer mill which grounds the sugar cane into small
particles. This is performed at a high speed where the rotating hammers hit the sugar cane. These
sugar cane particles are then mashed together with enzymes (such as invertase) and water at
controlled temperatures and pH levels. The sugar solution then goes through hydrolysis in vessels of
several systems to break down the compounds of the mixture, using high temperature, high
pressure or acids.
Invertase
C
12
H
22
O
11 (aq)
+ H
2
O
(l)
C
6
H
12
O
6 (aq)
+ C
6
H
12
O
6 (aq)
Invertase
Sucrose + water glucose + fructose
It is then filtered where the solid residue is hydrolysed again with acid until it has broken down to
sugars. The filtrate(acidic sugar solution) is supplemented with Ca(OH)
2
and then filtered again.
Fermentation follows, where yeast is added to the sugars to produce ethanol. The ethanol
subsequently undergoes distillation to purify it. Afterwards, dehydration occurs to eradicate any
excess water and impurities.
2.
Filtering Fermentation Distillation
Physical or
chemical
reaction
involved?
Physical Chemical Physical
Why is this
procedure
used?
To remove the
impurities from the
sugar solution.
To convert the sugars into
carbon dioxide and ethanol
through the addition of yeast.
To purify the ethanol and to
increase the percentage of
ethanol obtained.
Outline
the
procedure
The sugar solution is
filtered into the solid
residue which is
continues hydrolysis
until it has turned to
In a propagation tank, the
sugar solution, water,
enzymes, nutrients (such as
phosphoric acid) and yeast are
mixed together. The enzymes,
The fermented ethanol is
distilled to separate the
ethanol and water through
the process of distillation.
This usually occurs in a still
sugar and the
filtrate, the acidic
filtrate solution.
After neutralisation,
it is again filtered
where the sugar
solution is then
fermented.
zymase, are active in the
yeast. This is conducted at
37
o
C with the exclusion of air
(low oxygen concentrations).
Once the ethanol has reached
a concentration of 15% by
volume, fermentation stops.
This is because the alcohol
concentration above this level
kills the yeast.
C
6
H
12
O
6 (aq)
2C
2
H
5
OH
(aq)
+
2CO
2(g)

or a distillation column,
where heat is applied.
Ethanol, the most volatile
liquid, evaporates and rises
through a tube before
condensing into a separate
section of the still. Thus, the
water remains and the
concentration of ethanol has
increased to 95-96%.

3. High-Gravity Fermentation, while still in development, can potentially decrease the amount of
water used in producing ethanol. This would accordingly reduce costs, waste produced and energy
consumption. This is done by using highly concentrated mash containing at least 30% solids which
has shown to give 23% alcohol fermentation. As this technological technique continues to develop, it
can potentially improve ethanol production.
Research has been conducted on enhancing the capabilities of yeast. For instance, it would be more
heat tolerant, be able to endure higher alcohol concentrations, produce less unused by-products and
be able to convert other forms of sugar to ethanol. Nevertheless, researchers have made some
progress with the yeasts ethanol tolerance one-third higher than 40 years ago. It is also aimed to
decrease glycerol production as it indicates a loss of ethanol.
In the 1950s, enzymes were first added to the fermentation process. Not only has this improved
liquefaction, saccharification and fermentation in the production of ethanol, it has also become
more cost effective with prices dropping 70% in a period of 25 years. Additionally, enzymes
decreases soak time and water and energy consumption, and produces higher starch and protein
yield quality.
When ethanol was first distilled, the basic technology was derived from the beverage alcohol
industry. It required no removal of water. However nowadays, only 4% of water remains in ethanol
due to conventional distillation techniques. Fuel ethanol on the other hand, must be completely dry
or pure. This is now performed through a dehydration technique called azeotropic distillation.
Benzene or cyclohexane is usually used to break the azeotrope when distillation has become
ineffectual. Molecular sieves are now also being used, where only water passes and is trapped in the
sieve. This has ultimately reduced power usage, decreased original capital outlay and removed the
threat of exposure to hazardous chemicals.
The use of control systems has overall lowered costs while enhancing the production of ethanol.
These control systems have been combined with computer programs which has allowed for timely
monitoring of processes and predictions. Reports can now be composed from any stored data and
alarms can be programmed to warn operators in case anything hazardous or incorrect may occur.
Additionally, it has improved the efficiency of the production process by enhancing the accuracy of
specific procedures, and thus lowers downtime and maintenance.
In general, the implementation and the use of technological developments have led to cheaper
production costs, improved processing efficiency and reduced wastes. However the introduction of
these technologies requires a large amount of money that some manufacturers cannot afford. A
great deal of money is also used to contribute to the research that develops these devices and thus
can place more strain on the government, manufacturer and even the consumer as the demand for
ethanol increases and sources are depleted.
4. Government subsidies are required to encourage the development of alternative energy sources
in Australia as consumers around the nation continue to increase their energy usage predominantly
because of the technology provided for the population today. However, this high energy usage,
while sufficiently being supplied now, will not be effectively catered for as the energy sources
continue to be depleted. Most of the energy sources are derived from fossil fuels, such as coal,
natural gas and crude oil. These are a non-renewable source and take millions of years to form. The
energy usage, along with the exports of coal to other countries, does not balance out with the
amount of resources Australia has and thus, the need for subsidies to encourage the advancement
of alternative energy sources is one of the top priorities.
For instance, ethanol is mainly produced from ethylene (which comes from crude oil). There are
many uses of ethanol that cater for the Australian population, with the most prevalent use as an
automotive fuel. Other uses include rocket fuel and as an ingredient in alcoholic beverages and
antiseptics. Despite the increasing awareness that consumers must take measures to be more
energy-efficient, large quantities of energy are still being used each day and therefore more funding
must be given to researchers for alternative energy means.
Since technological developments have been implemented in the ethanol production industry, they
have reduced the energy usage in the processing of ethanol. With an increased and more efficient
manufacture of ethanol, by supplementing vegetable oils, the viscosity is changed causing it to
operate better in conventional engines. This produces, for example, biodiesel which is additionally
beneficial towards the environment. Despite this, research must continue for improved production
of ethanol as it could potentially provide the Australian population with an energy source that can
be used economically and efficiently.
Currently, there are other alternative energy sources produced from solar energy (solar panels),
wind energy (wind turbines), fuel cells and tidal energy. However these sources are presently
uneconomic as opposed to coal-generated electricity. Consequently, the reliance of government
subsidies is increasing as other energy sources must be developed with positive economic, social and
environmental implications.
Overall, it is vital that alternative energy sources are developed through the encouragement of
government subsidies as it will not only benefit the environment, it will also cater the for the
generations of the Australian populations increasing energy needs that cannot be infinitely relied on
fossil fuels.
Bibliography:
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materials/renewable-ethanol/fermentation-conditions [accessed 19/11/12]
- Can I make my own ethanol? How Stuff Works - http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-
efficiency/fuel-consumption/make-your-own-ethanol2.htm [accessed 17/11/12]
- New Technologies in Ethanol Production United States Department of Agriculture -
http://www.usda.gov/oce/reports/energy/aer842_ethanol.pdf [accessed 19/11/12]
- Fermentation Technologies GB-Analysts Reports -
http://www.gbanalysts.com/Reading%20Room/Situation%20Analysis/FermentationTechs/et
hanol_ferment.html [accessed 16/11/12]
- Industrial Production of Ethanol from Sugar Cane Bored of Studies -
http://community.boredofstudies.org/showthread.php?t=274851 [accessed 16/11/12]
- Ethanol UCC - http://www.ucc.ie/academic/chem/dolchem/html/comp/ethanol.html
[accessed 18/11/12]
- Uses of Ethanol Want To Know It - http://wanttoknowit.com/uses-of-ethanol/ [accessed
19/11/12]
- Australias Renewable Energy Future Australian Academy of Science -
http://www.science.org.au/reports/documents/AusRenewableEnergyFuture.pdf [accessed
19/11/12]