Manufacturing Ethanol - Organic

Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry

making ethanol by fermentation (conditions)

• anaerobic process

• sugars dissolved in water

• yeast

• 30-35 degrees celsius

• glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide

• concentrated by fractional distillation

what are the advantages to fermentation?

• low energy

• cheap

• renewable

what are the disadvantages to fermentation?

• not pure

• slow process

• produces CO2

making ethanol by the hydration of ethene (conditions)

• ethene

• steam

• 70-80 atmospheres

• concentrated phosphoric acid (catalyst)

• 350-400 degrees celsius

what are the advantages to the hydration of ethene?

• quick

• 100% pure ethanol

• no waste

• doesn’t affect the food chain

what are the disadvantages to the hydration of ethene?

• high temperature - more energy needed

• non-renewable - from fossil fuels

• continuous