How is ethanol produced in Brazil?

Answer 1

The production of ethanol is made from cane sugar and obeys the following:

1. Grinding cane: Sugar cane goes through a processor, this step gets the cane juice, also known as sugar cane juice that contains a high content of sucrose, whose formula is C12H22O11.

2. Production of molasses: The product obtained in step (syrup) is heated to get the molasses, which is a solution of 40% (approx.) by weight of sucrose. The brown sugar is produced when part of sucrose crystallizes.

3. Fermentation of molasses: It is now added to the molasses yeast, such as Saccharomyces, which is a type of yeast that causes the sucrose becomes ethanol. The action of enzymes is carrying out this work. After this process, we obtain the fermented MASH, which already contains 12% of its total volume in ethanol.

4. Distillation of the fermented: Here the product, where the wort goes through the process of fractionation, and will lead to a solution whose composition is: 96% ethanol and 4% water. There is a name that is given in degrees, is called the alcoholic a drink. In the case of ethanol is 96 ° GL (Gay-Lussac).

Ethanol is used for the manufacture of beverages and fuel. In Brazil, most ethanol production is for the fuel industry. This preference is because ethanol does not produce sulfur dioxide when burned, unlike gasoline, which pollutes the atmosphere.

Important: there is great concern about the excessive consumption of Alcoholic Beverages. Discoveries in science reporting the dangers of drinking large quantities of alcohol, which can cause irreversible damage to the brain, liver and heart.