Question

Ethyl alcohol can be prepared by fermentation of molasses.

1. What do you mean by fermentation?

2. Explain the process.

3. What do you mean by ‘wash’?

Answer 1

1. Fermentation is the process of breaking up of large molecules into small molecule in the presence of biological catalyst called enzymes.

2. Molasses is the mother liquor left behind after the crystallisation of cane sugar from sugar cane juice. It is 40% sucrose solution. First it is diluted to 10% solution. Then yeast is added. Temperature of the system is kept at 305 K. The following reactions will take place.

3. 8-10% ethyl alcohol is known as ‘wash’.