Background

September 2001

A number of countries throughout the world are trying to develop alternative fuels in order to reduce air pollution and reduce import oil costs (http://www.chemweb.com/alchem/articles/ 992513141289.html). Ethanol is a clean-burning fuel that has been used on an experimental basis to run cars in Brazil and that is used as a common gasoline additive in states such as Colorado and California (http://www.chemweb.com/alchem/articles/994149876998.html). Ethanol is an oxygen containing chemical that is added to gasoline to help it burn cleaner.

Current research is looking at different alternative fuels, such as biodiesel palm oil, and new and better methods of converting organic matter into ethanol. The traditional method of producing ethanol involves the fermentation of glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010524062508.htm).

A number of factors need to be considered when producing ethanol through the fermentation of a glucose solution. For fermentation to occur, the environment should be anaerobic. Other factors that should be considered are the amount of sugar needed to produce the highest yield of ethanol and the temperature needed to maximize anaerobic respiration or fermentation in yeast.

Fermentation: C₆H₁₂O₆ 6 2 C₂H₅OH + 2 CO₂

glucose ethyl alcohol

 

 

Links:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010524062508.htm production of ethanol

http://www.chemweb.com/alchem/articles/992513141289.html alternative fuels

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/08/980824071737.htm yeast and alcohol production

http://www.chemweb.com/alchem/articles/994149876998.html ethanol additive in California

Suggested Graphics or Photos: highway and pollution

Scenario:

You are a member of a research team working for a company that has decided that ethanol is the fuel of the future. California has banned the use of methyl-tert-butyl (MTBE) as a gasoline additive at the end of 2002 and the only viable alternative is ethanol. Countries throughout the world are looking for ways to reduce automobile emissions following the revival of the Kyoto Agreement therefore large quantities of ethanol could be needed in the near future. Your company would like to find an efficient method of producing ethanol and your research team has been asked to do a presentation for the company that summarizes your research in the following areas:

# methods of manufacturing ethanol

# production of ethanol and percentage yield

# transportation of product

 

Part A: Research

1. Use a variety of resources to research the different techniques currently being used to produce and transport ethanol. Identify and describe the different technologies that are involved in the various stages of production.

 

2. Use a variety of resources to research the different techniques currently being used to produce and transport another alternative fuel besides ethanol. Make sure you check the topic with your teacher before proceeding. Identify and describe the different technologies that are involved in the various stages of its production.

 

3. Design a flow chart to show the stages of production in ethanol and an alternative fuel.

 

 

Part B:

Synthesis of Ethanol and Product Testing

4. From the equipment available in your school, design an apparatus that will allow the fermentation of glucose Check with your teacher first before carrying out any investigation. For example, you could use a gas bottle or flask and a one-hole stopper in which a piece of bent glass tubing has been inserted that is attached to a long piece of Tygon tubing. The end of this tubing is placed under water in a 600 mL beaker outside of the flask. See Figure 2 at http://www.oxy.edu/departments/tops/Yeast/yeastreference.htm for a diagram of the anaerobic flask.

5. You must now decide what growing environment will be best for the yeast to produce the highest yield of ethanol. You will need to determine the mass of glucose necessary, the amount of water, the optimum temperature, and the length of time needed to allow most of the sugar to be converted to ethanol. This may require several trials.

6. When you are satisfied that you have the optimum conditions and that sufficient time has passed to produce ethanol, remove the ethanol by distillation.

7. Check the purity of your ethanol using tests that you have devised and calculate the percent yield of the ethanol based on the amount of glucose used initially.

8. Store your ethanol in a labeled bottle so that it can be used in other experiments.

Part C:

Analyze/Reflect

9. Create a comparison chart that outlines the advantages and disadvantages of ethanol and the other alternative fuel that you researched.

 

10. Prepare a table that summarizes the factors that should be considered in the production and transportation of ethanol.

Part D: Presentation

11. Prepare a written report for the managers of the company that summarizes the results of your research. Your report should include:

# the flow charts showing stages in production of ethanol and another fuel and the comparison chart.

# the procedures used to produce ethanol and test it for purity. Include all calculations and a conclusion that summarizes all possible sources of error and suggestions for improving the percent yield.

# a table summarizing all observations recorded while producing and testing ethanol

# a chart that displays the advantages and disadvantages of the method you used to produce ethanol and of the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.

# a table that summarizes the factors that should be considered in the production and transportation of ethanol

# your recommendations for the method that should be used to produce and transport ethanol and also whether or not the company should focus on the production of ethanol only.

# all references used listed in APA style

Alternative Fuels  Menu

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