Introduction
The production of ethanol from starch or sugar-based feedstocks is among man’s earliest ventures into value-added processing. The sugars found in plants could be easily and inexpensively converted into clean-burning, renewable alcohol fuels.
While the concept is the same today as it was back in the days, the ethanol industry has come a long way since then. Sophisticated biorefineries use technologies to convert grains, beverage and food waste, cellulosic biomass and other feedstocks into high-octane ethanol. Today we are going to take a closer look on one of them!
This material can be used in schools and for other educational purposes.
Task
1.What in this video is converted into cellulosic ethanol?
2.How much of fuel grade ethanol does the company produce a year?
3.What does the biomass consists of?
4.What is done to the biomass before the first step in ethanol production?
5.How is the stover sterilized and prepared to further conversion?
6.After which stage the stover becomes a damp granual material?
7.What adding enzymes and water does to the pretreated material?
8.The fermentation process is similar to what?
9.What is added to the mixture in fermentation process to ferment the simple sugars?
10.What happens to fuel grade ethanol after drying and purification?
Process
Watch the video about the process for converting biomass to cellulosic ethanol and pay close attention to the information that is said there. After that you will have to answer 10 questions about the information that you have just learned. Good luck!
You can also take a virtual tour of Patriot Renewable Fuels' Ethanol Facility - http://vatour-dev.com/system/tours/ascendant/patriot/tourfiles/index.ht…;
Evaluation
The correct answers to all the questions are shown below!
1.Biomass.
2.30 million gallons.
3.Stover (non-food cobs, stalks and leaves).
4.It is grounded into smaller pieces.
5.By exposing it to high heat and chemicals.
6.Pretreatment stage.
7.Helps to release the sugars in lingocellulose.
8.Producing wine or beer.
9.Microorganisms.
10.It is transferred to storage tanks.
If you have answered correctly to 7-10 questions: Brilliant job! You have learned the topic perfectly! Congratulations!
If you have answered correctly to 5-6 questions: Not bad! You should still watch the video again and pay a bit more attention to the information said there. Good luck!
If you have answered correctly to less than 5 questions: You have been really unattentive. Watch the video once more and try again! Good luck!
Conclusion
Congratulations! Great work!
You have accomplished the test and hopefully learned something new! Now you will have an understanding of everyday processes that affect your life, because ethanol is used to make medicine, cosmetics, detergents, alcoholic drinks and fuel which you are using or will use in the future. Also, it will help you understand chemistry and environmental problems a lot more.
Thank you for your participation!
Have a good day!
Credits
http://vatour-dev.com/system/tours/ascendant/patriot/tourfiles/index.ht… - Virtual Tour of Patriot Renewable Fuels' Ethanol Facility