Alcohol production

Alcohols are produced industrially by hydration of alkenes in the presence of an acid catalyst.

Ethanol is produced industrially by fermentation of glucose. The conditions for this process.

Ethanol produced industrially by fermentation is separated by fractional distillation and can then be used as a biofuel.

Students should be able to:

• explain the meaning of the term biofuel

• justify the conditions used in the production of ethanol by fermentation of glucose

• write equations to support the statement that ethanol produced by fermentation is a carbon neutral fuel and give reasons why this statement is not valid

• outline the mechanism for the formation of an alcohol by the reaction of an alkene with steam in the presence of an acid catalyst

• discuss the environmental (including ethical) issues linked to decision making about biofuel use.

AT a, d and k

PS 1.2

Students could produce ethanol by fermentation, followed by purification by fractional distillation.