Important Processes LEARN AS OCR chemistry A

Making Ethanol

Hydration of ethene

• Catalytic hydration of ethene
• Must be done in the presence of steam and phosphoric acid catalyst (H3PO4).
• Must be carried out under HIGH TEMPERATURES! and MODERATE PRESSURE!
• so... 300 degrees C and 60atm.
• The reaction is an equilibrium therefore it is REVERSIBLE.
• The conversion of ethene is incomplete. Unreacted gases are passed through the reactor again and recycled. (95% conversion is achieved).

Fermentation

• Carbohydrates are converted into ethanol and carbon…