Topic 5 - Ethanol

ETHANOL

• An important use of ethene is the industrial production of ethanol. This is done by the direct reaction of ethene with steam in the presence of a catalyst (phosphoric acid) at moderately high temperatures, about 300°C, and pressures between 60 and 70 atmospheres. The equation is:
• C2H4 + H2O = C2H5OH
• Ethanol belongs to a homologous series called alcohols - which contain the OH group.
• Ethanol is commonly called alcohol and it can be produced by the actions of yeasts on sugars. 

• Industrially ethanol can also be manufactured by fermentation. The carbon dioxide is allowed to escape and air is prevented from entering the reaction vessel. The ethanol is separated from the reaction mixture by fractional distillation.
• Methanol is the simplest member of its homologous series and is very poisonous. 

COMPARISON OF THE MANUFACTURAING METHODS FOR ETHANOL

• The manufacture by fermentation is…