The fermentation of sugar into ethanol was a great success in the development of biotechnology. Throughout history, ethanol was most often used in various alcoholic beverages. However, in the mid-19th century, ethanol began to be used for very different purposes. Initially, because of its flammability, Ethanol was a useful fuel for such things as lighting. When the four-stroke internal combustion engine was developed, it was clear that ethanol could be a much more powerful type of fuel, namely as a fuel for propulsion or propulsion.
That’s how Ethanol became the fuel for Henry Ford’s Model T vehicle.
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Petroleum fuel was becoming increasingly expensive at the time, and growing environmental concerns fueled the push for alternative fuels. Thus, since then, Corn became the main feedstock for ethanol production.
Ethanol, or alcohol as it is also known, has been produced for over eight thousand years and represents humanity’s first success in biotechnology. The product is made with brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) which, under the right conditions, converts starches and sugars found in plants into alcohol.
The process begins with local feed corn, which is ground into flour. Water is added to the flour to form a yeast starter and enzymes are added to convert the corn starch into simple sugars digestible by the yeast. This results in a liquid mass which is then distilled to obtain 99.79% pure ethanol.
Ethanol is a natural product commonly found in nature that disperses easily and is also easily broken down by nature. With a production process that is also natural and clean, and the only other residual product a biogenic carbon dioxide and clean water, it makes this a very popular base product for many applications.
Bioethanol is mainly marketed as a climate-friendly substitute for gasoline in the transportation sector, reducing CO2 emissions by almost 70% compared to fossil oil.
As a fuel, ethanol can make engines run more economically and cleanly, releasing fewer pollutants into the exhaust and reducing “aromatics,” the lightest fractions of gasoline that are toxic and carcinogenic.
What doesn’t go to combustion engines goes to the chemical, cosmetic and beverage industries. There is enormous potential for future use of bioethanol in the bio-based materials sectors, for packaging and coating applications.
Jongia Mixing Technology has the know-how to optimize the Liquification process in order to obtain a homogeneous liquid and has delivered several agitators for this application. Usually, the geometry of the tanks is as such that tanks are high and tubular, which makes a multi-stage agitator with hydrofoil agitator elements in combination with a bottom bearing very suitable. The hydrofoil agitator mixing elements are often positioned as “eccentric”, so without baffle plates to provide a “gentle touch” to the liquid, giving sufficient velocity combined with a low power consumption. With this, the process becomes a nice homogeneous quality. Of course, these agitators are also extremely reliable for a long life!
VTTI Biogas Tilburg is developing a new bio-energy facility, focusing on processing organic waste. The plant is expected to produce approximately 23 million cubic metres of biogas annually. A portion of this will be converted into green gas for the
Bioreactors and Fermenters are culture systems to produce cells or organisms. They are used in various applications, including basic research and development, and the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, food and food additives, chemicals, and other products. A broad range of cell types and organisms can be cultivated in bioreactors and Fermenters, including cells (like mammalian cell lines, insect cells, and stem cells), microorganisms (like bacteria, yeasts, and fungi), as well as plant cells and algae. The words “Bioreactor” and “Fermenter” are basically the same thing.
Fuel blending is a critical component of biodiesel production. A properly blended fuel can increase energy efficiency, reduce emissions and improve performance. However, it can be difficult to achieve consistent fuel quality during blending due to differences in storage tanks,
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