Process of Fermentation

Summary

This video, part of the Bofu Education Project funded by the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture, illustrates the fermentation process. It begins with the delivery of fit stock to the handling area, where it undergoes size reduction. The stock is then pre-treated with steam and acid to promote hydrolysis, breaking down cellulose into glucose. This glucose is fermented into ethanol using microorganisms. The final product, ethanol, is purified through distillation, with byproducts including biomass and volatile components. The video showcases the steps involved in biofuel production from biomass.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is part of the Bofu education project, funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• 😀 The fermentation process begins with fit stock delivered to the fit handling area for storage and size reduction.
• 😀 Particle size of the fit stock plays a crucial role in the efficiency of fermentation.
• 😀 The fit stock undergoes a pre-treatment in a reactor, where steam and acid are combined to promote hydrolysis.
• 😀 Hydrolysis breaks down lignin into selenos and hemicellulose, preparing the fit stock for further processing.
• 😀 In the hydrolysis reactor, the fit stock is neutralized to create an optimal environment for enzymes and organisms to work.
• 😀 The enzyme endoglucan decomposes lignocellulose into smaller fragments, and exoglucan further breaks down cellulose into cellobiose.
• 😀 Finally, the enzyme β-glucosidase breaks down cellobiose into glucose.
• 😀 The glucose, along with microorganisms, nutrients, and antifungal agents, is then sent to the fermentation reactor.
• 😀 The fermentation process converts one mole of glucose into two moles of ethanol and two moles of carbon dioxide, using yeast.
• 😀 After fermentation, the brewed mixture contains ethanol, water, microbial biomass, fusel oils, volatile components, stillage, and lignin.
• 😀 Distillation is used to purify the ethanol, and the final product is stored for later use.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to illustrate the process of fermentation, specifically in relation to the handling and treatment of fit stock, the hydrolysis of cellulose, and the fermentation of glucose into ethanol.

What is the first step in the fermentation process?

The first step is the delivery of fit stock to the fit handling area for storage and size reduction, as the efficiency of fermentation depends on the particle size of the fit stock.

How is the fit stock pre-treated before fermentation?

The fit stock is pre-treated using a combination of steam and acid to promote hydrolysis. This helps in breaking down selenos and hemicellulose.

What happens in the hydrolysis reactor?

In the hydrolysis reactor, the material undergoes a process where the lung cellulose is decomposed by enzymes, such as endoglucanase and exoglucanase, which break down the cellulose into glucose.

Why is the material made less acidic in the hydrolysis reactor?

The material is made less acidic in the hydrolysis reactor because enzymes and microorganisms function optimally in a less acidic environment.

What role do enzymes play in the hydrolysis process?

Enzymes, such as endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and beta-glucosidase, break down the cellulose into smaller components, eventually converting cellulose into glucose.

How is glucose used in the fermentation process?

Glucose is delivered into the fermentation reactor where it is fermented by microorganisms, converting it into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

What is the outcome of the six-carbon sugar fermentation?

In the fermentation of six-carbon sugars, one mole of glucose is converted into two moles of ethanol and two moles of carbon dioxide in the presence of yeast.

What additional materials are present in the fermented brew besides water and ethanol?

In addition to water and ethanol, the fermented brew contains microbial biomass, fusel oil, volatile components, stillage, and lignin.

What happens after the fermentation process?

After fermentation, the brew undergoes distillation to further process it, and the pure ethanol is then stored.