How Ethanol is Made

Summary

The video details the process of making ethanol from corn, starting with grounding the corn to expose its starch. This is mixed with water and enzymes to form a mash, which is then heated. The corn starch is broken down into fermentable sugars, which yeast then consumes, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide through fermentation. After 52-62 hours, this mix becomes a "beer" with 17-18% alcohol. The alcohol is then distilled to 95% and later to 195 proof. After a final dehydration step, the ethanol reaches 200 proof, ready for storage and transportation.

Highlights

• Corn is ground to a fine consistency to expose starch. 🌽
• Water and enzymes are added to create a heated mash. 🔥
• The mash is cooled and yeast is added for fermentation. 🍻
• Yeast fermentation transforms sugars into alcohol and CO2. 🍺
• The alcohol mixture is initially about 17-18% alcohol by volume. 📊
• Distillation increases alcohol purity to 95%, and further to 195 proof. 🍶
• Final ethanol product is 200 proof and 99% alcohol, ready for storage and shipment. 🚚

Key Takeaways

• Ethanol is made from corn through a sophisticated yet simple process. 🌽
• The process involves fermentation of sugars by yeast, turning them into alcohol. 🍺
• The final product, ethanol, is distilled to 200 proof for use. 🔥

Overview

Ethanol production starts with the common corn kernel, which is ground into a fine granular consistency. This crucial step exposes the starch within, allowing it to participate in the subsequent biochemical processes. Once water and enzymes are added, we get what is called a mash. This mixture is then heated, a step that plays a key role in breaking down the corn starch into fermentable sugars.

The heated mash is then cooled so that yeast can be introduced safely. The yeast ferments the sugars, converting them into alcohol and carbon dioxide, a process that takes approximately 52 to 62 hours. The mixture now resembles a 'beer' containing 17-18% alcohol by volume, which sets the stage for the distillation process.

During distillation, the 'beer' gets a major upgrade as its alcohol content is boosted first to 95% purity and eventually refined to 195 proof. For complete purity, the alcohol undergoes a molecular sieve process, removing water to achieve a 200-proof ethanol. This high-purity ethanol is then stored and transported, ready to be used in various applications.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Ethanol Production The chapter 'Introduction to Ethanol Production' explains the process of making ethanol from corn. It highlights that ethanol production is a simple biological process involving sophisticated techniques and equipment. The procedure begins with grinding corn to a granular consistency to expose the starch in the kernels. Water and enzymes are added to create a mixture known as mash, which is then heated to around 185 degrees. At this temperature, the enzymes help break down the corn starch.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Fermentation Process The chapter titled 'Fermentation Process' describes the steps involved in fermenting substances into alcohol. Initially, the mixture is broken down into fermentable sugars and cooled to 92 degrees. Yeast is then added to the cooled mixture. During fermentation, yeast consumes the sugars, releasing carbon dioxide and converting the sugars into alcohol. This process takes between 52 and 62 hours. Upon completion, the product is referred to as beer and is approximately 17% alcohol.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Distillation and Final Ethanol Production The chapter titled "Distillation and Final Ethanol Production" describes the process of concentrating alcohol from a 18% alcohol by volume beer. The beer is first pumped to the distillation column where it is heated, causing the alcohol to exit as a 95% alcohol vapor. It then undergoes a second stage of distillation to reach 195 proof. The vapor is subsequently condensed into liquid form and passed through a molecular sieve to remove remaining water, resulting in high-purity alcohol.

How Ethanol is Made Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 so how is ethanol made how do you get alcohol from corn it's a simple biological process which utilizes some very sophisticated techniques and equipment simply put the process goes like this corn is ground to a fine granular consistency so that the starch matter and the kernel is exposed water is added enzymes are added to this water this mixture called mash is heated to around 185 degrees at that temperature and with the help of enzymes the corn starch in
• 00:30 - 01:00 the mixture breaks down to become fermentable sugars it is cooled to 92 degrees and yeast is added the yeast consume or eat the sugars a process called fermentation as the yeast ferment they release carbon dioxide and convert the sugars into alcohol this fermentation process takes between 52 and 62 hours once the yeast are done doing their job the resulting mixture is actually called beer and is about 17 to
• 01:00 - 01:30 18 percent alcohol by volume beer is pumped from the beer well to the distillation column where heat is added the alcohol exits the column at 95% alcohol vapor it moves into a second distillation stage and further distills to 195 proof alcohol the alcohol then passes through a condenser which turns the vapor to liquid once in its liquid form the alcohol passes through a molecular sieve process to extract the remaining water this results in the
• 01:30 - 02:00 final ethanol product which is 200 proof and 99% alcohol it is transferred to storage tanks and then loaded under rail cars for shipment