1. Designing a Procedure for Fast Fermentation
Fermenting Fuel
Designing a Procedure for Fast Fermentation

2. Ethanol C6H12O6 → 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2 + Energy
Ethanol is a renewable source of fuel for vehicles that is widely produced from corn. Ethanol production is reliant on the anaerobic fermentation of corn sugars by yeast.
Glucose
Carbon dioxide
Ethanol
C6H12O6 → 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2 + Energy
2 ATP

3. Enzymes
Scientists and industry professionals are constantly working to make the fermentation procedure more efficient. Different enzymes are added to the corn in order to break the starch into simple sugars that the yeast can process into ethanol.

4. Enzymes
Amylase
Glucoamylase

5. Ethanol
This lab is designed to allow students to experiment with different variables in the fermentation process to determine their effect. These findings are then used to develop a fermentation procedure that they may use on a larger sample for the distillation lab.

6. Preparing samples
Materials needed: 1 test tube 1.0 g ground corn 5 ml of distilled water Stirring rod Test tube cholder

7. Preparing samples Add 1.0 g of corn to each test tube
Add approximately 5 ml of water
Use stirring rod to mix well

8. Boiling Samples Boiling breaks down the cellulose in the corn
Materials Needed Hot Plate
500 ml Beaker (or larger)
Water
Bring ml of water to boiling on a hot plate

9. Boiling Samples
Add samples to the boiling water Let them boil for 10 minutes

10. Samples may be placed in racks or a cool water bath.
If being kept overnight, insert a stopper.

11. 1 2 3 4 5
Amylase

12. 1 2 3 4 5
Gluco
amylase

13. 1 2 3 4 5
pH Buffer

14. 1 2 3 4 5
Yeast

15. Add distilled water to equalize volume1 2 3 4 5
Distilled Water

16. Stir with Stirring Rod 1 2 3 4 5
Distilled Water

20. Data Collection: CO2 produced (ml)
Time (min)
Test Tube 1
Test Tube 2
Test Tube 3
Test Tube 4
Test Tube 5 5 1 10 3 2 15 20 6 4 25 9 30
1.5 12 35 14 40
2.5 11 45 16
12.5 50 19 55
3.5 22 60 26 18 1 3 2 5 6 4 9
2.5 12
3.5 14
1.5 15 11 16
12.5 19
6.5 7 22 8 26 18
9.5

22. Engineering a Better Procedure
Students will now use their results to develop another experiment or a procedure for a larger scale fermentation.