Detailed Project Report on ethanol from broken rice

Ethanol is one of the group of chemical compounds with molecules that contain a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom. Ethanol is manufacturing through the fermentation process of agricultural products such as rice, corn, sugarcane, and others. Ethanol is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and thus is used in many hand sanitizers and medical wipes. Ethanol is also used as a disinfectant and an antiseptic. In cases related to methyl alcohol poisoning and glycol poisoning, ethanol is used as an antidote. There exist various medicines that are insoluble in water and these are dissolved in ethanol. Ethanol is also used as a solvent for mouthwashes and analgesics. 

 

The bioconversion of starch from rice is a two-step process. The involved primary step is scarification, where the starch is converted into sugar using amyl lytic microorganism or enzymes such as amylase and glucoamylase. The second step is fermentation where sugar is converted into ethanol using Saccharomyces Cerevbisiae. The direct fermentation process involves the use of amyl lytic yeasts, and this offers poor economic feasibility. The use of amyl lytic yeast species for the industrial use is indeed restricted because of the low ethanol tolerance. 

 

The involved manufacturing process has to do with crushing of grains which are then mashed with water. This is then boiled for the scarification to filter and separate the available sugar. This is then followed by the second step which involves adding the yeast for the fermentation which is then maintained for four days. The produced ethanol is then separated using the distillation tower system. The distilled ethanol is then dehydrated by the molecular dehydration system. When certain species of yeast (such as Saccharomyces Cerevbisiae) metabolize sugar in reduced oxygen conditions, they are known to then produce carbon dioxide and ethanol. 

 

The process of fermentation involves culturing yeast under favorable thermal conditions to produce alcohol. This process involves moderate temperature conditions of 35-40 degrees. It is known through research that the most ethanol tolerant strains of yeast can survive up to approximately 18% ethanol by volume. 

 

It should be therefore understood that the conventional process for ethanol production involves liquefaction followed by simultaneous fermentation and saccharification under the yeast fermentation conditions. The liquefaction is carried out using the thermostable alpha amylase and the SSF with the glucoamylase with additional side activities of protease and pullulanase under the yeast fermentation conditions. It is also important to measure the enzyme efficacy in the liquefaction process which deals with fermentable sugar and liquefact solubility which is measured at the end fo the liquefaction process. Thus, the conventional process for manufacturing ethanol from broken rice is indeed an important process. 

 

It is well understood that that global ethanol market is highly diverse and has witnessed rapid growth over the past 10 years due to rapid funding for biofuel by the regulating bodies. Biofuel is considered to be eco-friendly and is an alternative to gasoline. Furthermore, ethanol is also responsible for reducing the carcinogenic and particulate emissions by 65%-70% . However, the rising raw material prices are the most important factors that bar the growth of the ethanol market at a global level.