Scribd
Upload
25 views2 pages

Exercise9 DemoSolution

The document details the fermentation of sucrose into ethanol, calculating the molar masses of sucrose and ethanol, and determining the amount of ethanol produced from a ton of sucrose, which is approximately 538 kg. It also calculates the energy content of the ethanol produced, yielding about 14,400 MJ or 4,000 kWh, along with the water and carbon dioxide produced during the process. Finally, it assesses the energy return on energy invested (EROEI) for ethanol production, resulting in an EROEI of 3.7.

Uploaded by

anhtri.journal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
25 views2 pages

Exercise9 DemoSolution

The document details the fermentation of sucrose into ethanol, calculating the molar masses of sucrose and ethanol, and determining the amount of ethanol produced from a ton of sucrose, which is approximately 538 kg. It also calculates the energy content of the ethanol produced, yielding about 14,400 MJ or 4,000 kWh, along with the water and carbon dioxide produced during the process. Finally, it assesses the energy return on energy invested (EROEI) for ethanol production, resulting in an EROEI of 3.7.

Uploaded by

anhtri.journal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PHYS-C6370 Fundamentals of New Energy Sources (Fall 2017)

Exercise 9, model solution to demonstration

1. Demonstration

a. Fermentation of sucrose into ethanol: C12H22O11 + H2O → 4 CH3CH2OH + 4 CO2

Molar mass of sucrose:

g g g g
𝑀suc = 12 ∙ 12.01 + 22 ∙ 1.008 + 11 ∙ 16.00 = 342.3 .
mol mol mol mol

Molar mass of Ethanol (EtOH):

g g g g
𝑀EtOH = 2 ∙ 12.01 + 6 ∙ 1.008 + 16.00 = 46.07 .
mol mol mol mol

Four moles of ethanol can be produced from a single mole of sucrose. Total amount of ethanol
available from a ton of sucrose thus equals:
𝑛EtOH = 4 𝑛suc
𝑚EtOH 𝑚suc
=4
𝑀EtOH 𝑀suc
g
4 𝑀EtOH 4 ∙ 46.07
𝑚EtOH = 𝑚suc = 1000 kg mol
𝑀suc g = 538 kg
342.3
mol

the energy content of which is

𝐸EtOH = 𝑚EtOH ∙ 𝐿𝐻𝑉EtOH = 538 kg ∙ 26.8 MJ/kg =14 400 MJ ≈ 4 000 kWh.

Similarly, amount of water required is:

g
𝑀H2 O 18.016
𝑚 H2 O = 𝑚suc ∙ = 1000 kg ∙ mol
𝑀suc g = 53 kg.
342.3
mol

Carbon dioxide produced:

g
4 ∙ 𝑀CO2 4 ∙ 44.01
𝑚CO2 = 𝑚suc ∙ = 1000 kg ∙ mol
𝑀suc g = 514 kg.
342.3
mol

Do masses on both sides check out? 1000 kg + 53 kg ≈ 538 kg + 514 kg. Yes.
b. Energy returned on energy invested (EROEI) of ethanol production assuming that the energy
input required for cultivation, processing, storage and distribution is in total 7.2 MJ/(kg EtOH)
such as in Brazil where bio-ethanol is produced out of sugarcane:

MJ
26.8
kg
𝐸𝑅𝑂𝐸𝐼 = = 3.7
MJ
7.2
kg

You might also like