Course: BFM 201 Ethanol Production

Unit 9 Lab

View this presentation prior to coming to lab for an introduction to the distillation process.

"Can Corn Fuel the Future? Chapter 5," by Nebraska Corn Kernels, Standard YouTube License

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In this unit, you will have hands-on experience determining the presence of fusels and performing Distillation on the Ethanol Training Simulator.

1. Combining equal parts saturated salt and low proof ethanol from the first column should demonstrate the presense of fusels. An alternative approach for the purpose of demonstrating the test would be to use a diluted fusel such as butonol or amyl alcohol, add saturated salt, mix in a graduated cylinder, and allow separating for several minutes. Fusels will rise to the top. A dye such as methylene blue can be added before mixing to demarcate the separation.

2. Set up the Ethanol Trainer for distillation.

For this week's lab report describe the results of the fusels test and the distillation process.