Ethanol

=ETHANOL =

= Name: Ethanol = = Formula: C₂H₆O =

=**HOW IS ETHANOL MADE **= = = Ethanol can be made from any crop or plant that contains a large amount of sugar or components that can be converted into sugar, such as starch or cellulose.

Sugar beets and sugar cane contain natural sugar that can be used for ethanol.

Crops such as corn, wheat, potatoes, and barley contain starch that can be easily converted to sugar.

Most trees and grasses are made of cellulose, which can also be converted into sugar, although not as easily as starch. There are also new enzymes and production processes that can convert cellulose to sugar. Because of this, ethanol can produced from almost any biomass, including agricultural wastes, straw, leaves, grass clippings, sawdust or old newspapers.

There are 2 methods of making ethanol. The modern ethanol production plants use the dry mill method that involves use of yeast to convert sugar into ethanol. This old fermentation process has been used for centuries. On an average a typical dry mill production plant produces up to 50 to 100 million gallons of Ethanol per year. It is also possible to produce ethanol through a wet-milling process. The difference between the two processes is the initial treatment of the grain. __Process of making ethanol – Dry milling.__ **Dehydration**: At this stage, the ethanol in the top of the last column is then passed through a dehydration system where the left over water is removed. The alcohol product now called as anhydrous ethanol, is nearly 200 proof (means 100% pure ethanol).
 * Milling**: The feedstock or grain is passed through a hammer mill which grinds the feedstock/grain into small particles referred to as meal.
 * Liquefaction**: The meal is mixed to a fine powder, and water and alpha-amylase enzyme is added to form a 'mash'. This ‘mash’ is passed through cookers where the starch is liquefied.These cookers can reach high temperatures up to 120º - 150º Celsius and a lower temperature of 95º Celsius and is used for liquefaction. The heat is turned to simmer and then raised again to break down the starch even more and reduce bacteria levels in the mash.
 * Saccharification**: At this stage the mash from the cookers is cooled down and the secondary enzyme (gluco-amylase) is added to convert the liquefied starch into sugars (dextrose).
 * Fermentation**: The mash is cooled and transferred to fermenters where yeast is added and fermentation of sugar to ethanol and carbon dioxide begins. The entire fermentation process usually takes about 48 hours, during which the mash is being mixed and kept cool to increase the activity of the yeast. As this process is taking place, the sugars change to ethanol and carbon dioxide is being separated.
 * Distillation**: The fermented mash, now referred to as beer, comprises approximately 10-15% ethanol with all the non-fermentable solids from the corn and yeast cells. The beer is pumped to the continuous flow, multi-column distillation system where the ethanol is vaporized from the solids and water with the help of heat.
 * Denaturing**: In this stage, ethanol which is used as a fuel is denatured, or made unhealthy for human consumption, by adding 2-5% of gasoline. The ethanol used as fuel is then sold to distributors. Most cars manufactured in 1980’s and after are capable of running on ethanol fuel.
 * Co-Products**: Distillers grains and carbon dioxide are the two main products formed during this process. Of which, distillers grains in either wet or dry form are used as a valuable livestock feed. Carbon dioxide is collected, compressed and sold to be used in carbonated beverages, dry ice, food processing and other industries.



There are different kinds of alcohol. The kind that people drink is called ethyl alcohol. What is used and the way it is made depends on the kind of alcohol being made.

- Grain makes Whisky and Beer - Potatoes make Vodka - Grapes makes Wine and Brandy - Sugar makes Rum

=HOW ETHANOL (ALCOHOL) AFFECTS US =

__How does alcohol affect the **body**? __ 
 * Alcohol slows down the function of the central nervous system.
 *  Alcohol blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain which in turn, alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.
 * If consumed in //very small amounts//, alcohol can actually make a person feel more relaxed or less anxious.

__Drinking too much alcohol may result in **Intoxication**.__ > > > 
 * People who have drunk too much alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented.
 * Intoxication may cause the person to act completely out of character; ie – more friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry
 * Reaction time is slowed significantly
 * People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they are not.

__When very large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, it may result in **alcohol poisoning.**__ >
 * Alcohol poisoning is when the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol.
 * Symptoms include violent vomiting, extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.



**How alcohol affects society** Of all reported crimes, about 50% is alcohol related and a third of all domestic violence. Alcohol is a concern with 22,000 deaths each year, 1,000 suicides and 17 million lost working days.

Light doses of ethanol can beneficially increase plasma HDL cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. At the same time, it harmfully raises plasma triglycerides, decreasing heart muscle contractility and increasing heart rate. Heavier drinking also leads to an increase in blood pressure.
 * How alcohol affects the heart.**

Heavy, long–term drinking can damage the liver, the organ that is responsible for breaking down alcohol into harmless byproducts and clearing it from the body. But many people are not aware that prolonged liver dysfunction from excessive alcohol consumption can result in Liver Cirrhosis, which also harms the brain, and lead to a serious and potentially fatal brain disorder known as Hepatic Encephalopathy. Alcohol–damaged liver cells allow excess amounts of harmful byproducts to enter the brain, thus harming brain cells. Hepatic encephalopathy can cause changes in sleep patterns, mood, and personality. It can also lead to conditions such as anxiety and depression. In some cases, effects include shortened attention span and problems with coordination such as a flapping or shaking of the hands (Asterixis). In the most serious cases, patients may slip into a coma (i.e., hepatic coma), which can be fatal.
 * How alcohol affects the liver and brain.**[[image:http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/images/mri.gif width="293" height="241" align="right"]]

__How Ethanol fuel affects us__
 * Ethanol fuel has many benefits to the environment
 * Ethanol fuel is much cleaner than Petro (gasoline)
 * Ethanol fuel is renewable and made from plants
 * Ethanol blends can be used in all petrol engines without modifications and for cars manufactured after 1980.
 * Ethanol is biodegradable without harmful effects on the environment – significantly reduces harmful exhaust emissions
 * Ethanol’s high oxygen content reduces carbon monoxide by 25-30% (according to the US Environmental Protection Agency).



<span style="background-color: #00803a; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Did you know?
It takes 1.5 gallons of ethanol (E-85) to drive as many miles as one gallon of gasoline.

Ethanol is produced mainly by corn, and therefore cost for corn skyrockets upward due to high demand.

Each bushel of corn (56 lbs.) can produce up to 2.5 gallons of ethanol fuel. One acre of land planted with corn can yield enough ethanol to take a car 5,000 miles, getting 17.5 miles to the gallon. Sugarcane will take you 15,000 miles.

The word "toast," meaning a wish of good health, started in ancient Rome, where a piece of toasted bread was dropped into wine. <span style="background-color: #00803a; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sources Best, Ben. "ALCOHOL - HEALTH BENEFIT OR HAZARD?". june 3 <http://www.benbest.com/health/alcohol.html#brain>.

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[|"Alcohol - it can affect your life". june 3 <http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=1507&np=285>.]

<span style="background-color: #00803a; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: right;">Cynthia Deng Block D