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Interpretation
In this experiment, ethanol was produced at varying temperatures. Findings are interpreted and explained with reference to the Three Laws of Thermodynamics. Experimental data and results obtained support the hypothesis that: Ethanol is indeed a low-cost environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based fuels.
In this experiment three materials i.e. mashed fruits, corn, and yard waste were fermented under varying temperatures. Analysis of the results obtained shows that:
- Ethanol of different Specific Gravity was produced under varying temperatures - +50 degrees Celsius to -5 degrees Celsius.
- Ethanol was most rapidly produced at high temperatures and the fermenting started very quickly. In the 6th week the specific gravity of ethanol was 70 indicating that as a result of invisible chemical reaction or anaerobic respiration an invisible gas was being produced that condensed in the second beaker or the 'still' .
- Evidently, as demonstrated, ethanol was produced without the use of oxygen. External combustion was not used in this experiment.
- Fermentation of each of these three materials- mashed fruits, corn and yard waste at normal room temperature served as control.
- A colourless liquid was produced by fermentation and it burned with a blue flame, proving that it is indeed ethanol!
- Since the beakers were placed under different temperatures the volume of ethanol produced varied.
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The findings stated above are supported and explained by the First Law of Thermodynamics that - energy simply changes form. The corn-ethanol cycle shown below shows that solar energy stored in corn changed form and became available as ethanol. The same process occurred for producing ethanol from mashed fruit and yard waste.
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When the beakers were placed on the ice tray the findings showed (Table 1, 2 &3) that due to anaerobic cell respiration heat energy was given off, fermentation occurred and temperature around the beaker rose slightly as fermenting progressed . This rise in temperature is explained by the Second Law of Thermodynamics that - as energy changes form, energy of the initial state will be higher than that of the current state. Results (Table 4) show that density of ethanol produced at temperatures below zero varied between .44 gm/cc to .50 gm/cc.
These findings are explained by the Third Law of Thermodynamics that: entropy of any condensed substance at zero temperature has a value of zero. Evidently, at low temperatures the fermenting material cooled and the movement of its molecules became slower. Therefore, small volume of ethanol was produced (Table 4).
Specific gravity of ethanol produced under different temperatures by the three materials - mashed fruit, corn and yard waste was measured with a hydrometer. In summary, data obtained (Tables 1,2,3) shows that:
- Specific gravity (and density) of ethanol produced in the sunroom/higher temperatures by each of the three materials, varied between 78 and 80.
- Specific gravity of ethanol in cold/sub-zero temperature ranged between 44 and 50.
- Specific gravity of ethanol at normal/room temperature varied between 68 and 70.
The findings of this simple experiment and the data obtained show that ethanol can be produced between temperature ranges of +50 Celsius to -5 Celsius . However, the specific gravity of ethanol produced varies with temperature. These results are supported by findings from National Renewable Energy Education Programs, (2004); Renewable Fuels Association (2005) and Armstrong (1999) .
Cost of producing ethanol by this experiment was calculated. Results show that cost of producing 1 barrel of ethanol is CAD $20.67.
In conclusion, findings of this experiment are of tremendous economic and scientific value as it is clearly demonstrated that ethanol can be produced at different temperatures in our own backyard at a low-cost by anaerobic respiration - an environmentally friendly process that does not use oxygen or result in releasing poisonous gases during the manufacturing process itself.
Source: www.go60.com
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