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Engineering Life: Miracles in Biotechnology - Fermentation Process-advanced

Grade 9CBSE

Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.

🔑Concepts

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Fermentation is an anaerobic biochemical process where micro-organisms like yeast and bacteria break down complex organic compounds (carbohydrates) into simpler substances like ethyl alcohol or lactic acid in the absence of oxygen.

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Alcoholic Fermentation: Primarily carried out by yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae). It converts glucose (C6H12O6C_6H_{12}O_6) into Ethanol (C2H5OHC_2H_5OH) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2CO_2). This is essential in the brewing and baking industries.

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Lactic Acid Fermentation: Occurs in certain bacteria (like Lactobacillus) and in human muscle cells during strenuous exercise when oxygen supply is limited. Glucose is converted into Lactic Acid (C3H6O3C_3H_6O_3), which can cause muscle cramps.

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Energy Yield: Fermentation is less efficient than aerobic respiration. While aerobic respiration yields approximately 3636 to 3838 ATPATP molecules, fermentation yields only 22 ATPATP molecules per molecule of glucose.

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Industrial Bioprocessing: Advanced biotechnology utilizes large vessels called 'Bioreactors' or 'Fermenters' where environmental factors such as temperature, pHpH, and agitation are strictly monitored to optimize the production of antibiotics, enzymes, and vitamins.

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Downstream Processing: Following the fermentation phase, the product must be purified and recovered through various steps including filtration, centrifugation, and distillation.

📐Formulae

C6H12O6→Yeast/Zymase2C2H5OH+2CO2+2ATPC_6H_{12}O_6 \xrightarrow{\text{Yeast/Zymase}} 2C_2H_5OH + 2CO_2 + 2ATP

C6H12O6→Bacteria/Muscle Cells2CH3CH(OH)COOH+2ATPC_6H_{12}O_6 \xrightarrow{\text{Bacteria/Muscle Cells}} 2CH_3CH(OH)COOH + 2ATP

Mass of Glucose=n×Molar Mass\text{Mass of Glucose} = n \times \text{Molar Mass}

Efficiency of ATP Production=2×Energy in one ATPTotal Energy in Glucose×100\text{Efficiency of ATP Production} = \frac{2 \times \text{Energy in one ATP}}{\text{Total Energy in Glucose}} \times 100

💡Examples

Problem 1:

In a laboratory experiment, 180180 g of glucose (C6H12O6C_6H_{12}O_6) undergoes complete alcoholic fermentation. Calculate the theoretical mass of Ethanol (C2H5OHC_2H_5OH) produced. (Molar mass: Glucose = 180180 g/mol, Ethanol = 4646 g/mol).

Solution:

  1. Write the balanced chemical equation: C6H12O6→2C2H5OH+2CO2C_6H_{12}O_6 \to 2C_2H_5OH + 2CO_2
  2. From the equation, 11 mole of Glucose produces 22 moles of Ethanol.
  3. Convert grams to moles for Glucose: Moles of Glucose=180 g180 g/mol=1 mole\text{Moles of Glucose} = \frac{180\text{ g}}{180\text{ g/mol}} = 1\text{ mole}
  4. Calculate moles of Ethanol produced: Moles of Ethanol=1 mole Glucose×2=2 moles\text{Moles of Ethanol} = 1\text{ mole Glucose} \times 2 = 2\text{ moles}
  5. Convert moles of Ethanol to mass: Mass of Ethanol=2 moles×46 g/mol=92 g\text{Mass of Ethanol} = 2\text{ moles} \times 46\text{ g/mol} = 92\text{ g}

Explanation:

According to the stoichiometry of the fermentation reaction, one molecule of glucose splits into two molecules of ethanol. Since we started with exactly one mole of glucose (180180 g), we obtain two moles of ethanol (9292 g).

Problem 2:

A fermentation tank initially contains 15001500 kg of sugar solution. During the process, 455455 kg of sugar is consumed and 222222 kg of CO2CO_2 gas is released. Calculate the remaining mass of the solution in the tank using vertical subtraction.

Solution:

Total mass remaining = (Initial mass - Mass of CO2CO_2 released). 1500−2221278\begin{array}{r} 1500 \\ - 222 \\ \hline 1278 \end{array} The remaining mass is 12781278 kg.

Explanation:

The mass of the system decreases because the Carbon Dioxide produced during fermentation escapes the liquid as a gas. We subtract the mass of the escaped gas from the initial total mass.