Lactic acid and ethanol fermentation Lab Report

Lactic acid and ethanol fermentation - Lab Report Example The presence of CO2, released as the waste product is responsible for its foam like expansion as it forms bubbles in the dough. Ethanol, on the other hand evaporates from the dough completely after the bread is fully baked (Kratz, 2005). Ethanol fermentation that is carried out by yeast is employed for the production of nearly all beverages containing alcohol except for those produced by maceration of carbon. In addition, the production of wines and brandies is carried out by the process involving fermentation of natural sugar of fruits, especially that of grapes. While beers, ales and whiskeys are produced by the fermentation of grain starches that is converted to sugar by application of enzymes called amylase that is present in germinated grain kernels. Vodka is produced by the fermentation of amylase-treated grains or potatoes, while the first step involved in the production of rum is the fermentation of cane sugar. In each and every process the fermentation must take place in a v essel that is specifically arranged to allow CO2 to escape, but at the same time preventing the external air from coming in, as formation of ethanol can only take place in absence of oxygen. The yet another use of yeast fermentation of various carbohydrate products is to produce ethanol that can be used for the fuels. Ethanol fuel is ethyl alcohol, the same type of alcohol which is found in alcoholic beverages. It is mostly used as biofuels additive for gasoline in motor fuels (alcohol and you). Method and materials used for making wine For making wine, grapes or berries are crushed, depending upon the type of wine that is to be made. Yeast is then added to this mush of crushed fruits that consumes the sugars... The historic uses of fermentation were mostly the creation of alcoholic beverages such as mead, wine and beer, which date back to 7, 000 BC in some parts of Middle East. However, the fermentation of food items such as milk and other vegetables was experimented almost thousand years later. In 1857, Louis Pasteur, a French Chemist connected yeast to fermentation and defined it as respiration without air. Later, in 1907, Eduard Buchner, the German chemist found out that fermentation is actually caused by yeast secretions which can even take place outside the living cells. In 1920s, scientist discovered that extracts of muscle catalyze the formation of lactate from glucose in the absence of air. They also revealed that fermentation reactions are not peculiar to the action of yeast but can also occur in many other cases of glucose utilization. For making wine, grapes or berries are crushed, depending upon the type of wine that is to be made. Yeast is then added to this mush of crushed fruits that consumes the sugars released in their juices. A 5 gms packet of dry yeast or 35 ml to 175 ml of liquid yeast would be the right amount for making 5 gallons of wine.