Ethanol Distillery
Introduction
An ethanol distillery is a plant that produces ethyl alcohol (Câ‚‚Hâ‚…OH), commonly used as a biofuel, industrial solvent, and in beverages.
Ethanol can be produced from sugar, starch, or cellulosic materials.
Raw Materials / Feedstock
Sugar-based: Sugarcane juice, molasses, sweet sorghum.
Starch-based: Maize, wheat, barley, cassava, potatoes.
Cellulosic biomass: Crop residues, wood, grasses (advanced bioethanol).
Other sources: Industrial waste streams, fruit waste.
Production Process
Preparation of Feedstock
Fermentation
Distillation
Dehydration
Plant Components
Raw material handling section (mills, crushers, hydrolysis units).
Fermentation tanks (controlled pH, temperature, anaerobic).
Distillation columns (beer column, rectifier, recovery column).
Dehydration unit (molecular sieve, PSA, or azeotropic).
COâ‚‚ recovery system (optional, for industrial gas use).
Effluent treatment plant (ETP) (to handle spent wash).
Storage tanks & bottling/fuel dispatch system.
Products & By-Products
Main product: Ethanol (hydrous or anhydrous).
COâ‚‚ gas (can be compressed & sold).
Applications
Fuel ethanol (blended with petrol, e.g., E10, E20).
Potable alcohol (spirits, liquor).
Industrial ethanol (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, sanitizers).
Feed & fertilizer (DDGS, bio-compost).
Advantages
Renewable and sustainable energy source.
Reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions when blended with petrol.
Provides value addition to agricultural produce & waste.
Challenges
Requires large quantities of biomass/sugar/starch.
Spent wash disposal is a major environmental issue.
High capital and operational costs.
Price fluctuations in feedstock affect viability.
Needs efficient integration with power & water systems.
Introduction
An ethanol distillery is a plant that produces ethyl alcohol (Câ‚‚Hâ‚…OH), commonly used as a biofuel, industrial solvent, and in beverages.
Ethanol can be produced from sugar, starch, or cellulosic materials.
Raw Materials / Feedstock
Sugar-based: Sugarcane juice, molasses, sweet sorghum.
Starch-based: Maize, wheat, barley, cassava, potatoes.
Cellulosic biomass: Crop residues, wood, grasses (advanced bioethanol).
Other sources: Industrial waste streams, fruit waste.
Production Process
Preparation of Feedstock
Fermentation
Distillation
Dehydration
Plant Components
Raw material handling section (mills, crushers, hydrolysis units).
Fermentation tanks (controlled pH, temperature, anaerobic).
Distillation columns (beer column, rectifier, recovery column).
Dehydration unit (molecular sieve, PSA, or azeotropic).
COâ‚‚ recovery system (optional, for industrial gas use).
Effluent treatment plant (ETP) (to handle spent wash).
Storage tanks & bottling/fuel dispatch system.
Products & By-Products
Main product: Ethanol (hydrous or anhydrous).
COâ‚‚ gas (can be compressed & sold).
Applications
Fuel ethanol (blended with petrol, e.g., E10, E20).
Potable alcohol (spirits, liquor).
Industrial ethanol (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, sanitizers).
Feed & fertilizer (DDGS, bio-compost).
Advantages
Renewable and sustainable energy source.
Reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions when blended with petrol.
Provides value addition to agricultural produce & waste.
Challenges
Requires large quantities of biomass/sugar/starch.
Spent wash disposal is a major environmental issue.
High capital and operational costs.
Price fluctuations in feedstock affect viability.
Needs efficient integration with power & water systems.
