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InterviewSolution
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Explain a process in which a biocatalyst is used industrial preparation of a compound known to you. |
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Answer» Enzymes are biocatalyst. These biocatalysts (enzymes) are used in the industrial preparation of ethanol. Ethanol is prepared by the fermentation of molasses -a dark brown coloured syrup left after crystallisation of sugar which still contains about 40% of sugar. The process of fermentation actually involves breaking down of large molecules into simple ones in the presence of enzymes. The source of these enzymes is yeast. The various reaction taking place during fermentation of carbohydrates are `underset("Sucrose")(C_(12)H_(22)O_(11))+H_(2)O overset("Invertase")rarr underset("Glucose")(C_(6)H_(12)O_(6))+underset("Fructose")(C_(6)H_(12)O_(6))` `underset("Glucose")(C_(6)H_(12)O_(6)) overset("Zymase")rarr underset("Ethyl alcohol")(2C_(2)H_(5)OH)+2CO_(2)` In wine making, grapes are the source and yeast. As grapes ripen, the quantity of sugar increases and yeast grows on the outer skin. When grapes are crushed, sugar and the enzyme come in contact and fermentation starts. Fermentation takes place in anaerobic conditions i.e., in absence of air. `CO_(2)` gas is released during fermentation. The action of zymase is inhibited once the percentage of alcohol formed exceeds 14 percent. If air gets into fermentation mixture, the oxygen of air oxidises ethanol to ethanoic acid which in turn destroys the taste of alcoholic drinks. |
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