Utilization of Mash Treatment Unit for Sterilization and Clarification of Final Molasses in Ethanol Plant

The study aimed to determine the effect of sterilization treatment of molasses in ethanol industry in terms of increased production, reduced operating costs and maintenance, through introducing of a specialized unit to enhance the purification and sterilization of molasses, as well as, taking the advantage of high vinasses temperature (a by-product in the ethanol industry) as a source of heat instead of steam, and lowered temperatures of beer as a source for partial cooling. This study depended on scientific experimentation in lab conditions to measure the value of (brix, pH and temperature) as the main primary data collection. The verification of the results was done through the work of two models for the production of ethanol using treated molasses as first model and non treated molasses as second model. Thereafter, the percentage of ethanol production was determined as well as the number of yeasts in both models. Moreover, the difference between the two models was spotted as well. In addition to that, the two models which have been implemented by controlling the values of brix, pH, and temperature and fermentation period in order to determine the optimum and best values that would give higher and better productivity of ethanol and a greater number of yeast. Results showed that the optimum values were found at 21 brix, pH 5, at 30°C temperature, which gave the highest ethanol production, which was 8.1%, 6.7% and 6.4% respectively, when using molasses without treatment and 8.98%, 7.7%, and 7.3% respectively when using treated molasses with a period of fermentation 48 hours in all cases. Also on the other hand and regarding the yeast growth the results showed that the optimum values were found at 18-19 brix, pH 5, at 30°C temperature, which gave the highest growth of yeast cell count, where it was 13.86×107, 9.96×107 and 9.16×107 respectively, when using molasses without treatment and 14.91×107, 10.09×107 and 9.21×107 when using treated molasses with a period of fermentation 24 hours in all cases. It is recommended to establish a specific treatment unit for the molasses so as to achieve greater productivity of ethanol and to adjust the brix value at 21%, temperature at 30°C, pH at 5 and the period of fermentation should be 48 hours