MODELING OF ETHANOL EVAPORATIVE LOSSES DURING BATCH ALCOHOL FERMENTATION

A general theoretical model to predict evaporative ethanol losses during the industrial process of batch alcohol production by fermentation is suggested. The model takes into account the combined effects of several yield loss factors. It also includes kinetic equations to predict product formation as a basis for calculating evaporative rates. The model has been compared with others reported in the literature and a compilation of experimental data from different discontinuous processes has been used for verification, at both industrial and laboratory levels. The results show the suggested model to yield higher theoretical consistency as well as better adaptability to actual experimental data.