The diagram in Fig. 1 shows a simplified process for making ethanol fuel from sugarcane. Cane is crushed to obtain sugary juice. Yeast is added in a tank, a...
Question 1 Report
The diagram in Fig. 1 shows a simplified process for making ethanol fuel from sugarcane. Cane is crushed to obtain sugary juice. Yeast is added in a tank, and ethanol is then separated from the mixture by distillation. The ethanol is blended with petrol for use in some cars. The carbon dioxide released during fermentation can be collected for use in fizzy drinks. A farmer says that sugarcane fuel is renewable because new plants can be grown each year. Another resident is concerned that land used for fuel crops may reduce the land available to grow food.
(a) What process is used in the tank containing yeast? [1]
(b) Which process separates ethanol from the fermented mixture? [1]
(c) Describe two reasons why ethanol from sugarcane can be described as a renewable fuel. [2]
(d) Give two disadvantages of growing large areas of sugarcane for fuel. [2]
Answer Details
(a) Yeast converts sugar into ethanol by fermentation. [1]
(b) Ethanol is separated from the fermented mixture by distillation. This separates substances using their different boiling temperatures. [1]
(c) Ethanol from sugarcane is renewable because sugarcane can be replanted and regrown. It can therefore be replaced on a short timescale, unlike crude oil, which takes millions of years to form. [2]
(d) Disadvantages of growing large areas of sugarcane for fuel include:
- it competes with food production for land;
- it may cause deforestation or habitat loss;
- it requires water or fertiliser;
- farming and processing use energy.
Any two. [2]
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