It is no secret that rectified ethyl alcohol serves as the main raw material for the production of vodka products. This is an important product in this area. More on this later.
Material Description
Rectified ethyl alcohol is a colorless transparent liquid that does not have foreign odors and smacks. The specific gravity of this product at 20 ° C is 0.78927 g / cm3. Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, was first synthesized in 1855 from ethylene. This substance is a flammable liquid. When it burns, water and carbon dioxide are formed. Vapors of alcohol are harmful to health. The maximum permissible norm of its concentration in air is considered to be 1 mg / dm³. Its freezing temperature is -117 ° C, and boiling point: +78.2 ° C.
Ethyl alcohol - formula
It is important to know. The general chemical formula of ethyl alcohol: C 2 -H 5 -OH. It expresses the composition of the product and was established in 1807. But only after it was possible to synthesize ethyl alcohol, the structural formula was deduced. It is written as follows: CH 3 CH 2 OH.
Ethanol is a saturated alcohol and, since it contains only one OH group, it belongs to the category of monatomic ones. The presence of a hydroxyl group determines the chemical properties of the substance, as well as the reaction weakness of this product.
When stored in unpressurized containers, ethanol evaporates and moisture is absorbed from the air. This is due to the fact that ethanol is a hygroscopic substance. Due to the fact that the specified product has a structure close to water, it can be mixed with it in any proportions.
Rectified ethyl alcohol obtained under industrial conditions has a slightly acid reaction. This is a reliable fact. It contains a small amount of organic acids. The reaction of chemically pure ethyl alcohol is neutral. This should be remembered.
The requirements for grain quality
The main challenge facing manufacturers of alcoholic beverages is to obtain the highest quality ethyl alcohol. State standards and other regulatory documents impose high requirements on this, which affect the physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics. Ethyl alcohol is obtained from various natural raw materials.
The manufacture of this substance from agricultural raw materials is a biotechnological production that uses microorganisms to turn starch into fermentable sugars, and then into finished material - ethanol. All stages from grain acceptance to rectification contain a large number of chemical and mechanical processes. Each of them affects the organoleptic characteristics of ethyl alcohol. This will be described later.
Factors affecting organoleptic indicators
In this case, it is:
- The sanitary state of the equipment in production (pipelines, evaporation chamber, heat exchangers, transfer vat).
- The quality of raw materials (type of grain, storage conditions, condition, smell, etc.).
- Used technological scheme for the preparation of raw materials (mechanical-enzymatic, traditional).
- Processing method (degree of grinding, in stock, in production).
- The types of yeast used.
- The process of fermentation (duration, increase in acidity).
- Used auxiliary materials (antiseptics and disinfectants).
One of the most important factors is the quality of the raw materials used. The situation with him is rather complicated, since there is no state supply of grain. Therefore, the bulk of the raw materials used are delivered to enterprises under contracts. They are concluded with various suppliers at negotiated prices.
To date, there is no state standard or other regulatory and technical documentation that clearly defines all the requirements for grain used for the manufacture of this product. However, some of them are enshrined in the "Regulation on the production of alcohol from starch-containing raw materials." Among them - the content of various toxic impurities (seeds, weeds, etc.), infection by pests of cereals, as well as the establishment of weeds.
The use of alcohols in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages requires the high quality of the resulting product. The organoleptic properties of the specified substance obtained from it directly depend on the state of the grain used. The most significant indicator of raw materials is its smell. Due to the capillary-porous structure of the grain and the duty cycle of the corresponding mass, it is able to sorb (absorb) various gases and vapors from the environment. Those raw materials that are infected with barn pests may contain products of their vital activity. If mites are present in the grain, its color and taste deteriorate, and a specific unpleasant odor forms. Damage to the shell of this raw material creates favorable conditions for the development of microorganisms and the accumulation of mycotoxins. You can use such grain for production. However, the presence of a significant number of insects adversely affects the organoleptic characteristics of the resulting alcohol.
For the manufacture of this product, low-quality and defective grain is often used, among which are immature and freshly harvested, damaged by drying, subjected to self-heating, affected by ergot and smut, as well as fusarium. This is a reliable fact. When processing freshly harvested grains without maturing for ripening, a violation of technology occurs, which leads to difficulty in mashing and, as a result, a significant decrease in the productivity of the corresponding department.
The color of this raw material damaged by drying can vary from light brown to black. This is important to know. Black grain is classified as a weedy impurity. As a result of this, it is processed only by mixing with healthy. In this case, the permissible rate of burnt grains should not be more than 10%. The use of alcohols for the production of high-quality vodka products in excess of this indicator is unacceptable.
Raw materials infected with ergot and smut become toxic, as it contains various alkaloids (argonine, ergotamine, cortunin, etc.). Harmful impurities are very undesirable, as they affect the organoleptic characteristics of alcohol and give it harshness, bitterness and burning. However, this raw material can be processed in a mixture with healthy grain. Moreover, its content should not be more than 8-10%.
The grain that is used to produce alcohol consists of starch (65 - 68% on absolutely dry matter), as well as protein, fats, free sugars, mineral elements, polysaccharides, dextrin. All of these compounds at different stages of the process involved in various biochemical reactions.
Another factor that affects the organoleptic properties of the finished product is malt and enzyme preparations of microorganism cultures (saccharifying materials). This should also be considered. Quite often, infected these drugs can be used in production. It also happens that they come with insufficient enzymatic activity. In this case, an infected digestion process occurs. As a result of this, the accumulation of undesirable yeast vital products occurs. Therefore, the oxidizability of alcohol is reduced. Because of this, its smell and taste deteriorate.
The quality of the resulting alcohol directly depends on the various types of yeast used. Their right choice, as well as the competent determination of the parameters of their fermentation, allows you to get the specified product with a low content of basic impurities.
Also an important component in the production of alcohol is water. The quality of the product depends on its purity (the amount of microorganisms present, as well as various chemicals dissolved in it). It is best to use water coming from artesian sources.
It should also be noted that after cleaning various toxic impurities remain in the specified product. Higher esters, sometimes present in the alcohol produced, can give a light, barely noticeable fruity smell. This is a reliable fact. But the presence of diethyl ether gives the specified product bitterness and putrefactive odor.
The quality of this substance and its organoleptic characteristics are also affected by various atypical impurities, microbial and other toxins, pesticides, etc.
Alcohol technology
This item will be considered in more detail. Rectified ethyl alcohol can be made in three ways: chemical, synthetic and biochemical (enzymatic). Their choice depends on an individual approach.
- With the enzymatic method of producing alcohol, sugar is fermented. This is an insignificant process. It is carried out under the influence of yeast and enzymes.
- The chemical method of producing alcohol is used to produce industrial alcohol from plant materials, which has a high fiber content (straw, sawdust, etc.). It is also produced from sulfite liquors (waste from pulp and paper production).
- A synthetic method for producing industrial alcohol is the addition of water to ethylene in the presence of a catalyst. This is a fairly common method.
Rectified ethyl alcohol is obtained exclusively from appropriate raw materials. Basically, grain, molasses and potatoes serve for this. Technical rectified ethyl alcohol is obtained from the same raw materials. However, it may contain various impurities that are not permissible for the food industry.
Ethyl alcohol production is carried out in 3 stages.
- Preparatory. It consists in the purification of raw materials from impurities and the preparation of malt.
- Main. In the process of this stage, the starchy raw materials are digested and saccharified, fermented, distilled, and obtained cheese alcohol.
- The final one is rectification. This process is a re-distillation carried out with the aim of purifying ethyl alcohol from various impurities.
One of the best types of plant materials used to produce this product is potatoes. For this, such varieties are used that are highly starchy and also very stable during storage. This is an important condition in production.
You should also know that grain is used not only as a raw material, but also to produce malt, which is a source of enzymes that break down starch into fermenting sugars. It depends on individual desire. In some plants, enzymatic preparations of microbial origin are used instead of malt. Get them from molds. Enzyme preparations can be a complete substitute for malt or be used together with it in various proportions.
The properties of alcohols determine the production technology. Raw contains a number of impurities that vary in boiling point. They are by-products of fermentation. Their residual amount and composition affect the quality of the resulting alcohol and produced alcoholic beverages. This is an essential fact.
Necessary equipment
To obtain the specified product from crude alcohol, multi-column plants are used. Their use is important. Each column of the specified installation performs a specific function of separating the corresponding mixture at different temperatures and pressures. Alcohol reactions and their physicochemical properties make it possible to get rid of various impurities. This is of great importance in this case. They are unacceptable in the production of edible alcohol. Currently, there are several new patented technological schemes for purification and production of raw materials that can significantly increase the analytical and organoleptic characteristics of this product. The performance of correction is increased by 15%. The yield of the final product approaches 98.5%. To date, continuous rectification installations that can contain up to five columns are used in the production of this substance. They are different and, in accordance with their purpose, are divided into:
- Fervent. They are used for boiling mash and alcohol.
- Epulation. Used to isolate ethyl alcohol.
- Rectification. Use them to clean raw alcohol. Rectified alcohol is produced here.
- Fuselage. Important fixtures. In them there is a concentration and secretion of fusel oil
- Columns of final cleaning. They are used to produce the specified highest quality product.
Deep cleaning
Rectification is a kind of multi-stage distillation. It is carried out in columns using steam and multi-cap plates. In these plants, the indicated substance is obtained, as well as volatile components and fusel oil, which is a mixture of higher alcohols. In accordance with the rectification process, these impurities are divided into:
- Tail. It is customary to relate to them those elements whose boiling point is higher than that of ethyl alcohol. These are fusel oils, as well as other substances. For example, furfural, acetals, etc.
- Headache. These include impurities that boil at a temperature lower than ethyl alcohol. In this case, these are ethers and aldehydes.
- Intermediate impurities and saturated alcohols. They are the most difficult to separate groups of compounds. Depending on various conditions of distillation, they can be either tail or head.
Varieties
Depending on the degree of purification, the specified product is divided into:
- 1 grade. This ethyl alcohol is used in medicine. However, it is not used for the production of alcoholic beverages.
- "Lux".
- Extra.
- "Basis".
- "Alpha".
For the manufacture of vodka products, which in quality will meet all modern requirements, you need to use alcohol with no toxic impurities. It must meet the requirements specified in GOST R 51652-2000.
Ethyl alcohol - application
In this regard, everything is quite simple and clear. The use of alcohols is very diverse. However, most often they are used for medical purposes, for the production of alcoholic beverages, as well as in industry.
Manufacturing Features
Different types of the specified substance are obtained from various raw materials. Namely:
- Alfa alcohol is made from wheat or rye. Or in this case, a mixture of them is used.
- Alcohol Lux and Extra are obtained from different types of crops, as well as from their mixture or potatoes. It depends on the individual selection of raw materials. Extra alcohol is obtained exclusively from healthy grains. It is intended for the production of vodka, which is exported.
- Grade 1 alcohol is produced from a mixture of potatoes and grain or simply separately. Also in this case, sugar beet and molasses can be used. The use of alcohols in industry contributes to the production of this type of alcohol.
Calculations of the specified product are carried out by determining the volume and temperature of the substance in the measuring device. A special device (alcohol meter) determines the density of a given substance. It corresponds to a certain fortress. Using special tables according to the readings and temperature, the strength is determined in% (ethyl alcohol turnover). The corresponding factor is also set here. It is an important indicator. When you multiply the volume of the specified substance, the amount of anhydrous alcohol that it contains is calculated.
In GOST six basic physical and chemical safety parameters are fixed. The establishment of limit values for the concentrations of toxic elements is described in SanPiNe. The presence of furfural is not allowed at all. The shelf life of alcohol is unlimited. However, it is necessary to comply with all certain conditions.
Marking, packaging and storage
The specified product is bottled in specially equipped tanks, cans, barrels, bottles or tanks. They must be sealed with lids or plugs. The container is sealed or sealed. Bottles are packed in specialized baskets or boxes. In this case, the use of galvanized steel containers is prohibited.
Drinking ethyl alcohol 95% is poured into glass bottles of various volumes, which are tightly closed with a cork or plastic stopper. An aluminum cap is put on top, on which the stamp of the manufacturer is applied. The volume fraction of alcohol is also indicated there.
Directly on the bottle is a label on which there is the name of the product, the name and location of the manufacturer, trademark, country of origin of the goods, strength, volume and date of bottling. Be sure to include information about certification here. Also, the designation of technical or regulatory documentation is applied to this label, according to which the product can be identified.
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Total
After reviewing the above, you can fully find out exactly how ethyl alcohol is produced, the price of which, depending on the type of product and the volume of containers in which it is located, ranges from 11 to 1,500 rubles.