Chemical and biochemical engineering WebLab: a biochemical reactor for remote monitoring of alcoholic fermentation process

• Grant number: 05/01377-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2005
• End date: February 28, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Alberto Colli Badino Junior
• Grantee: Rafael Garcia Curraleiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present project proposes the construction and operation of an automated equipment for alcoholic fermentation using the glucose as substrate and Bakers yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as producing microorganism, which will convert glucose in ethanol and carbon dioxide. The equipment will be made so that the experiment can be accomplished remotely by the internet, using the software "Labview". The amount of carbon gas produced will be stored in a sealed PVC tube being the pressure of system measure with electronic pressure meter. The equipment has analogical sign exit (4-20 MA) and it can obtain experimental data of internal pressure in the tube in real time. Ethanol concentration in fermentation broth can be determined utilizing Law of ideal gases and the stoichiometry of the reaction. Analogical signs will be converted in digital signs, and the software developed will show the experimental values, in the form of graphs and tables during the fermentation course.