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Ethanol is naturally produced by the fermentation process of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. Historically it was used as a general anesthetic , and has modern medical applications as an antiseptic , disinfectant , solvent for some medications, and antidote for methanol poisoning and ethylene glycol ...
The dominant ethanol feedstock in warmer regions is sugarcane. [8] In temperate regions, corn or sugar beets are used. [8] [9] In the United States, the main feedstock for the production of ethanol is currently corn. [8] Approximately 2.8 gallons of ethanol are produced from one bushel of corn (0.42 liter per kilogram).
Such production generally does not have any forensic significance because the ethanol is broken down before significant intoxication ensues. These trace amounts of alcohol range from 0.1 to 0.3 μg/mL in the blood of healthy humans, with some measurements as high as 1.6 μg/mL (0.002 g/L).
Ethanol is produced naturally as a byproduct of the metabolic processes of yeast and hence is present in any yeast habitat, including even endogenously in humans, but it does not cause raised blood alcohol content as seen in the rare medical condition auto-brewery syndrome (ABS).
methanol, mainly for the production of formaldehyde and as a fuel additive; ethanol, mainly for alcoholic beverages, fuel additive, solvent, and to sterilize hospital instruments. [26] 1-propanol, 1-butanol, and isobutyl alcohol for use as a solvent and precursor to solvents; C6–C11 alcohols used for plasticizers, e.g. in polyvinylchloride
In the production of bio-ethanol, the medium may consist mostly of whatever inexpensive carbon source is available. [ citation needed ] Carbon sources are typically sugars or other carbohydrates, although in the case of substrate transformations (such as the production of vinegar) the carbon source may be an alcohol or something else altogether.
The drunken monkey hypothesis proposes that human attraction to alcohol may derive from dependence of the primate ancestors of Homo sapiens on ripe and fermenting fruit as a dominant food source. [1] Ethanol naturally occurs in ripe and overripe fruit when yeasts ferment sugars, and consequently early primates (and many other fruit-eating ...
Other genera, such as Gluconobacter, do not oxidize ethanol, as they do not have a full set of Krebs cycle enzymes. As these bacteria produce acid, they are usually acid-tolerant, growing well below pH 5.0, although the pH optimum for growth is 5.4-6.3. Acetobacter xylinum is able to synthesize cellulose, [5] something normally done only by plants.