Fuel Ethanol Fermentation Analysis by HPLC

3rd Aug 2021

Fuel Ethanol Fermentation Analysis by HPLC

Fuel Ethanol Fermentation Analysis by HPLC

Ethanol production has become increasingly popular worldwide as consumers look for alternative fuel sources. Experts can convert corn and other renewable energy sources into ethanol by utilizing the fermentation process. In this process, yeast and enzymes convert the fermentation carbohydrates into ethanol. In this reaction, the ethanol concentration is inversely proportional to carbohydrate concentration, so to determine when to stop the fermentation process, carbohydrate levels can be routinely monitored. 

The Importance of a Fast Analysis

As mentioned above, biofuel producers can use carbohydrate concentration to (inversely) determine the concentration levels of the ethanol in the fermentation process. These analyses can take upwards of 20 minutes on standard carbohydrate analysis HPLC columns. These results are crucial to determining when the fermentation process is complete, but 20 or more minutes for a single result can cause serious holdups in the lab. One particular biofuel-producing customer needed a better solution. So, Chrom Tech facilitated a conversation with Concise Separations to come up with a better HPLC column for the job. By working with the customer to perfect the column, we cut the run time down to about one-third of the original run time. 

Lengthen the Lifetime of Your Column

By doing basic sample preparation, you can significantly lengthen the life of your HPLC column. Generally, a nylon HPLC syringe filter is a good option for reducing particles in this type of analysis. Another way to extend the lifetime of your analytical column would be to use a guard column. We offer guard columns in the same phases as nearly all of our HPLC columns.

Conclusion

It is important for biofuel producers to maximize the amount of ethanol produced. To do this, the fermentation process can be analyzed. A short run time for this analysis is extremely beneficial to optimize the number of samples run and ensure the fermentation process stops at exactly the right time. For more information, please reach out to our technical support team