Distillation of the Beer
Processing of beer produced from the fermentation of C-5,6 sugar solution by distillation and then drying to fuel grade ethanol is a mature technology. These techniques are well developed as corn — and sugarcane-based first generation bioethanol is in wide use as a blend in fuel in the United States, Brazil and a few other countries. These techniques developed for first generation ethanol are generally applicable to cellulosic ethanol as well. Systems used in the distillation and upgrading to fuel grade ethanol will be discussed in this chapter and the next chapter.