Industrial ethanol is manufactured from ethene by
- A. fermentation with yeast
- B. oxidation with acidified dichromate
- C. reduction with hydrogen
- D. direct hydration with steam over a phosphoric acid catalyst
Explanation
Steam and ethene are passed over phosphoric acid at about 300 degrees Celsius and 60 atmospheres, giving a pure product continuously from a petroleum feedstock. Fermentation is the alternative route, renewable and much older, but slower and giving a dilute product that must be distilled. The choice between them is essentially economic.
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