The flowchart detailed in the diagram delineates the comprehensive process by which corn is transformed into ethanol fuel.
This intricate procedure encompasses nine distinct stages, commencing with the storage of corn and culminating in the storage and transportation of the final ethanol product.
Initially, corn is stored and subsequently milled to facilitate more efficient processing. The milled corn is then subjected to a cooking phase, lasting approximately four hours, where it is combined with water. Following this step, the mixture undergoes fermentation for a duration of 48 hours. This crucial stage allows yeast to convert the sugars present in the corn into alcohol, resulting in a mixture that is divided into liquid and solid by-products.
The liquid fraction is then subjected to a purification process that lasts around five hours, aimed at extracting ethanol from the mixture. Once purified, the ethanol is stored in suitable containers until it is ready for transportation to its final destination. Notably, the fermentation stage represents the longest aspect of the entire process, taking 48 hours, while the subsequent purification of the ethanol requires a comparatively shorter duration of five hours.