Band 9: You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The diagram below shows how ethanol fuel is produced from corn. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. You should write at least 150 words.

The diagram illustrates the process of producing ethanol fuel from corn.

Overall, ethanol production involves nine main stages, beginning with the storage of corn and ending with the transportation of the finished ethanol fuel.

Initially, the harvested corn is stored before being milled into smaller particles. The milled corn is then cooked for four hours, during which water is added to form a suitable mixture. Following this, the mixture is fermented for 48 hours, allowing chemical reactions to convert the corn’s starch into alcohol.

After fermentation, the resulting substance is separated into two parts: a solid by-product and a liquid that contains ethanol. The liquid portion is then purified for five hours to produce pure ethanol. Once purification is complete, the ethanol is stored before it is finally transported for use or distribution.

In summary, the process transforms corn through several physical and chemical stages into ethanol fuel, involving milling, cooking, fermenting, and purification.