The fermentation cycle of alcohol is widely used in the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits. It is also used in the production of biofuels and other industrial applications.
Fermentation cycle of Alcohol in steps
The fermentation cycle of alcohol (ethanol) is a metabolic process that converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide by microorganisms such as yeast. Here are the steps involved in the fermentation cycle of alcohol:
- The process starts with the breakdown of glucose into two pyruvate molecules in the process of glycolysis. This occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.
- The pyruvate molecules are then converted into acetaldehyde by an enzyme called pyruvate decarboxylase, releasing carbon dioxide in the process.
- The acetaldehyde is then reduced to ethanol by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, using NADH as a reducing agent.
- The resulting ethanol is excreted by the cell as waste, along with the carbon dioxide produced in step 2.
- The process continues until all the available glucose is consumed or until the concentration of ethanol or other byproducts becomes toxic to the cell.