Introduction:
Alkanol are the group of compounds in which the hydrogen atom(s) of alkanes have been substituted with the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group. Alkanols are usually termed to as 'alcohols'. We are as well familiar that the general formula of Alkanols is CnH2n+1OH and are named by replacing the 'e' of the alkane name via 'ol'. For example - methanol and ethanol from methane and ethane.
Fig: Methanol and ethanol
A simple general representation for Alkanols is R-OH; here 'R' symbolizes an alkyl group. Whenever essential, the position of the -OH group is illustrated numerically, example: propanol. The carbon atoms are numbered in the longest chain. The position of the OH group finds out the numbers. Let us study the structures shown below.
Fig: Alkanols
The hydroxyl group is one of the most significant functional groups of naturally occurring molecules like carbohydrates and nucleic acids. These are complex alkanols however the main concern are simple alkanols which are made up from petroleum-derived hydrocarbons.
Classification of Alkanols:
Alkanols are categorized as primary, secondary or tertiary based on whether the OH functional group is linked to a primary, secondary or tertiary carbon atom, example:
Fig: Classification of Alkanols
Sources of Alkanols:
General methods of preparation:
(a) Hydrolysis of halogenoalkanes or alkyl halides:
Alkyl halides are the compounds made by replacing one of the hydrogen of an alkane with a halogen (Cl or Br or I). Whenever alkyl halides are treated by dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide, the halogen is substituted by - OH groups therefore making an alkanol.
R-Cl + Na+ + OH- → R-OH + NaCl
Example: CH3CH2Cl + NaOH → CH3CH2-OH + NaCl
Ethyl chloride Ethanol
(b) Hydration of alkenes:
The Alkenes react with steam whenever passed over phosphoric (v) acid catalyst at 300°C and 70 atmosphere. For illustration:
CH2 = CH2 + H2O → (H3PO4 at 300oc + 70 atms) → CH3-CH2-OH
The method, as illustrated in the equation, is mainly used industrially for the production of ethanol and some higher alkanols.
Manufacture of alkanols:
a) Methanol: Methanol is mainly made up from mixture of carbon (II) oxide and hydrogen (that is, obtained from either water gas or synthesis gas) in the presence of a catalyst.
C(coke) + H2O(g) → CO + H2 (water gas)
CH4 (natural gas) + H2O (g) → CO + 3H2 (synthesis gas)
CO + 2H2 → (ZnO + Cr2O3 at 400oc and 300 atm) → CH3OH
(b) Ethanol:
- From ethene: The main source of ethanol industrially is through hydration of alkenes as illustrated above.
- By fermentation: The fermentation method of obtaining ethanol from starch materials is still admired.
Fermentation is basically the decomposition of complex organic compounds example: carbohydrates, into simpler compounds via the action of enzymes.
Materials like - sugar, guinea-corn, rice, cassava, maize, potatoes, wheat, barley and so on can be employed as the source of glucose from which the ethanol is derived.
Malt, made up from partially germinated barley, is added and then kept at around 50°C for one hour. The enzyme diastase, present in the malt, catalyses the conversion of starch to the maltose.
2(C6H10O5)n + nH2O → (diastase) → nC12H22O11
Starch maltose
The yeast is then added at room temperature. This causes fermentation, the enzyme maltase in the yeast, transforms the maltose to glucose and the other enzyme zymase in yeast, then decomposes the glucose into ethanol and carbon (iv) oxide.
C12H22O11 (aq) + H2O → (maltase) → 2C6H12O6 (aq)
Glucose
C6H12O6 → (zymase) → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
ethanol
C12H22O11 + H2O → (invertase) → C6H12O6 + C6H12O6 → (zymase) → 4C2H5OH + 4CO2
Glucose Fructose
(c) Purification of ethanol:
The ethanol achieved from the fermentation method can only provide a maximum concentration of 18%, as the yeast cells die above this concentration. For commercial use, ethanol is needed in different compositions and to accomplish further concentration and purification, fractional distillation is used.
For the alcoholic beverages, different concentrations of ethanol are employed and their flavor differs with raw material fermented. The table illustrated below represents the percentage of ethanol and the method of preparation.
Table: Kinds of alcoholic beverages
Raw material
Alcohol beverage
% Ethanol (v/u)
Method of preparation
Barley, Wheat
Beer e.g. star
3 - 8
Fermentation
Grapes/Rice
Wines
8 - 18
Barley, Wheat, Grapes
Whisky/Spirit/Brandy
30 - 60
Fermentation & Distillation
The commercial ethanol is sold as pure spirit or rectified spirit or methylated spirit having 95% ethanol. Whenever sold to the public, 5% methanol, which is toxic, is added to prevent it being used as a drink.
Uses of ethanol:
1) This is used as solvent for resins, polishes, varnishes, liquid soaps, perfumes, drugs and paints.
2) It is employed as a fuel, either by itself or mixed by petrol, in rockets and racing cars.
3) It is employed as an anti-freeze in the automobile radiator.
4) It is present in numerous alcoholic beverages.
5) It is employed for sterilization and preservation of the specimens and food.
6) It is employed as raw material in the manufacture of chemical example: ethanol, trichloromethane and ethoxyethane.
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