Alcohol Production
Alcohol production is one of the oldest art to have been started by man. In this process, yeast, the world’s most heavily used microbe, converts sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide. The ethanol content in practice 10 – 13% is then concentrated.
Yeast, a facultative anaerobe, and in a situation of insufficient oxygen with substrate (cane molasses) level exceeding 0.1% w/v ferments the sugars to ethanol. Yeast under these conditions will use the glycoltic pathway to breakdown the sugars into energy and intermediates that are required for growth with the final products being ethanol and CO2.
ACFC applies the continuous fermentation for its ethanol production. The Alcohol content after fermentation is normally 10 – 13%. This alcohol in the form of mash which is a mixture of alcohol, water, yeast cells and other minor constituents taken through a series of separators to remove the yeast.
The separated alcohol-rich mash is taken to the distillery where unwanted constituents are removed and the ethanol concentrated to the required achievable purity.
At the distillation tower the mash is physically separated into various products, the ethanol content is concentrated to over 94% and the quality of the ethanol purified to acceptable standards.
Alcohol / Spirit Products
Neutral Spirit
This is potable spirit that is sold locally and regionally. It is blended and packaged by the customers and sold to the consumer or used for fortification of locally manufactured wines.
Extra Neutral Spirit
This is potable spirit that is sold locally and regionally. It is blended and packaged by the customers and sold to the consumer or used for fortification of locally manufactured wines.
Kenya Methylated Spirit
This spirit is denatured to conform to the mandatory Customs and Excise regulations. The addition of methyl violet gives the product its regular beautiful violet colour.
Kenya Methylated Spirit is used as an antiseptic in hospitals, solvent in paints, inks, vanishes, a cooling medium and other domestic applications.
Main Applications
– Antiseptic in hospitals, barber shops, domestic use.
– Solvent in industries
– Cooling medium
– Heating fuel in buffets
Toxicity
This spirit has been denatured to render it unpalatable and unfit for human consumption
Industrial Methylated Spirit
Unlike the Kenya Methylated Spirit, Industrial Methylated Spirit is not coloured with methyl violet and is denatured to conform to the mandatory Customs and Excise regulations. This product is mainly used in the manufacture of skin care products and other special Industrial applications calling for this grade of spirit, including shoe polish, printing inks etc.
Main Applications
– Solvent in wide range of industrial applications e.g. skin care products, shoes polish, printing inks, thinners etc.
Toxicity
This spirit has been denatured to render it unpalatable and unfit for human consumption.
