On the method of making acetic acid from ethanol
Nowadays, there is a way to make acetic acid from ethanol as a source. Ethanol is an ordinary organic agent. If you want to make it into acetic acid, you need to follow the scientific method and follow a reasonable order.

At the beginning, it is reasonable to understand. Ethanol (\ (C_2H_5OH\)) wants to become acetic acid (\ (CH_3COOH\)), which is actually a process of oxidation. Oxygen atoms need to be introduced, and the molecular structure also changes.

One of the methods can borrow the power of microorganisms. There are various bacteria, such as acetic acid bacillus, which can feed on ethanol in a suitable environment, perform metabolic work, and produce acetic acid. This environment requires temperature control, humidity, and ventilation. The temperature should be at 20 degrees, the humidity is moderate, and there needs to be enough air for the bacteria to breathe. In the state of oxygen, the bacteria first oxidize ethanol to acetaldehyde (\ (CH_3CHO\)), and then oxidize acetaldehyde to acetic acid. This process is natural and slow, but the acetic acid is quite pure.

Furthermore, the method of chemical synthesis can be followed. A catalyst is used to make ethanol react with oxygen. Commonly used catalysts include metal oxides and the like. Under a specific temperature and pressure, ethanol collides and binds with oxygen molecules. First, through catalysis, the hydroxy group (\ (-OH\)) in the ethanol is dehydrogenated, and the oxygen is synthesized into water, and the ethanol is changed into acetaldehyde. Then the acetaldehyde is oxidized again, and the aldehyde group (\ (-CHO\)) is added with oxygen to form acetic acid. This chemical method requires precise control conditions, and the choice and use of catalysts are related to success or failure and efficiency.

Preparation of acetic acid, whether by microbial method or chemical synthesis method, has its advantages and disadvantages. The former is pure, but takes a long time; the latter is efficient, but requires strict management conditions. The industry should weigh the advantages and disadvantages according to the needs, and choose the best method to use it, so as to achieve the best situation of ethanol to acetic acid.