Anaerobic Respiration - Fermentation Flashcards
What is Anaerobic Respiration?
The breakdown of glucose and the production of ATP via glycolysis in the absence of oxygen
What is Anaerobic Respiration in animals?
Breakdown of pyruvate into lactic acid
‘Lactic fermentation’
What is Anaerobic Respiration in yeast?
Pyruvate is converted into ethanol and CO2
‘Ethanol fermentation’
What happens when no oxygen is present?
The coenzymes cannot unload their protons in the electron transport chain as it requires oxygen !!!
Pyruvate will accumulate
Kreb’s Cycle will slow down
Reactants and products of lactic fermentation
Glucose → 2 lactic acid + 2 ATP
Reactants and products of ethanol fermentation
Glucose → 2 Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + 2 ATP
Why is lactic acid dangerous?
Lactic acid cannot accumulate as it lowers the pH of our cells and can be toxic
What are biofuels made from?
Organic material known as biomass
A source that can be produced at a faster rate as it is used up
What is biomass?
Organic material that includes; plants, animal by-products, poop
What are fossil fuels?
Fuels formed over millennia from the remains of dead organic material
Non-renewable, a resource that is used faster than it can be produced
What is the production of biofuel?
Biomass via the process of fermentation
- Deconstruction of original biomass
- Anaerobic fermentation to produce ethanol
- Final distillation and purification of ethanol for use as fuel
Advantages of biofuels
Reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change
Reduced reliance on fossil fuels which provides ongoing energy
Reduce international reliance on imports, which can create more jobs and prevent risks associated with fossil fuels (ex. oil spills)
Why are biofuels better than fossil fuels?
Biofuels are carbon neutral whereas fossil fuels add CO2 into the atmosphere
