The Yeast Fermentation Race Between Glucose and Pure Palm Sugar: Which One Will Produce the Most Carbon Dioxide?

Abstract

When yeast, scientifically known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, metabolizes sugar, fermentation occurs and creates ethanol and carbon dioxide (CO2). The production of carbon dioxide was measured by using 5mL syringes, 2mL pipettes, two different sugars - glucose and pure palm sugar, and a 10% yeast solution. Three trials were conducted for the glucose yeast solution and three trials for the pure palm sugar yeast solution; each trial lasting ten minutes long. The glucose solution fermentation rates averaged 0.0023ppm/s. The palm sugar solution fermentation rates averaged 0.0019ppm/s. After completing the experiment, it was found that glucose with 10% yeast solution had a higher CO2 production compared to pure palm sugar with 10% yeast solution. This supports the hypothesis claiming glucose will produce more CO2 than pure palm sugar when ActiveDry yeast is added.