Can Ammonium Bicarbonate 'salt out' ethanol alcohol?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the potential of Ammonium Bicarbonate to 'salt out' ethanol alcohol during a fermentation process. Participants explore the chemical behavior of Ammonium Bicarbonate in relation to ethanol and water, considering its ionic nature and possible decomposition.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant is testing Ammonium Bicarbonate in fermentation and questions its ability to 'salt out' ethanol, comparing it to other compounds like Sodium Carbonate and Ammonium Sulfate.
  • Another participant suggests that the project sounds promising as a measurement endeavor.
  • Several participants inquire whether Ammonium Bicarbonate decomposes in alcohol or can separate alcohol from water, raising questions about its ionic properties and behavior similar to other ionic compounds.
  • A participant proposes a chemical reaction involving Ammonium Bicarbonate decomposing in water, suggesting that the formation of gases may drive the reaction due to a significant positive entropy change.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views regarding the behavior of Ammonium Bicarbonate in relation to ethanol and water, and no consensus has been reached on its ability to 'salt out' ethanol.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the decomposition of Ammonium Bicarbonate and its implications for separating ethanol from water, highlighting the need for further investigation into its chemical interactions.

ejnovek
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I'm testing Ammonium Bicarbonate in a fermentation process. Is it possible for Ammonium Bicarbonate to 'salt out' Ethanol? Compounds such as Sodium Carbonate and Ammonium Sulfate are able to salt out ethanol.
 
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Sounds like a good measurement project.
 
Does the Ammonium Bicarbonate decompose in the alcohol or is it able go separate the alcohol from the water? As an ionic compound, is it able to 'salt out' alcohol like other ionic compounds?
 
ejnovek said:
Does the Ammonium Bicarbonate decompose in the alcohol or is it able go separate the alcohol from the water? As an ionic compound, is it able to 'salt out' alcohol like other ionic compounds?

Ammonium Bicarbonate = [NH4+][HCO3-]. This will decompose in H2O, I believe... [NH4+] + [HCO3-] --> NH3 (g) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l) [Gas forming reactions tend to go becasue of the large positive entropy change when producing a gas...]
 

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