Ammonium Bicarbonate is being tested for its potential to 'salt out' ethanol in fermentation processes. The discussion raises questions about whether Ammonium Bicarbonate can effectively separate alcohol from water, similar to other ionic compounds like Sodium Carbonate and Ammonium Sulfate. It is noted that Ammonium Bicarbonate decomposes in water, producing ammonia gas, carbon dioxide, and water. This decomposition process may influence its ability to separate ethanol from water, as gas-forming reactions typically favor a positive entropy change. The inquiry focuses on the compound's behavior in alcoholic solutions and its effectiveness in the salting-out process.
