Sugars in Decaying Plants: What Happens?

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SUMMARY

When plants decay, the sugars contained within their cell walls are not readily accessible for fermentation into alcohol. The primary method for extracting these sugars involves mechanical action or acid treatment to break down the cell walls. Additionally, the decay process is influenced by bacteria that contribute to the breakdown of both the cell walls and the sugars. Therefore, simply placing decayed plant material in a vat of yeast is insufficient for alcohol production without prior extraction of the sugars.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of plant cell structure and composition
  • Knowledge of fermentation processes and yeast activity
  • Familiarity with mechanical and chemical methods for breaking down plant materials
  • Basic principles of microbiology related to decay and decomposition
NEXT STEPS
  • Research methods for extracting sugars from plant materials, such as enzymatic hydrolysis
  • Learn about the fermentation process and the role of yeast in alcohol production
  • Explore the impact of bacteria on plant decay and sugar breakdown
  • Investigate the chemical properties of sugars and their stability in decaying organic matter
USEFUL FOR

Biologists, fermentation specialists, and anyone interested in the processes of plant decay and the production of alcohol from organic materials.

GiTS
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What happens to the sugars in a plant when the plant decays?
 
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Long's this is homework, give us your thoughts, first --- then, we'll steer you toward an answer.
 
it's not for homework. I'm wondering why plants can't be left to decay then the decayed material thrown in a vat of yeast and turned into alcohol. from what I've read all plant's conatain sugars that can be turned into alcohol but it's contained within the plant's cell walls and the only known method of extracting the sugars is to destroy the cell walls by mechanical action or acid.

edit: and for that matter, are sugars just naturally unstable compund that rapidly decay once a plant dies or is it bacteria that breaks up plant cell walls also breaks up the sugars?
 
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