Ask A Scientist© Botany Archive

name         Lauren
status       other
age          40s

Question -   Can I make alcohol out of brocoli and cauliflower?
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The biochemical production of ethanol is usually the result of
fermentation of sugar(s) to ethanol. There is not much sugar in either of
these vegetables, so I doubt that they would work very well. I would predict
that the fermentation process of the above candidates would raise quite a
stench, however.

Vince Calder
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Lauren,

Probably not -- or not with much success. Fermentation of carbohydrates
to make alcohol works best if the feedstock has within it a readily
accessible source of glucose. Thus, the sugars present in the juice of
fruits and the starch of various grains is a starting material of
choice.

Indeed, broccoli and cauliflower do contain cellulosic tissue that is
composed of glucose. However, glucose bound in cellulose is not so
accessible to fermentation enzymes as is the glucose bound in starch.

Regards,
ProfHoff
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