Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Due to the overwhelming demand for hand sanitizers in the locality, the CMU Ethanol Production Team wanted to go full-scale production of the hand sanitizers to satisfy the need of our frontline institutions like hospitals and checkpoints.
The team is comprised of Dr. Gina Barbosa, Dr. Melania Enot, Prof. Ailene May Ang, Dr. Florfe Acma (Director of CEBREM), Dr. Myrna Pabiona (Head of SPAL), Dr. Melania Guiang (Coordinator, CEBREM-BLFU), Dr. Queenie Ann Curayag (Dean, College of Human Ecology & Director FRDC), Engr. Emmie Reyes (ISO Manager), Chemist Leonar Jun Gabiana (Chair, Department of Chemistry), Chemist Rainear Mendez, and Dr. Joy Jamago (Professor Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding).
They are now experimenting with using sugarcane molasses to produce ethanol as a raw material in the hopes of producing large scale supply of hand sanitizers for our frontliners amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Molasses will undergo several processes like fermentation and distillation until it can produce by-product ethanol, which is one of the raw materials in producing 80 % alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Molasses are readily available, and Bukidnon Sugar-milling Company (BUSCO) donated two drums of molasses in the university.
According to Dr. Joy Jamago, the production of hand sanitizers can be eventually sustained when the team can produce our own pure alcohol. She added that as of April 2, alcohol output of the distillation from fermented molasses is very promising.
As the distillation systems at the university are not designed for large scale production, the team suggested fabricating a large-scale distillation unit. Dr. Gina Barbosa, in a radio interview, said that they need volunteers like engineers and welders to help fabricate a distillation apparatus for the large-scale production of the ethanol.
While fermentation and distillation efforts are still on-going, the team continues to source out ethyl alcohol within the university to sustain the production of hand sanitizers.
The team is willing to receive donations of raw materials like ethyl alcohol (95%), glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, and distilled water to maximize production. As of April 2, 2020, 113 liters of hand sanitizers were distributed to seven different municipalities in the province. (IADalipe-Neri)
Photo Credits: Dr. Joy Jamago
