UPV SoTech helps stem alcohol shortage

The School of Technology (SoTech) of the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas is producing more alcohol solutions for use in sanitation amid the shortage of alcohol due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a media release from the Information and Publication Office of UP Visayas, SoTech dean Dr. Ramer Bautista said they are leading the production of ethanol, in an initiative dubbed #ParasaBayanEtOH.

“Drum-type batch fermenters are currently in place for ethanol production, while packed bed bioreactors for ethanol production are being set up at the Miagao Campus to increase further the production rate,” he said.

According to Bautista, it is expected that the initial yield of ethanol will be ready in two days, after which the UPV chemists, along with researchers from the UPV Regional Research Center will proceed to its distillation.

Chemists from the Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas have also volunteered to assist in the project.

The group is setting up an analytical laboratory for quality control ensuring the ethanol alcohol solution that shall be given out by UPV reaches 60 percent or more to be effectively antiseptic or antimicrobial. (IPO-UPV/PIA-Iloilo)