fermentation: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

An ethanol production plant with large metal silos and white smoke rising from a stack, set behind a field of dry corn in South Dakota.

Diagram showing the steps of glycolysis, beginning with glucose and ATP, progressing through intermediates like glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate, and ending with the production of pyruvate, ATP, and NADH. A detailed inset highlights the enzymatic reactions and energy transfers from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to pyruvate.

Figure 1: A schematic representation of the biogeochemical cycle of carbon.

fermentation and distillation process for producing whiskey

Illustrated diagram of the carbon cycle showing how carbon moves as carbon dioxide through the atmosphere, water, living organisms, rocks, and soil. It depicts processes like photosynthesis, respiration, sedimentation, volcanic activity, fossil fuel use, and carbon sequestration, with arrows indicating the flow between air, water, plants, animals, rocks, and industrial sources.

Illustration of a flame overlaid on a vintage distillery, with drawings of wheat, sugar, and bubbles around it.

Behind the scenes: How Samuel Adams beer is made

A man wearing a hairnet and gloves pours a dark liquid into a lighter-colored vat.

The process of making sparkling wine explained

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

industrial fermentation tank fermentation cap top fermentation malolactic fermentation bottom fermentation bottle fermentation Louis Pasteur’s Contributions to Science alcohol cheese making asymmetric synthesis ozonolysis condensation reaction acid–base reaction reaction mechanism catalysis oxidation-reduction reaction ion-exchange reaction photochemical reaction combustion

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Painting by Albert Edelfelt showing Louis Pasteur in his laboratory, holding a glass flask and examining it intently, surrounded by scientific equipment on a workbench.

Louis Pasteur

French chemist and microbiologist

Euler-Chelpin

Hans von Euler-Chelpin

Swedish biochemist

default image

Sir Arthur Harden

British biochemist

default image

Eduard Buchner

German biochemist

Double exposure of science laboratory test tubes with bokeh and chemical reaction

Types of Chemical Reactions