Abstract
When 2020 began the outbreak of new pneumonia, namely the coronavirus disease 2019 , alcohol suddenly became less available because it was the most sought-after item.This is because 70% alcohol can be used as an antiseptic and disinfectant solution to overcome coronavirus transmission.The manufacture of 70% alcohol can use alternative materials from sugar industry waste, namely molasses.This study aimed to determine the effect of Brix and yeast concentration variations on the level and volume of alcohol made from molasses and how much Brix and yeast concentration can obtain optimal bioethanol yield.The research method used is the experimental method.The variations of Brix used were 12%, 15%, and 18%, while the yeast concentrations used were 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% of the total sample weight.Bioethanol production is carried out by fermentation process for 48 h against 30 kg of molasses solution, but firstly, the propagation process is carried out for 2 h.Then it is distilled to get bioethanol from the fermentation of molasses.The results of this study indicate that the two factors affect the volume and level of bioethanol produced.Still, the variation factor Brix is the dominant factor in determining the volume and alcohol content.The optimal treatment to deliver the highest volume and content of bioethanol is Brix 15% and yeast concentration of 1%, with an average volume of bioethanol produced as much as 1882 ml and the resulting alcohol content of 84%.