Brill and Thurloiv: Alcohol from Molasses 



271 



considered good distillery practice, the profits increase to 8.6 

 centavos ; while at 94.7 per cent of the theoretical, which is the 

 highest possible yield obtainable, the profits have risen to 14.8 

 centavos a gallon, almost three times as great as the profits 

 for a 75 per cent yield. This seemingly high increase in the 

 profits is due to the increased yields more than compensating 

 for the increased cost of production. In the Philippines, where 

 the molasses 8 costs 6 centavos a gallon and 182 proof alcohol 

 sells at 17.2 centavos a liter, the profits resulting are as given 

 in Table III. 



Table III. — Profits from the fermentation of Philippine molasses under 

 varying conditions of efficiency. 







Theoretical 

 yield. 



Profit per gallon of 

 molasses. 



Calculated 



on the basis 



of Table 



II. 



Based on ! 

 the estima- 

 ted cost of 

 alcohol pro- 

 duction in 

 the P. I. » 



Per cent. 



Centavos. 



Centavos. 



57 



5.8 



4.5 



60 



7.0 



5.7 



65 



8.9 



7.6 



70 



10.8 



9.5 



75 



12.7 



11.4 



80 



14.6 



18.3 



85 



16.6 



15.3 



90 



18.5 



17.2 



94.7 



20.3 



19.0 



» Calculated on the basis of a cost of 17.3 centavos for converting 1 gallon of molasses into 

 alcohol. 



The cost of converting 1 gallon of molasses in the United 

 States into 90 per cent alcohol is 16 centavos. The estimate as 

 deduced from certain data collected in the Philippine Islands 

 makes the cost 17.3 centavos, only slightly greater than the 

 above, and leaves a good margin of profit for the manufacturer. 

 The larger profit for alcohol produced in the Philippine Islands 

 is due to the smaller price paid for the molasses and its higher 

 sugar content. A yield of 80 per cent of the theoretical gives 

 a profit on the molasses of 13.3 centavos per gallon, while a 60 

 per cent yield allows a profit less than half as great. Any im- 

 provement in the methods of fermentation and distillation of 

 molasses would mean an increase of revenue to the Islands and 

 larger profits to the manufacturers. No alarm need be felt in 



8 Average total sugar as glucose for 10 samples, 62.6 per cent. 



